The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-02-11 00:00:00

DORCABSTER FARMERS' CLUB,

The usual monthly meeting of the Club was held
on Saturday evening. Mr. J. G. Wood, the Presi-
dent of the Society, occupying the chair; and Mr.
Andrews, in the absence of Mr. Harding, the vice-
chair. Previous to the commencement of the pro-
ceedings, the Cesiestee said they would all join
with him in an expression of condolence with their
friend the vice-president, who was that evening
absent on account of his great domestio afaiction.
Mr. Andrews, their secretary, had therefore kindly
consented to occupy his place on the present occa-
aion. The !minutes of the previous meeting were
then reed, after which a large number of new mem-
;bars were elected.
Mr. ANDRYWS said they had heard from their
ethairman that evening why he occupied the place
be did at that meeting. He was sure they all, with
hiss, deeply condoled with Mr. Harding in his
kw. When a Rereon loses one who has been the
partner of all his joys and sorrows for more than 20
years, and who, too, is the mother of his children,
se one could avoid feeling deeply for his friend.
And .he took it that they looked upon Mr.
Harding as their friend—as the friend of every
=He believed there was not a more sincerely
friend to every man than Mr. Harding.
4Applause.) Mr. Harding was a warm supporter of
at d.b, and they must all feel how great was his
loss on that occasion. Now let him say just one
word with respect to himself. When the society
was fin* established, its meetings were fixed to take
place on Virednesday nights. Their meetings were
now altered to Saturday evenings. This alteration
ems attended with considerable disadvantage to
• himself, but this be was most happy and willing
to thrust on one aide, and joined most heartily in
tiles alteration, as he could not hide from himself the
fret that it WAS OD° greatly to be desired. They
might to look rather to the prosperity of the Club
than to the convenience of individuals, and seeing
what he did that night, he WIN very glad the alters-
tioa had been made. He thought that money was
not the only thing that man should live for. He
ought to live for some higher and nobler object—
endeavottring to do his duty in that sta-
tion of life in which it had plumed God
to pima him, whether that position he high or
: lete, whether they be rich, or whether they be poor.
Xevr, he thought that the members of this club were
e ;fioieg their duty in assembling here, and raising
diesnesions on various subjects calculated to benefit
matistmeelvesonly, but also their neighbours. Manu-
factory,, and others had their clubs for the discussion
of topics relative to their particular milli& but
fanners had hitherto been too much thrust aside.
° He perhaps ought to say rather' that they thrust
themselves aside. An opinion had been too pre-
trilimtly entertained among them, that whatever a
fernier knew he ought to keep to himself, lest his
landlord Mould be enlightened. Now he knew of
no greater fallacy. He knew but little of farming—
be wished he knew more--but from what he did
'know, he thought that it was most desirable that
Os landlords should be enlightened. Let
'them look, for instance, at a farmer' who
industry and intelligence, raised himself
.ton position, perhaps, nearly to that of the land-
lord; why, the latter would be apt to say, in his
ignorance, that is my farm has done it, I must raise
the rent, whereas, if "lie was more enlightened, he
would understand it wee not the farm, but the man
industry and intelligence had done it. (Ap-

The 'CHAIRMAN said that the question of altering
their day of meeting had formed the
subject of much anxiety, as they knew that it would
be of great inconvenience te their ,Secretary, but
they saw at last that for the welfare of the Club it
was almost imperative that it should be done. He
wes happy to heir from their Secretary that night
that the change had met with his hearty concurrence,
and that he bad expressed his willingness and even
desire to makes sacrifice for the goodof the club.
ANDIMIWZ said the meeting that night must
prceie is the most sceptical, that of every other
evenieg.in the week, Saturday evening was the very
beet.