The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-12-24 00:00:00

DORCHESTER FARMERS' CLITB.

The claims of agriculture are now manifest
enough. We may yet seek to ascertain by what
means they may be best enforced and advanced;
what, in a word, should be the fanner's safest
weapon I Hercules, the very model of a hero,
who helped himself, is always associated with
one especial agent of success. In action this
was ever ready at his side, while in peace he
still learned to lean upon it. Through all his
labour and difficulties, what would Hercules have
been without his club? May we avail ourselves
of so excellent a precedent, anti, with no great
stress of the imagination, turn the tenant farmer
into another Hercules, and ask him also to
use his club. He will find no other such weapon
fitting to his hand, and none that he can wield
with such advantage and effect. Union is
strength, and in the multitude of counsellors
there is safety. To us it has often appeared an
anomaly that, while smaller and less important
districts have had their Farmers' Clubs, the
establishment of a similar society should not
have been carried out in the county town of
Dorset. The anomaly, however, no longer
exists. A Farmers' Club has been established,
we trust, with every chance of success. We
direct our readers' attention to this fact, in
order to solicit on behalf of the club tLe most
cordial support from those who have au interest
in its prosperity. And who amongst us has not
When we recollect that the proper endivation
of the soil is of the most vital importance to the
LI community, that it suay justly be regarded as
the preciasor of the arts of civilisation, the
fumalation of commerce, and the basis of
national wealth and greatness, it surely behoves
all—especially those who have au interest in the
soil—to support to the utmost of their ability
associations of this description. I litherto,
Farmers' Clubs have, perhaps, suffered more
than any other institution in the kingdom from
want of sympathy. Men who have benefit ted
largely from what has been done by others, have
still stood aloof and refused their aid by their
purse, as well as by their presehee, from those
who worked for the good of themselves and their
fellow-men. We hope that such a charge will
not have to be made against any who have an
interest in the prosperity of agriculture in the
neighbourhood of Dorchester. It is surely too
late in the day to be at all necessary for us to
point out the advantages of :mama association
and co operation. Its importance is universally
acknowledged by all the public bodies that exist
throughout the length and breadth of the land,
awl more particularly is it desirable that the
principle should be acted en by agriculturists,
scattered as they aro over rural districts, with
few opportunities of interchange of opinions,com-
pared with other classes residing in our large
towns and mercantile and manufacturing dis-
tricts. Should an incentive be wanting as to the
benetita that are likely to result thereby, might
we not point to the London Central Farmers'
Club, which him earned for itself the appellation
of "the Brhige-street Parliament," innl which has
been of immense advanta4e—from the various
important subjects to which it has turned its
attention—to the tenant farmers throughout the
country I It is true that the Dorchester Farmers'
Club can never expect to be placed in competi-
tion with the parent society ; it is necessarily
local iii its character, but because local, none the
less important to its members. The questious
discussed will be such as are the most deeply in-
teresting to the farmers of the district, AS from
the experience and practice of others, living in
their own immediate neighbourhood and tilling
a similar soil, they will be enabled the better to
judge of the correctness or otherwise
if their own preconceived opinions, and
derive benefit accordingly. As will be
seen by our report of the proceedings
on Thumday last, the Dorchester Farmers' Club,
unlike some of its kindred societies in this
county, has decided that its proceedings shall be
open to the press. nu, is, undoubtedly, a step
in the right direction. We have no idea that
anyone whose opinions are worth listening to
will be debarred from giving his ideas on any
topic under discussion, because a reporter happens
to be present. It may have a tendency to check
glib, mouthing orators, who are seldom farmers,
while at the attune titue those who may be ex-
pected to take the most prominent part in the
discussions will be thereby induced to study to
express themselves in a more clear and lucid
style than they might otherwise attempt. Nor
do we believe on the other band that anyone
will be induce.? to withhold a ss-subscription
because he will generally be able to read an
account of the proceedings in the publicjournals ;
on the contrary, if the admirable essay which
appears in our columns of to-day may be re-
garded as a specimen of those winch are to
follow, the snore extensively they are read, the
greater will be the inducement for members to
enrol their names. As it has been truly said that
"Agriculture is one of the noblest of sciences,"
so may it be as truly asserted that those following
its pursuits act the most noble part who allow
their light to shine for the public good. Farmers'
Clubs to be useful must be eminently practical,
and there is no medium for giving effect to the
, proceedings equal to the public press.