Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-03-18
Agricu,snral socie,ies.

Nlncil oil the labor OF the world is done
by individuals, and must so be done.-
10 certain extent, every man is indie.
pendent of the whole human race around
him. But there are important sens es in
which this is not the fact. r
Men unite to accomplish certain i'm.
Portant ends. which they cannot possi-
bly, accomplish singly. 10 live in a
state OF society is desirable, as is ration
al goyernme1t, for that society. Yet a
government mus, be always the result OF
combined effort. j. s. -.t.... -
In farming, an isolated man may do
much. He may cultivate an intimate
s,.,, ,.,aintance with the stubborn earih.-
Give him M, tools that others have made
for him, and he u,a,' plow, plant, and
rather crops, he may have ia cattle and
his her,s---he may labor on in liis y 'ola,
lion from morning TO night, through sum-
mer's heat, and winters co.d--and yet
for him there is better way. As is apt
ly said in communication in the Far
mer of last week, at takes everybody 10
know every thing" One man canaot
know all the best implements, the best
Kind of plants, vegetables or grains, the
best ways Of managing even his own
soil. The influence of mind on mind is
"a continuously Increasing force. The
wit and ingenuity of men becomes sharp
ened by conflict with other men ana the
whole effect, Of a life in society is s,im.
ulaat. 1ass w g sgs
No man needs this stimulus from with
out more than the farmer. The tenden.
cy of has employment ofitself is quie,ing.
soothing, leading rather to thought, and
meditation, than TO action or speech. So
that independents of the actually new
ideas the farmer would acquire by asso-
cialion with his fellows, such association
will operate directly 10 wake up and i'm.
prove his own mind. Inquiry breeds
Investigation, investigation brings knowl.
edge. The acquisition of knowledge
gives pleasure, and the whole man. has
launced his bark on hitherto un,ried
sea. He begins to lead new life
Whereas, hitherto, he has lived as if
there was nothing more to be learned Of
his business, a few well directed ques-
lions, a few pertinent discussions, a few
results of the application. of principles 10
him new, and the field of kno wledge up
on agricultural subjects, OF which lie
once supposed himself master, commen-
ces at his feet, (he hardly upon its out
most vcrge,) and stretches out before him
to lniinlly. And the mind once thor
oughly awaken to consciousness Of its
high prerogatiye and the enchanting field
of novelty ever before il, eau never again
slumber. TO acquire new truth, facts,
relations, laws, has something in il too
attractive TO permit The mind once hay,
ing !easted on The delights OF fresh know!-
edge, ever TO GO back to lis period Of hy-
bernation. 4ga
To achieve this for the farmer, to a
wake him TO thcliving pursuit of the facts
In regard TO his profession Of which he
is now ignorant, ASSOCIATION is needed.
Intimate professional association with
those engaged in similar pursuits will ac-
complish this. To this end we need
societies, STATE, County and Toma.
We need them all, TO accomplish all
we can accomplish for agriculture, but in
the view in which we are a, this time
wiring. we need most those societies that
encourage the most discussion-the most
frequent and social discussion. The
town society, or neighborhooc club, is
undoubtedly the best calculated To ac-
complisll the objec, ofawakening thought,
and beget,ing examination, reading, re-
Election, and consequent increase Of
knowledge. q 'sfE
The county societies may be render
ed much more efficient than they usually
are. And il may not be amiss 10 refer
here TO the course pursued By the Hills
boro' County Society since its organiza-
lion. Il has had, during each winter and
spring, monthly meetings in different
paris of The county. TO hold during one
day. At these meetings, lecture has
usually been given by some one in the
county, and always a discussion had
upon some subject previously announ-
ced. Many OF the members of the soci-
ETY. attend alli,s meetings, no matter at
how dist1n, apart Of the county, while
the farmers of the town and the neighbor-
hood turn in and help to make goodly
number.
The influence Of these meetings is fel,
in various ways. In the first place, they
keep up the general interest in the soci-
ETY., aud in the second place, scarce a
meeting occurs which is not followed by
an agricultural revival. Some one or
more in every town, leaving such NEE
ting resolved 10 farm in a more in,elli-
gent way, This system has been iu-op-
Grafton for about three years and has
mos, amply realized the expectations OF
those who Instituted it,.
There are sections of our State where
as yet no county societies exist. This
should not be so. Let the friends of ag.
riculture wake up and give little effort
TO the formation of agricultural societies.
-Graaite Farmer.
~ .Landlord,'' said an exquisite,
sscan Won enable ma to raaIiza from ya,r