Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-02-06
Aarienltnral 4eparttHent.

Agrifnltnra1 department.
HOW A FARMER's CLUB WAS ORGAN
Farmers are peculiarly constituted as g
class, and in NO direction does this peculi-
arity more strongly manifest itself than in
an opposition to anything that smacks of
change, and an unwillingness to adopt new
customs and methods of operation, but rath-
er cling to the old with dogged persist
ency worthy of better cause. There are
good reasons for this condition, the prin-
cipal of which is to be found in their COM
parative isolation as individuals, and the
little part they take in the active business
of the changing busy world around them.
They become habituated 70 certain routine
in their farming operations, and, in time, it
becomes almost impossible for most tof them
to break away or change from the old ruts,
even after their reason may have become
convinced of its necessity. We all know
how hard and difficult it is to change old
customs and habits, but if we would live
and improve in accordance with the spirit
of the age, we must do so occasionally in a
lifetime, else make up our minds to be left
far behind in the march Of progress and i'm
provement.
But this is long preface to short ar-
ticle. Perhaps this unwillingness and back
wardness on the part of farmers to assist in
forwarding an enterprise for their own ben
eft, and which is new, cannot be better il
lustrated than by attempting to start far
ner's club in any farming district. Once
let the subject be broached, and there is
silence !; no one is willing to 90 ahead, and
none are ready to follow. The very idea
is an innovation, and they are frightened.
If there is lawyer, minister or school
master to 60 ahead and lead, why they may
perhaps follow at respectful distance.
But the great trouble is in the newness
of the thing. Once let it become old and
settled, and let them understand by expert
ence that it is for their interest, and they
are not so backward. So the trouble is in
commencing, in overcoming this ahtipathy
to innovation sufficiently to get the thing
fairly started. Let me brieay,explain how
it was done in one particular instance, and
perhaps it will furnish hint which may
lead others to 60 and do likewise.
Farmer Johnson was one of your wide-a-
wake, progressive sort, of which it is COM
fort to know there are many others adding
yearly, who had long felt the need of the
advantages to be derived from an inter-
change Of views andexperiences upon farm
ing matters, between himself and his more
intelligent neighbors. But how to get at it
was the point. He had broached the sub
ject of forming Farmers Club for several
successive winters, but without success, and
had almost despaired of efecting anything
in that direction. One afternoon, while
coming home from market, lucky idea
entered his mind, which he proceeded to
put into execution. Driving past neigh
boris, who was at work in his yard, he call
ed out: ........ 81.
"Say, Smith, take your wife and come up
to my place while this evening. Neigh
Dor Brown and his wife are coming over. I"
"Well, I guess I will, after I get supper
and do up the chores.
So in the evening, Smith and Brown, with
their wives, CANA il, and, after q short chat
on general topics, Johnson brought in a
large dish of nice apples, and all hands pro-
ceeded practically to discuss their merits.
"Pretty good sort of apples for so early
in the season" says Brown, "what do you
call 'em p
'They are natural variety that grow in
my orchard, and were so good that saved
the tree when topped the others"
"Keep well?" asks Smith.
"Fair keepers, but they are early winter
fruit. First rate pie apples; amt they
wife ?"
90 yes, the best of any we raise"
"What do you think is the best apple to
raise after all, says Brown. g.
"I go in for the Baldwin" says Smith; |;
chow is it with you, johnson ?"
"Well, I find it pays me best to raise ear
ly apples, and get them into market while
they bring big price. No doubt but the
Baldwin is the best kind of winter apple to
raise though"
"Talman Sweets do we'll with me-" says
Brown "they keep till spring, and sell for
extra prices. I find them sure and regular
bearers, too, which is point to be taken
into consideration.
"You set out young orchard-didn't
you, this fall Smith 2"
"Yes; I put in a couple hundred, so as
to be growing for the boys, you know"
But I have not room to give you even an
outline of that evenings conversation. 1t
ranged over large share of farm topics,
and, in many cases, each brought out as
many opinions as there were participants.
Much was learned from facts in each other
experience, and many things brought out,
which, but for this attrition of forces, would
never have been told. 1t was in fact real
farmers club session, and, just before break
ing up for the evening, johnson said:
"Well, neighbors, what do you think of
the first meeting of our Farmers Club ?"
"What?" "How?" "Where ?" and va