The Van Buren press., 1869-07-20
FARMERS CLUES.
DY Rurus SuTrlSo, RANDOLPH. VERMONT

Di RIFJs SlfIANt, kAsDSLEil, 'Lls4SSA'
Among the efficient means OF incrcas-
ing INTEREST in agriculture. farmers clubs
or lyceums have occupied considerable
space within the last decade. Although.
of comparatively recent origin, aud con
lined t. u few localities, their influence
has beco extensive and useful. The New
York State Agricultural Society original
/ Is, in 1872, paatook Of this character. but
soon expanded into State institution
Tae American Institute Farmers Club is
probably the oldcs. permanent institution
OF the kind in this country, and the most
influential. am informrd that it was or.
gauized in 1870 by Mr. Wakeman, and
was modelled after some he had seen and
admired ia Europe. II helsls ~ meeting.
every rasslaf afternoon, an ? summary
OF its conversations and c0rgesgOnicBca
! 10 published in some ten or more Of the
leading city papers, and eagerly read by
hundreds Of thousands OF readers all over
the Union. Several hundred slmilar So.
cieties have been organized in various
sections, maialy modelled after this on {,
but, not having the same extensive re
sources. they have not proved as perma-
nent or useful That associations OF tae
kind would be eminentl, benedcialin their
several localities cannot be doubted but.
how t. conduct them SO az to make them
permanently Successful in country places
is the great question. which, II satisAc-
torily answered, would cause them to Ia
crease rapidly all over the land.
Few country cubs can hope TO enlist
any considerable amount of ability. such
rs gives interest and influence TO the New
York club; yet each section has subjects
as important, and means to make them
as interesting TO its own inhabitants,
would each farmer aud gardener but feel
aud resolve ~ bring forward the first and
use the others for their calculation. A
unanimous, continuous effort 10 this end,
q prompt, punctuai Attendance It every
meeting, determination to interest and
to please animatin5 each mind and heart
during the intervals b.tween the meetiags,
would go far towards making auy cub,
however smali its district and limited It's
numbers, pernaneu, Saccess Perhaps
| can bette, dtustrale ,Ag views by'gniug
blief history Of the Randolph Yer
mohD Fanner0' Lyceum, and somo OF it.
proceedings dafns the last term, from
November to Ap1l, meeting every Mon.
day evening Offer this. not as mod
ei, bat Simply rs specimen Of what may
be done ani even greatly improved upon
OJ any company of farmers aal garden
ers of common education, aud agtIale,
by mutua! desire for Improvement, Iii
rcctod by common sense ana kindly feel
ings,
The Randolph Farmer3' Lyccum was
by the persistent ctlUrtS II one rtrau, a
mechauc and amaturr farmer, and has
continued until it now numbers over 100
members It's specified objects are, first
the acquisition and dissemination of az
ucuItural knowledge secoDd, the promo.
t!on OF acquaintance and friendship
among nci ignbors third, the improve
ment Of lis members in conversations.
composition, and public reading aad
speaking; and fourth the Improvement
Of farms, farm Implements, stock, bald
ings, and every department ofagriculture
Its principal exercises at each meeting
for the first four years were an essay, ,ioi-
lowed by discussion. The hfth year an
Grafton was added, aud the last term an
impromptu speech was required. The
speaker is called 10 the stand, his subject
gwen him ny The president, and he re
quircd to speak five minute, on it with.
out preparation The c sly and oration
are limited to fifteen minutes each. No
admission fee is required, and the annual
expenses have amounted to less than ten
cents Tor each member. OF course no
subjects are admitted except purely agri
cultgral ones, and, consequently, no un-
happy di5sensions have crept in.
Provision should he made by every
lyceum for jndicious and careful expert
ments, each to be cenHled TO certaia
uumbor Of members, who would subject
every portion Of the operations to the
most careful test of weighing and meas
uring, aud carefully enter on record every
step in the progress Of each experiment
At the conclusion OF each experiment =
fun report should be made by each person
engaged ia making the same, embracing
all particulars and details OF soil, season,
weather, operations and results Aud
experiments, 20 bc conclusive, should be
renewed from year tD year. until discrep.
ances cease, or can be satisfactorily &C.
counted for