Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-02-22

A true Farmers Club should consist OF all
the families residing in small township, SO
TAR as they can be induced to attend il, even
though only half their members should bc
present at any one meeting. IL should limit
speeches to ten minutes, excepting only those
addresses or essays which cminently qualified
persons arc requested to specially prepare
and read. Ii should have President ready
and able to rcprcss all ill.natured personalities,
all irrelevant talk, and especially all straying
/ into the forbidden regions Of political or
/ theological dispuiation. At each meeting the
subject should be chosen for The next aud NOT
/ less than four urmbers pledged to make some
observations thereon, with liberty TO read
them If unused to speaking in public. These
having been heard, the subject should Joe open
20 discussion by all present the humblest and
youngest being specially encouraged to state
any facts within their knowledge, which they
deemed pertinent and cogcnt Jet every pcr-
son present be thus melted TO say something
calculated to shed light on the subject TO say
this in the icwest words possible, and with
the utmost care not 10 annoy or offend others,
aud it is hardly possible that one evening per
week devoted 20 these meetings should p0t Poe
spent with equal pleasure aud profit.
The chief end 10 be achieved through such
meetings is "a development Of the faculty OF
observation and the habit Of reflection. Too
many of Us pass through life, essentially blind
and deaf to the wonders and glorios manifest
to clearer eyes all around US. the maguiii-
cent phenomena of the seasons, even the awa-
| kening of Nature from death to life in spring
| time, make little impression on their senses.
still less on their understanding There are
men who have passed forty time through @
/ forest, and yet could not name, thin half q
dozen, the various species of trees which CONE
pose IT, and so with everything eho to.which
they are accustomed They need even NOR,
than knowledge and intellectual awakening
and this they could hardly fail to receive from
the discussions Of an intelligent and earnest
Farmers. Club.
A genuine and lively interest il their yo.
cation is needed By many farmers, and by
most farmers sons. Too many Of these rc'
gard their home as o prison, IN which they
must remain until some avenue of escape into
the great world shall open before them. The
farm to such is but the hollow log into which
a bear crawls to VICAR out the rigors Of winter
and await the advent Of spring Too many
Of our boys fancy that they know too muci
for farmers, when in fact they know far too
little. \ good Farmers Club faithfully at
tended, would take this idea out Of them, i'm
bung them instead with a realizing sense o
their ignorance and iucompetency, and
b hearty desire for practical wisdom.
Almost any good farmer or gardener vii
sometimes have choice seeds or gratis to spare
which he does not care or cannot expect T.
: SELL and these being distributed to the Clut
will not only increase its popularity, but Civ
him a right to share when another surplus
b in like manner distributed If one has choic
fruits to give away, the Club will afford hin
an excellent opportunity, but would rathe
not attract persons TO its meetings by pros
c poet Of having their appotitcs thus grati6c
e at others expense
: The organization Of Farmers Club is Il
u chief difficulty. The larger number Of tho'
who ought to participate, usually prefer
e stand back not committing themselves to II
j effort until after its success has been assured
r To obviato this embarrassment, let paper |
circulated for signatures, pledging each signC
to attend the Introductory meeting and brin
at least part Of his family. When fort
a have signed such call, success will be we
nigh assured