The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-11-05
The Elmi Il Farmers cub.

]
The Elmi Il Farmers cub.
+ Three years ago Il dozen of cur farmers
, having had notice of II proposed meeting
for the organization Of farmers club,
and week given them in which to study
: the proprictv Of such "A step, at the APP
: pointed hour of the day fixed, seven Of
the farmers having the largest faith,
: gathered in a secluded room lighted by
; melancholy tallow dip, and elected enc of
their number president, and another sec.
rotary, when the meeting was considered
duly organized for business A very free
discussion Of the possibilities Of establish
ing permanent institution, resulted in
the resolution to 60 rs far as the prospects
seemed pleasing. The name Elmira
Farmers Club was chosen and each OF
the seven called on to contribute one
dollar as the membership fee. which made
the election OF n treasurer necessary. All
this business having been done, and the
treasury showing actual cash capital Of
seven dollars, somebody asked how to con-
struct a farm fence in the most substan.
tial manner and yet cheaply The men,
bcrs were equal to the occasion. Fences
were duly discussed, suggestions made
and ideas elected. 1t so happened that
the secretary, willing to exceed his task,
took notes Of the discussion and gave the
written report to the Daily Advertiser,
which, in its next issue, gave to the public
all that was Of interest-pcrhaps more
The Club looked at it and recognized
ITSELF The next meeting, week later,
was attended by larger number, all the
new ones being ready to join and pay in.
to the treasury the stipulated dollar. The
first meeting had selected the subject,
"Noxious Weeds" and assigned a speak
er to open the discussion at this meeting.
There were no learned essays, no evidences
oil botanical research, very little theori.
zing but there was from each interested
member statement of hard facts and
well tested experience That discussion
was likewise made Il newspaper report.
So began and continued the real bust
ness OF Farmers Club, which has now
an active membership of about one hun
drcd, and which holds meetings from the
middle Of September until May, aud at
longer Intervals during the summer.
1t may be asked has any good result
ed from all this Let us consider. Here
are forty meetings held in Il year. at
which there are in attendance from twcn-
ty to more than a hundred Of the most
earnest farmers in the county, and often
times distinguished visitors from abroad.
all free to discuss whatever topic may be
before the meeting. Can they do this
without imparting some valuable know-
edge-some hint or uggestion-somc-
thing new and available We shall not
offer argument to prove an affirmative.
We assume that no body Of men with
spirit enough to maintain such an organ
ization can possibly be SO stupid as to
talk always without knowledge Now if
there is some tangible good, for the fruit
Of these meetings the papers are glad to
get it, and the good is thus extended to
wider fields.
But let US be specific. The Club has,
through its committees, tested various new
seeds, among which are some which have
proved of greater value than those in
common use, and by this means it has
been able to increase the profits of GER
tain branches Of farming. On the other
hand, it has exposed the ialsity Of the
extravagant claims made by the vendors
of worthless seeds, thus saving the gcner-
al swindle Of all who are guided by its
investigations. 1t has also made success.
full efforts towards the improvement of
domestic animals by the Introduction of
superior strains of blood the cost Of which
when borne by such body, falls lightly
on each individual. This is real work.
it is true, but such work is always pre-.
coded by talk. In this case it is the lee.
itimate fruit of the evening meetings.
We might extend the list, but there is
no need ; suffice it, at this moment, ex.
perlments tending to the solution of the
questions which most excite the agricul.
tural world are in process of elaboration,
and In careful hands, melted thereto by
the contact of minds seeking at these
meetings to davelop real truth.
1t is not the design Of this brief sketch
to enumerate all the results attained
through the organized efforts of this club
but rather to mention only those general
points Of interest which shall serve to en-.
courage the formation of other similar as
sociatons.
Or course the secluded room, where the
gloom was but deepened By the single
candle, was long since abandoned, and
spacious hall, with all its appointments I
complete, secured as a permanent home
And in that hall are long rows of shelves
closely packed with well selected books
in all the various departments of history, ?
science, art and general literature. A u
thousand volumes, in neat styles, clear
type and attractive matter, are thus omen
to all the members and to their families.
Tree, subject only TO such rules as are :
necessary to their preservation. And
these are all procured by the cash sub.
scrlptions Of willing membership as.
sessments, no urging members may con-
tribute according to their ability or their
and this proves reliable for
the addition Of about six hundred dollars
yearly. There is, however, one other
source of accretions always acceptable, but
really Of less Importance in Its character
because not always well considered-that
is, gifts Of surplus volumes from generous
citizens, sometimes of abstruse works. or
antiquated tones but always desirable
in library which is certainly destined
to have great proportions Besides all
this, the public journals, especially those
OF an agricultural character, are sent by
the publishers, often free, thus giving
constant freshness to the tables and slim.
ulating subscriptions. One excellent
monthly now has large list of subscrib.