The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-12-13
FARMERS CLUBS.
Correspondence Neo York Times.

Correspondent Of New York Times.
The Mount Vernon (Me.) Farmers
Club was reorganized March 3, 1871.
The officers are President and Vice
President, chosen each month, and a
Secretary, Librarian, and Prudential
Committee, chosen each year. We also
have code of bylaws. to the obscrv-
ance of which we rigidIy hold every
member We have a library, and some
available funds of both cash and brains.
Since our organization we have discuss
ed the following topics and questions ::
"Care and Treatment of Cows Before
and at Time of Calving,"" Sheep Hus-
bandry," Corn and Potatoes, D." Value
of Superphosphate," Food Value of
Corn Cobs," Butter-making in Win
ter" "Care of Farm Stock" lies
sons of the Season, i e., the Season of
Drought and 'Grasshoppers," Fruit
growing" Eggs and Poultry" Sheep
VS.. Cattle" Horses for Work and
Work Horses" especial Farming"
Wheat Crop Repairing of High
ways" "Hoed Crops" "Seeds, ?"
"What Have We Learned ?" How
Shall We Make the Farm Pay?" " Re-
solved, That cattle breeding is the most
profitable branch of farming" Autumn
Feeding of Meadows" Shall We
Abolish the School-district System ?"
"Care of Wood Lots" is Farming
in Maine Sufficiently Remunerative to
Warrant our Young Men in Staying
upon the Farm? "Shall We Drive our
Stock to the Fair? Quite a proportion
of the subjects occupied more than one
evening. and some of them three or
four. We have had lectures N the fol-
lowing subjects: Influence of A gri-
cultural Organizations" What Con-
stitutes Successful Life" PAY as
You Co." Sheep and Sheep Husband
ry," {" How to Make the Farm Pay"
Stick to It," &c. We have about
forty members, male and female, meet
once week from September to May,
and adjourn over the Summer.
The time spent in our meetings is
perhaps as proftably spent as any por-
ton of our lives. We tell our neigh
bors what we are doing or have done,
and they tell us, and a spirit of emuIa-
ton is awakened, for none of us like to
be outdone, and each strives to do
little better next time. But this is not
all. The most remarkable feature in
our club is the development of brain
power or intellect. | have been more
surprised at this than at anything else.
There has been and now is too little
brain work among farmers, and too
little use of the talking and reasoning
powers. They get in the way, while
young, of letting the lawyers and min
listers do all the talking, and as they
advance in years there is, or seems to
be, no suitable opening for them, and so
it goes by default But to remedy this,
to wear off the hesitancy and reserve
which inexperience, or ignorance if YOU
will, always feels, to instruct in parl-
mentary rules and usages, and thus fit
tie man for usefulness in whatever sta
ton he may be called to fill, | know of
nothing now open to the humble citi-
zens of the rural districts of our coun-
try equal to a well organized and con-
Quoted farmers club.
Mr.. Editor, why don't every rural
town have a club? Try it, brother
farmers one evening spent in the club
is worth week of grumblng Get
two of your neighbors with you and
organize, then keep it alive, and it will
grow and bring forth fruit for both you
and your children. We don't hold our
selves up as models, but have just told
you in short what we have done and
what you may do, and if you do better
tell US, and we will try again.