Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1873-04-17
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A Model Farmers Club.
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A correspondent of the Country
Gentleman writes as follows of q Far
mers' Club in Ohio, which is quite
similar in its organization and mode of
procedure to number of similar bod
les formed among the INTELLIGENT agri-
culturists of Baltimore county:
The club Is formed of twelve MEM
bers, who meet once month, the meet
ing to take place at the residence of
each member once a year. The time
of these meetings was decided after
this manner: Twelve. cards, each card
bearing the name of one of the months,
are placed in a box and thoroughly
shaken up; then each man draws from
the box without seeing one card. The
name of the month that card bears is
the month in which the club will meet
at his residence. We have president
and secretary who act in that capacity
for one year. Upon our assembling
which is at 10 o'clock, A. M, in the
winter months-the president calls to
order. The minutes of the last meet
ing are read by the secretary; then fol-
lows a discussion of a question chosen
at our last meeting. These questions
relate to the farm, crops, stock, etc.
Example: Question for next meeting
Winter care of horses. The presi-
dent chooses foreman at the time of
the selection of the question who opens
the discussion. The members are then
called upon one by one, and make re-
marks in conversational Manner
Between the hours Of twelve and one
o'clock the club sit down to plain and
substantial dinner prepared by the fru-
gal housewife. Conversation on yari-
GUS topics is carried on during the
meal. The neighbor who is uninitia-
ted would never dream Of club, but
would suppose his friend had IL of his
neighbors as visitors.
After dinner the club listens to re-
port of the farm where they are assem-
bled-the number of acres sown in the
different grains, the manner of cultiva-
ton, the cost of the crop, the number
of bushels received, number of acres in
grass, amount of hay per acre, etc., a.
mount of stock on the farm, what kind,
and how farming pays, etc.
After the farm report, miscellaneous
business is in order. Under this head
aquestion is selected for the next meet
ing. If any member have stock for
sale, he here informs the club, who
will help him to find buyer; or if
any one wish to buy any kind of stock,
he also makes it known to the club;
all thus assist each other. A band of
brothers farmers, you see.
After this order, the farm, stock,
buildings, etc., are inspected, and sug-
gestions made, advice given, etc. The
secretary makes a minute of all said
and done, and in one year the farm is
again inspected, and the improvement
made is marked by the club. :,
In conducting club in this man
ner the results gained are: 1st-More
sociabiity; 2d-It is stimulant to
keep the farm in order, as it is inspect
ed once year by eleven farmers who
will critieise pretty closely; also. to try
and raise as big crops as any of the
club, and to keep as good stock Of all
kinds. x
When thought advisable, improved
implements for farming can be brough hit
by the club and tested if found of
value, all can purchase; if worthless,
the loss to one is small. 5e