The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-12-04
OF FARMERS OR
CARNATIONS.


Tread before the Kenosha County Farmers
Society at Kellogg's Hall, Bristol, Nov 49, 1879,
by II f. Roberts
The Importance of farmers organi-
cations and meetings has often been
urged by those farmers who profess to
have a high regard for the prosperity
OF their class and a sincere respect for
their calling. And although the mes
sage has been echoed far and wide by
the press, facts force me to conclude
that farmers, us a class. 30 not heed it.
Perhaps they do not believe in it, or at
least lack tilaC, living faith which pro-
duceS corresponding works. We GER
tainly have abundant evidence Of the
lamentdble fact that Kenosha county
farmers have but little faith in and
small appreciation Of the good to be
got from farmers meetings and asso-
Citations A few years ago oranges
were organized III every central point
i'll the county. Their organization
was effected at considerable expense.
1t was said the grange would live on
and flourish, becauseit cost something !:
that which is costly is usually cherish
ed. Then, too. they had the charm of
secrecy. But every grange i'll Kenosha
county.is dead. Not may years since
| two farmers clubs We're organized in
the county. Both are dead, or else
sleep very s0undly. The kenosha
County Farmers Society, under whose
auspices we are now convened, is YET
All infant. 1t cannot boast of its
growth or strength and has been kept
alive by few fai hful and courageous
members. The Kenosha County Agri-
cultural Society has lived thirty years,
and ought in that period to have at
taiued vigorous life, instead Of the
sickly sort OF existence it has. 1t is
charged that farmt rs take but little in
terest in it. Perhaps there are sutfi-
cient reasons why they do not. Many
do not wish to foster h0rse-racing,
with it's betting, cheating and jockey
ing cOnc0mitantS. It has been said
that the KenOSha County Agricultural
Society is virtually dead, and it only
remains to bury it in stock company.
Ii you have not the evidence in your
selves, here is enough to prove that, as
a class, we have little faith in farmers
organizations. But, Mr.. President, |
firmly believe in their value and inn
portance; in their importance. because
Of the good they can be made to yield
us. l think we can proftably spend Il
little time in examining the grounds
Of their value. | will take it for gran
ted that no farmer within the sound Of
my voice knows all about farming Cor
else why did Horace Greeley write a
dollar and a half book to teach US by
telling us what he knew about farm
ing?), or that alone and unasSOciated
! he can learn all that can be known
about it, Each farmer is learning
from his own daily experience, AID
facts discovered by one are often unno-
ticed by another. In large circle there
must be widely varied experiences and
various facts gathered. If we remain
iSsolated, we can use only those we
gather ourselves. BY association and
interchange we can have the benefit Of
| the experience and knowledge OF many.
We will all readily grant there is great
| power in association. We see it eXer-
cised in every associated movement in
| the era Of associations. What a puny
power and influence christianity could
exert, even with its nineteen centuries
Of growth, were it not for it's church
organizations, its regular and frequent
meetings. Destroy its churches, re-
press its conferences and silence its
prayer meetings, and you place it in
| the rear of every other faith. And 1t
is our lack of organization and cooper
alton and union that places US, in pow
Ell and influence. in the rear Of every
other calling and profession. How
little progress science and education
would make were it not for it's organi-
cations and meetings. Our children
might study at home, but what slim
illus to effort is found in the associa-
ton Of school. Our daily work is our
study, We go to farmers meetings to
recite and hear others recite their ex-
periences and communicate facts gath
cred. We are set to thinking by some
4 experience. suggestion or thought Of
Tered, and we cannot be progressive
farmers without good deal of think
ing. What do | mean by a progressive
farmer? | mean one who farms it
! better this year than last, and who de-
i termines, as far as circumstances will
permit, to farm it better next year than
this. What Go mean by farming it
better? 70 answer briefly, | mean to
accomplish better results at a lessened
/ cost. For instance, to grow 100 bush
i els OF corn with less labor than was
used last year, OF to grow more bushels
/ to the acre at the same cost of labor.
| This can be done by improved methods,
/ improved seed, and improved culture.
/ Can you grow large crops of corn and
big crops of weeds on the same ground
at the same time? You answer /" No. 2
I But how can weeds be destroyed? and
an equally important question is, how
can they be cheaply destroyed? Ask
your neighbor, if you have one who
| is successful in growing corn and is a
failure in growing weeds Here is a