Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-08-09
The Farmers Assembly.

The Farmers Assembly, which will meet
In Charlottesville on Thursday next, the
14th, should be well atterd ed. No more
important movement in the interest Of
agriculture in Virginia has been inaugu-
rated since the close OF the war. 1t is n
step under the auspices OF gentlemen OF
known ability and energy, and there is no
reason why II should not bring forth good
and valuable fruits. The objects OF the
Assembly, as briefly set forth in circular
recently issued by DR.. JOHN II. PAGE, local
secretary, are:
1. To bring together from all quarters OF
the State as many farmers as possible to
discuss the articles written or spoken. ac-
cordiDg to the programme. and TO bring
out ali the facts tending to develop the re-
sources and possibilities OF agricultural
pursuits as well as to elevate the avOcation
TO the plsne where 1t properly belongs. as
affording opportunities for the highest oul-
turo OF man with the greatest happiness
and enjoyment.
2. To present In an attractive form the
observations and experiences Of practical
farmers on the different systems OF farm
ing. and the different usages that prevail
In different parts Of the country.
Q. To bring out clearly and make known
the practices Of good farmers that they
may be adopted; and the Objectionable
practices OF bad farmers, that they may be
condemned.
4. To encourage farmers to form neigh
borhoOd clubs and county societies in order
to iDcite free interchange OF ideas and
opinions on all subjects relating to their
interests In agriculture.
8. To adopt measures by which the mu-
tual interests OF all engaged In agricultural
pursuits may be represented, and voiced
from the club OF the neighborhood directly
up TO the State Agricultural Society. and
thence on to whatever Federal or "Na-
tioual" agricultural organization represen-
tation may be desired and thus to organ
iZe and exercise freely and openly, without
ritual or seoresy, all the rights and priyi-
leges to which farmers are entitled by their
occupation, by their general intelligence,
by their vested interests, and by their nu-
merical strength.
Taken as whole. there Is no more in.
tslligent class in the State than the Vir.
ginis "bread winners" One has only to
attend any county court to be struck with
the large number OF farmers who are men
OF education and close observation-men
who are in the best sense Of the term ex-
perimental farmers, and whose views on
any question pertaining 10 agricultural
economy are entitled to the greatest re-
spect. Yet II IL the rarest thing that their
ideas or even the practical results OF their
experiments are known beyond their imme-
diate circle Of friends. The farmers, as a
class, do not get the benefit Of their expert
ence. The Farmers' Assembly offers just
the medium required for correcting this
state Of things. The organization OF
farmers clubs, such as the
Tuckahoe Club, OF Henrico county, and
county societies, will stimulate farmers not
only TO intelligent study, but to the work
Of recording results, which in the course OF
time will be reported to the larger bodies,
,ontt mplated under the system Of "Farm-
,rss' Assemblies throughout the State"
These last-named bodies will Of course de-
Telop wide range Of discussion, evoke the
pest efforts OF representative farmers in the
natter OF essays, and secure large audiences.
IN short, the scheme presents most prac-
ical and commonseDse plan by which the
Individual farmer can make the best use
,i his own brain and experience and the
brain and experience Of his class.