The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-08-18

attend It's meetings. He tells Thorn that
the object OF every farmer should be. as
far as possible. 20 produce on the farm
that which he and his family consumes.
and he insists that much may be gained
10 the individual farmer hy meeting with
his ncighbors occasionally and consult
ing as 20 the best means Of accomplish
ing this purpose.
This Is a sensible suggestion. and the
farmers not only Of Claremont but OF
all other sections OF Virginia will be
wise II they adopt It. There have been
repeated attempts In the past 70 organ
lie the farmers. but unfortunately poll
tics has crept in and instead Of confer
ring as to how they could best improve
their farms, how they could make the
farm pay. their whole time and attention
was directed toward obtaining legisla-
ton which. IT was argued. would help
tie farmer to get better prices for his
products.
We have tried 70 be frank with our
farmer friends on this subject and have
unfortunately incurred their displeasure
by telling them the plain truth. We have
told them in the past and We tell them
again that the farmer who depends upon
legislation TO put money into his pocket
might as well depend upon legislation TO
extract the grass from his corn rows. We
do not mean by this to say that the
farmer should not take lively interest
and an active part IN politics. Il is the
duty and the privilege OF every American
citizen to do whatever he can 70 pro-
mote good government But We are
trying to get our farmer friends away
from the idea that the Populists have
put into their heads that good governs
mcnt means some sort Of legislation that
will help this or that Industry All tho
government that the people Of this coun-
try need IS that which will give every
man an equal chance with every other
man before the law to make q living and
accumulate. property, and which will
protect him in his personal and prop
erty rlgts Anything more than this j.
class legislation. and class legislation
is not only contrary TO the spirit Of the
constitution. but helps the favored class
at the expense of all others.
Coming back to the original PROPOSE
ton, we urge that the farmers Of Vir-
ginia in their several localities organize
farm clubs. meet regularly in sort of
informal way. get into one another's
confidence, swap ideas, and confine their
talks strictly TO the business Of the farm.
We suggest also that they subscribe 10
agricultural journals and set from the
Department in washington ITS reports
on tho various experiments that arc be-
ing made here and there throughout the
united States with different crops. In
short. we suggest that the farmers club
be a. farmers school and that they will
give their attention 10 the intelligent
study Of agriculture as science.
Farming cannot be done by haphazard
any more than can any other industry
be conducted in that way. Farming is
a scientific process and while the theo-
retical farmer is usually laughing stock
the man who conducts his farm opera
tons upon scientific principles and who
ADDS 70 his practical experience scionti-
nc knowledge and who takes advantage
OF the experience of the most learned
agricuIturalists in the country has q
very much better chance TO succeed than
he who farms in the way that his grand
father did and who boots at everything
modern. 1t is all summed up IN the
single expression that the most success
ful farmer in this day is the educated
farmer.