El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-02-10

FARMERS CLUBS.
A Typical Club-PrOEramni of Meet
inSs-The Social Side.

| inEs-The Social Side.
Probably one of the most interesting
| and ahIable of the educational and
! social movements in q rural commun1-
| ty is the farmers club. 1t is one OF
those unobtrusive but powerful inf1u-
| ences which will in few years leave
a distinct mark upon the people and
neighborhood where it is introduced.
Where a first class farmers club is on
a firm basis you may expect to find an
exceptionally thrifty, prosperous and
happy class Of country people.
| The farmers club movement has met
with much favor in Michigan, where
there is a state association of these.
| clubs. The secretary, a. 3. Cook. has
just given in The National Stockman
description of their present condi-
ton, some points of which follow:
| The first club was established at
least 20 years ago, but it is within the
last ten years that the movement prop
er began, and it is since the organza-
ton of the state association six years
ago that the phenomenal growth which
| has attracted national attention has
| taken place.
Your readers may very properly ask,
| ssWhat is this farmers club?' and !
will describe a typical Michigan club.
| Twenty families is the average size of
| the clubs. These families are without
exception the progressive farmers of
! the neighborhood. When we say fami-
| lies, we mean it. Every one from the
aged grandsire to the helpless babe is
welcomed at every part of the meet
| ing. The club meets once month
and at the homes of members in rOta-
ton. In the winter the meeting lasts
all day, or from 10 a. m. until half past
d. M, and dinner is provided by the
| hostess In the summer months the
meetings are held in the afternoon on
ly, and supper is provided by the
ones who entertain. In some of our
| clubs the refreshments are provided
| on the picnic dinner plan-that is, each
member provides some part of the din
ner or supper. thus dividing the work.
but in a majority of clubs the ladies
prefer to take entire charge once in
about two years and then be entirely
free the rest Of the time.
The programmes of the meetings are
prepared by two committees. One
committee is appointed by the state
association, and it prepares a list of
subjects, one for each month. These
subjects are assigned to members of
the clubs by a committee appointed in
the club. Thus every month every one
of our 800 or more clubs are discussing
the same subject. For instance, in DC
tober every club discussed our new
state tax commission. Other state
ISOLATION topics have been ''The Tor
rens System of Land Transfers" f'Our
Agricultural College," "Free Rural
Mail Delivery" and so forth. The COM
mittee already referred to, which is
appointed by the club, assigns subjects
to some, select readings, etc, to others,
and its report is read at the meeting
preceding the one at which this pro-
gramme is to be rendered, thus giving
ample notice to those on the pro-
gramme. A music committee sees that
music is provided. This system pro-
vides an educational and attractive
programme entertaining alike to young
and old and freely participated in by
all ages of both sexes.
Business matters are freely discuss
ed, and in our own club we have often
purcha sed clover seed and binder Irvine
as n club at quite reduction from the
price to individuals. Thus far, how
ever, the matter of cooperative buying
has not been pushed by the state asso-
citation.
Practical farm matters are given a
prominent place on the programme
and great benefit derived from the in
terchange of ideas.
One of the best features of the meet
ing, however, is the social feature. We
know how little of a social nature comes
into our lives on the farm. The club
day is a day of society. Old friend
ships are cemented and new friend
ships are formed, and the initial step
is taken toward a closer union among
our farmers. We see what good lot
of neighbors we have, and suspicion
and distrust give place to mutual re-
gard and confidence.
So as result of our club meeting
we have a day of pleasure and intel
lectual and financial profit for all the
members of every family and all at
very small expense and at no sacrifice
of time needed in sleep and not a min
ute in the face of temptation to evil
Is it any wonder when so much good is
inculcated in an institution that sue
cess and progress should mark it's path
way? Its record of 300 clubs in six
years with not one cent paid to or
ganiZers or officers, which is the Michi-
gan record, speaks for itself
ShrinkaGe of Grain and Roots.
Oct 10, 1898, the Iowa experiment
station put 1000 pounds Of corn in
crib of about the usual size, or 1917
feet long and ~ feet wide. This corn
was weighed Onca a wool for tho