Year: 1874

to address you, and while L offer my
crude thoughts I ask You to be char
liable in rendering Judgment. Very
limited in education, l know | shall
make many mistakes.


The name Farmers and Mechan-
les Club) is comprehensive, and
broad enough to include us all. Who
in this broad land is not interested in
our occupations? Ianswer none. Our
Constitution and Bylaws make am
pie provision for men of all profes
sions, not forgetting the Matrons and
Misses; all may become members.


In the rural districts of our conn
try the interests of the farmers and
mechanics are so interviewer that
what affects the interest of the farmer
also affects the other. think we
should and can work together har-
moniously, to better our conditions.


The blacksmith studies the strnc-
ture and workings of farm imple-
memts, and should know the manner
in which they perform their work, as
well as he who uses them. The car
penter should know how to construct
our buildings for the least money,
considering convenience and durabil-
ity. / have often thought there
should be more uniformity in dwelling
houses, certainly there could be.
There are certain plans that are the
/ hot Tf +haoa urora aSta hliShad tharn
would be many Inconvenience ban
ished from our dwellings, but as it is,
each of us prefers to be our own archi-
tect, and know as little about it as we
do of Latin. The merchant should
study what is best suited to his GUS
toners, and be wide awake to suppl v
them with merchandise bought at bot
tom prices, for as he buys so must he
sell. Professional men can tell us
how well they understand their bust
ness, as well as the ladies, who l hope
have a deep interest in the welfare OF
all. The farmers should know great
deal more about their business than
they do. These and many more sub
jects, dividing into a multitude OF
questions, will, from time to time,
come before us for discussion. Let
me urge all to take part, that we may
profit thereby. Farmers should know
more about raising wheat, corn, po-
tatoes. &c. Who of US can tell what
effect lime has on wheat on our soil!
One neighbor is trying the expert
ment. l am glad to say, and feel
anxious to know the effect Cloveri is
a great fertilizer, not by the amount
of manure it makes by decomposition,
flor we too often take all off we can
get, but by the long top roots draw
ing up the plant food. Will this
process by and by so impOverish the
soil that it will require some other
fertilizer?


Why is it that the same crop, (corn
or wheat) grown year after year on
the same field, will run out (as we
call it?) Why is it onions can be
grown an hundred years on the same
soil and not run out? What is re
quisite in soil to grow the best crop
of potatoes, cabbage, beans, &c?


These, and many more questions,
should be answered with as much GER
tainty as that two and two make four,
vet no two of us would give the same
answer, and if we did answer it would
only be a guess. / confess it would
be so with myself Our knowledge is
too superficial and limited,


How to improve and enlighten our
selves should be our study, as it is
our duty. One great drawback is
our poverty. Weswork enough, and
ought to realize more from it, but |
think we are most to blame ourselves.
We spread our labor out so thin that
we can not gather it. Have we not
seen corn planted on land that the
birds in the woods knew, would not
produce over ten bushels good shelled
corn to the acre? Now spread ont our
labor on that kind of prospects, and
then pitch into spectators, middle
men and monopolies, to redress our
grievances, is an absurdity, and L
fear such cases are beyond the potent
power of even Granger redemption.


He who makes two blades OF grass
to grow where but one grew before, is
a benefactor to the human race. If
we here can create an interest in the
objects of our Club, investigate and
experiment, and make fields produce
fifteen or twenty bushels OF wheat
that now produce from six to ten, in
five or even ten years hence we shall
have done something toward better
ing our condition. Something in that
direction must be done, and | feel en-
couraged in the start already made.
Our discussions on the subject OF
roads and road-tax, (very proper sub
iect to agitate-ED. have had good
effect. if not to the extent indicated,
vet there has been levy made for
roads.


On the subject of Oranges, | think
| it not out of place to make few re-
marks. To the oft repeated question
asked. "are we going to form a
4 Granger as well as, "are we opposed
to Grangers?' answer, we are
neither. Our Constitution and By
Laws have been publicly read. Spec
tators are not prohibited and many
; are present tonight, SO there need be
no more anxiety on that score.


II / understand the compliment to
form a Grange is full. You who are
lenrolled are our friends and neghbors
some of you are members OF oul
. Club, but that need not ALLEVIATE you
from us, and we expect your co-ope
/ ration as heretofore. | hope you VII
. find the organization a good thing 10, 70,


expect too much. You will md De
, ing a Granger will not assist you II
growing corn, wheat and potatoes
d Law in a good supply of charity, pa


tience and courage; you may nnt
Il