Year: 1870

Mr.. President and Gentlemen:


In accepting your invitation did not
suppose the Club would require a very
Iaborious or lengthy effort, and of course
anything but a meagre one could not be
expected, the time awarded being so linn
tied. attempt few remarks. not be-
cause | feel | may instruct and edify, but
because having deep and honest in
terest in all worthy ploSress, |
desire to do. what l may in for
warding the objects Of this organization,
and the farming interests Of this section
generally. lsasmuch as in your meetings
you design 10 discuss only such matters as
have bearing upon farming and agricul-
tura improvement, it will be expected
that what | may say will also run in that
channel. | believe that the winter eve
nings, or one in each week, can he 30
better or more pleasantly occupied than
in discussing and talking about that which
is ones life during spring, summer and
fall. That is, that it must be profitable
to spend onc-third Of the year in mental
labor preparatory to spending the other
two-thirds in manual labor This idea is
adapted to farmers and outdoor mechan-
les.


suppose it is with view to a more
general and perfect knowledge of busban-
dry that this Club is organized, and now,
although have no practicaI observations
to make about farming, still | am glad of
this opportunity to bring to your notice
one matter which rot only the members
of this Club are interested but the entire
country.


The subject is our Animal Exhibitions.
There is nothing which has more lasting
and saluatary effect upon the farming in
terests that costs so little, than success
full Fair | know that the farmer or me-
chanic, however humble or poor he may
be, must take great pleasure in exhibiting
something to his neighbors, aud even to
strangers, of his own production or manu-
facture that has merit. Time and energy
used in the production of stock, vegetables,
grain, fruit, or any thing that will attract
attention or cause the passer-by to stop
and examine, will be fully rewarded, not
only with pleasure, but with profit. Men
are satisfied generally, to attend a Fair,
but | hardly think the intelligent farmer
or mechanic IS fully satisfied until he has
exhibited something that takes premium
or that calls forth some unusual public re-
cognition. No man is so far dead to the
world as not to be warmed a little at see
ing his named mentioned in a newspaper
in connection with some act or some exhi-
bition of his at the Annual Fair, and | find
as Il rule that the more a man is noticed
the more he is apt to put himself III the
way of being noticed, and this is right,
provided only proper means are used to
obtain notoriety. would not say that a
man can gain much pleasure in buiyny a
pertected article for the purpose Of being
noticed or for the purpose # out-doing his
noighbor and thereby injuring his feelings,
but if SC produce or buy and perfect what
he offers for competition, then he has a
right to be awarded, and his out done
neithbor will commend him also. There
il mach in honorable competition that is
worthy. Some farmers, yes, 'dight say
many, work and produce mainly fOl The
money and pay li'tleattenlion loimprove-
ment or pleasure. Now If such would
think more and study more relatiyeilo'ine
best manner to procure the greatest crops
and the best from the means they have
in their control I. believe they would be
happier men, and in the end have more
money [ believe it to be true that oul
wealthiest farmers are those who have
been LIBERAL painstaking and studious
whose dollars have been the result o
thought and experiment more than of man
ual, routine labor. This latter class
| have noticed take greatiuterest in Fairs