Year: 1870

/


[By Agricultural Editor.


In recent visit to friend in the neighbor-
hood of the Gunpowder river, generally known
as "Quaker Bottom" we had the pleasure of
meeting with the Secretary of Farmers
Club, recently formed by the farmers in that
vicinity, for the mutual edification of each
other and for social intercourse. We had re-
peatedly received invitations from members of
the Club to be present at their meetings, which
so far, it has happened, it was not in our power
to accept. The Secretary read to us the pro
ceedngs of two three of the latest meetings,
which evinced much interest in the members,
both in imparting and receiving instruction.
This Club consists of twelve members all Of
| them substantial farmers and landholders, liv-
| ing within a circle of five or six miles; the
meetings are held on certain Saturday in
| each month, when the host of the day expects
his farm and its buildings, together with the
| surroundings thereof, to be duly examined and
| commented on, and such suggestions as may
| present themselves to any of the members are
freely made in regard to the same; after this
part of the duty is performed, and the hospi-
talities of the host and his good housewife are
partaken of-and the farmers of Baltimore
county were ever famous for the good things
of life under which their tables groan-the
Club proceeds to the discussion of the various
subjects which are brought before it, and each
one gives his mode of cultivation of any parti-
cular crop, and thus by comparing notes and
| reporting results, much instruction and great
benefit is derived by the several members.
In this Club, small it is, to be found
men of every shade of religion, of politics, of
wealth, and social position, all united in the
one great object of improving the condition of
the farming interest of ther vicinity, and dis
! card the consideration of every topic in their
discussions than those bearing directly on the
object of the formation of the Club. And their
example is becoming contagious. as at their
last meeting proposition was made for the
withdrawal of one or two of their youngest
members to give place to others of more ad-
vanced age, and to form another Club under
the auspices of this in which the younger far
mers of the neighborhood are to be partakers
One of the oldest of the members of the Club
is Mr.. Talbot Gorsuch, who, like ourself, has
passed the age allotted to man, but who is as
jealous in every such good work as that in
which he is now engaged as he was on our first
acquaintance, some twenty or thirty years ago,
when he, with the late George Law and others,
were amongst the first in the introduction of
the Berkshire hogs into this State-a breed, by
the by, which the late George Patterson pro-
nounced the best in the land, and there was
no better judge in all things pertaining to the
breeding of live stock than he. We were in
formed by the Secretary that Mr.. Gorsuch
stated at the Club meeting that paragraph
from our pen, many years ago, had reached
some enterprising farmers in the western part
of New York State, and that probably the first
Agricultural Club was formed in that region,
caused by the suggestion made by us therein.
Now, there are hundreds of these associations,
which have been extended into the adjoining
New England States, where they are so tho
roughly organized and systematized that laws
appropriating certain funds to all such forma-
tions are passed for their support out of the
public funds-though we cannot perceive the
necessity that can exist for any such purpose,





in these regions may exist and subsist on their
own resources, without adding any additional
burthens to an already over-taxed people.


We hope the example set by our Baltimore
county friends may be followed in every sec
ton of our State, and to encourage such efforts
we will present hereafter copy of a constitu
tion, simple in its details, for the guidance of
those who may have public spirit enough to
commence so good work.


Since our visit to our friend, when we deter
mined to bring this matter to the consideration
of the farmers among whom The american is
now being so extensively circulated through
out the Middle States, our eye rested upon an
| artiSIe published in q cotemporary journal of
the East upon the subject of "Associations for
Mutual Benefit" that SO fully covers the whole
ground and presents the advantages to be de-
rived thereby in graphic style, that we
cannot refrain from presenting it in connec-
ton with the remarks above made, as exactly
coincidng with our own views upon the sub
ject. The writer says:


Nearly all the professions and different oc-
cupations of mankind have long had organized
associations for instruction and mutual benefit.
The legal profession has its bar meetings for
the purpose of consultation, advice and mutual
study of technical points of law /; the medical
profession has its medical society, and meet
ings in which the different modes of practice
are considered, the clerical profession has its
associations and convocations, in which the
interests of the church are considered and the
best means of advancing Christianity are dis
cussed and so on through the catalogue, all
appear to be connected together in their efforts
to advance their several interests, as a class.
Even the common people of our country towns
associate in lyceums for the purpose of intel
lectual improvement, by means Of debate, lee
lures, &C., and associations of mechanics and
artizans exist all over the country.


Farmers, however, have heretofore formed
an exception to the general rule, as our County
and State Agricultural Societies are too general
in their organization and objects to be classed
| as mutual benefit associations. Farmers Clubs
appear to be better adapted to the purpose,
which it is to be hoped will SO become the rule,
rather than, as now, the exception.


The questions very naturally arise, are they
a source of improvement and benefit to these
members, and if so, why are they not more
generally organized? Regarding the first part
of the proposition, there could scarcely be
doubt that benefit is der; we'd from such associ-
ations. In the first place it is supposed that