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statesman honored and courted on every hand. They grow rich by gambling in gold and securities-the life-blood of the nation; they fatten and grow proud on panics, which shatter legitimate industries; when their bubbles burst they bring bankruptcy to the honest tradesman, and poverty

to innocent women and children, without any compunction. Why should they care? The law protects them, or at least connives at them. They have wealth. This species of crime is not odious, as it was in the days of our forefathers, when farmers were law-makers and the rulers in the land. It never will be made odious, until farmers again take the helm. This is a great work-how great has only lately begun to be appreciated. Happily the means of its accomplishment already exist, and this great social and political

renovation may yet be brought about, through the agency of farmers' associations, under the various names of Clubs, Societies, Unions, or Granges.

CLUBS IN PENNSYLVANIA.

The first society formed in America was "The Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture." This was established in March, 1785, by a number of citizens who, although but a small portion of them were actually engaged in farming, were actuated by a sense of the necessity of such an organization as an auxiliary to the development of the resources of the State and the agricultural interests of the country. It flourished for some years, and at its regular meetings much valuable information was elicited from practical men. This was published by the society, and thus disseminated through the country by means of the press. Among the awards made by this society was a gold medal to Mr. Mathewson, in 1790, for the best sample and greatest quantity of cheese.

Like many another benevolent association, it afterward lost much of its vitality; dark days came upon it, and it slumbered for years. In 1804, however, it was resuscitated through the patriotic exertions of Judge Peters, and thenceforward for a considerable period continued to do much good. It was finally incorporated by the Legislature of Pennsylvania in 1809, but has since died a natural death.

The example set by the earlier societies in Pennsylvania has not been lost. Local organizations and Boards of Agriculture, for holding fairs, etc., have sprung up in every part of the United States. These have exercised an immense power for good, not only in the locality where the original societies were organized, but throughout the land.

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The seed sown has spread and borne abundant fruit in the newer States, as fast as the population has become sufficiently numerous to justify the formation of similar organizations; and, in fact, they have not been a whit behind the older sections of the country.

CLUBS IN THE SOUTH.

The first Agricultural Society ever incorporated in America was that established in South Carolina, in 1785, called

the "Society for the Promotion of Agriculture." Its objects included the institution of a farm for experiments in agriculture, and the importation and distribution of foreign productions suited to the climate of that State. Another prominent object was to direct the attention of farmers and planters to the economies connected with the agriculture of the State, and to enlist them generally in the improvement of their condition. The society accomplished an excellent work, among other things, that of introducing the cultivation of the olive and the vine into the State.

Societies for the promotion of agriculture were always regarded by the planters and statesmen of the South as being of the first importance; and naturally so, for the reason that

agriculture always was the dominant-in fact, almost the exclusive-interest there; more than this, however, from the settlement of the country until about 1860, it was confined to special products, as, at first, tobacco, then cotton, and, later, sugar; these with blooded horses and cattle, comprising the chief sources of wealth of the southern planter. In the earlier history of the South, her clubs and societies were composed of men of wealth and position, and, like the earlier kindred societies of Great Britain, were exclusive in their nature.

More recently, Agricultural Societies in the South have taken on a more popular character, and the last five years has witnessed a wonderful, increase in the number of clubs. and similar organizations, which have had the effect to reawaken interest in this rich and diversified portion of our common country, and to induce emigration thither. It is to be hoped that this will be the means of developing the immense resources of this fertile region.

CLUBS IN NEW YORK.

A society for the "Advancement of Agriculture" was incorporated in New York in 1791, but it became defunct after a brief existence of ten years. In 1792, the Legislature of the same State incorporated another organization, under the title of the "Society for the Promotion of Agriculture, Manufactures, and Arts," and again, in 1804, a "Society for the Promotion of Useful Arts," in the recital of which arts, agriculture is first named. This society published seven volumes of Transactions previous to 1815.

The New York State Agricultural Society held its first regular fair in 1840, the small sum of twelve and a half cents being charged for admission, Since that time the so

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ciety has grown in magnitude year by year, exercising a powerful influence upon the growth of agricultural art in the State. Clubs have multiplied, and the Legislature of the State, being finally roused to action, principally through the writings of Judge Buell and the efforts of his contemporaries, many of whom are still living, has done its duty toward agriculture.

The result has been the introduction of a systematic culture, under whose beneficent operations New York now stands the first State in the Union in the diversity and wealth of its products. Its agriculture has stimulated manufactures, built large cities, opened avenues of trade and commerce, and scattered all over it a population that has made it the Empire State of our great Republic. Its farmers have demonstrated that in a diversified agriculture consists the true wealth of a community, whether of a town, county, or State.

While this has been the case, however, its great maritime city, New York, has managed, through its vast aggregation of wealth, chiefly in the hands of a few unscrupulous individuals, to manipulate and get possession of the carrying trade to and from the West. It has bought legislatures and controlled the finances of the country. By a nod, a few of its money kings can signify how much or how little western farmers are to get for their produce. The unconscionable exactions of its railroad potentates have roused a bitter feeling of indignation, and just now it is waking up to the fact that, though powerful, it is not omnipotent. It begins to realize that, unless some change is made, the traffic which once poured money into its coffers will find other channels, and Montreal, Quebec, Boston, Baltimore, and New Orleans reign, perchance, in its stead.