a case of cholera, fever or diarrhoea-not a single fatal one-occurred among the residents on the bluffs, nor of summer complaints among children; while in the lower town, where earth water was almost exclusively used, those diseases raged with fearful fatality, sweeping off old and young by scores; and the facts were so marked that many persons removed to the upper town on the bluffs.

With great unanimity, medical reports, from different countries in regard to cholera and like epidemics, state that attacks were rare, and still more rarely fatal, in families and communities which used only rain water for all purposes, even in the most severely afflicted localities of both Europe and America; while these epidemics were as uniformly fatal among those who used only earth water; so that the conclusions are unmistakable and important that rain water prevents while earth water provokes epidemic attacks. A French commissioner of health, writing upon this subject some years since, said:

It has been clearly ascertained, both in Paris and elsewhere, that rain water is a prophylactic (antidote) to cholera; and that the disease was not proved an epidemic in any city where rain water was exclusively used.

And he goes on earnestly to recommend "to all communities the general use of rain water, at whatever cost it may be secured."

Dr. Hobbs, of Memphis, reports as follows:

By "the exclusive use of cistern water, cholera will speedily disappear and not return. This is known from both analysis and experience of over twenty years," and he consequently recommends "that it should be used faithfully for all personal purposes."

John Lea, of Cincinnati, writes as follows:

It is a verified fact, which will stand the test of the strictest investigation, that the exclusive using of rain water for all purposes of drinking, cooking, and bathing, instead of hard or well water, is a sure preventive of cholera and howel complaints, and that no town or city supplied exclusively with rain water ever suffers seriously from epidemic cholera.

From this united testimony, which might be greatly extended, it is unquestionably true that the exclusive use of rain water is especially a preventive of epidemics and generally conducive to good health. Enough has been presented on this head to secure the attention of intelligent and interested readers to the importance of the subject, and to show that it is for their highest interest to supply sufficient cisterns to secure all the rain water they may need for personal and household purposes, at any expense within their reach. Though plenty of earth water may be ready at hand, still, in the long run, the pecuniary saving by immunity from sickness and doctors' bills, with loss of time, will more than compensate for the expense of cisterns, to say nothing of the pleasure secured or the suffering avoided by its use.

SUFFERING ON THE PRAIRIES.

In years past I visited and spent considerable time in portions of the western and southern prairies, and witnessed the inconveniences and sufferings of the people in those beautiful regions, caused by the general scarcity of water. It was sparingly used in washing either person or clothes, and never for bathing; while animals absolutely suffered, and even died, for want of drink; and those which survived exhibited but sickly, sluggish growth, making little or no thrift during a whole season. Nearly or quite all of this suffering and loss might have been prevented on each farm at a cost of not more than the value of one good animal, if it had been judiciously expended in making cisterns and temporary basins in the fields to collect the rain water, which falls in sufficient quantities all over the prairie country to supply these wants, when seasonably taken advantage of by the inhabitants. Here is one of the admirable and peculiar advantages of cisterns, that they can be made and used in any desirable spot with certainty of water, while great care and skill must be exercised in selecting the place for sinking wells, together with the uncertainty of finding permanent water, even in favored localities. The cistern pump may be in the barn, where water can be

drawn and used, away from the wind and storm, with comfort to man and beast even in severe winter, for watering animals, preparing feed, and washing har nesses, carriages, &c.; exempt from the tedious task of going through mud or snow to the creek or pond. The same advantage is afforded in regard to drawing water for the wash-room and kitchen.

SAFETY AGAINST LOSS BY FIRE.

The safety of house or barn is also promoted by these cisterns, so conveniently near, from which water can be obtained at the moment when the fire occurs. Very often a single pailful at the commencement would extinguish the flames, which from a very short delay might become uncontrollable. In all localities where farming can be carried on, or a residence is desirable, cloud water can be secured at a reasonable cost for all ordinary purposes. Indeed, I have been told, by good authority, that insurance companies will insure farm buildings at much lower rates in cases where this wise provision for water is made. In fact, the saving in cost of insurance will nearly or quite pay the expense of the cisterus, &c., while a feeling of security is a pleasing consideration.

CONCLUSION.

In the foregoing pages think it has been conclusively shown that the absence of running water is no valid objection or hindrance to making pleasant homes on the prairies, or indeed in any locality where there is good land. On the contrary, I think it has been shown that this apparent destitution of water is, in some respects, a blessing, as it will induce or drive people to adopt that which is greatly for their advantage, the use of water from the clouds rather than that from the earth, which has become vitiated by impurities from its surface, and absorption of deleterious mineral substances in its passage through it. Therefore, let no one be deterred from making a home upon the prairie, for he will not only find good health, but its beautiful plains and fertile soil will afford a rich supply of the necessaries and luxuries of life, and bring all the enjoyments of independence and abundant wealth.

FARMERS' CLUBS.

BY RUFUS NUTTING, RANDOLPH, Vermont

Among the efficient means of increasing interest in agriculture, farmers' clubs or lyceums have occupied considerable space within the last decade. Although of comparatively recent origin, and confined to a few localities, their influence has been extensive and useful. The New York State Agricultural Society originally, in 1792, partook of this character, but soon expanded into a State institution. The American Institute Farmers' Club is probably the oldest permanent institution of the kind in this country, and the most influential. I am informed that it was organized in 1840, by Mr. Wakeman, and was modelled after some he had seen and admired in Europe. It holds its meetings every Tuesday afternoon, and a summary of its conversations and correspondence is published in some ten of more of the leading city papers, and eagerly read by hundreds of thousands of readers all over the Union. Several hundred similar societies have been organized in various sections, mainly modelled after this one, but, not having the same

extensive resources, they have not proved as permanent or useful. That associations of the kind would be eminently beneficial in their several localities cannot be doubted; but how to conduct them so as to make them permanently successful in country places is the great question, which, if satisfactorily answered, would cause them to increase rapidly all over the land.

Few country clubs can hope to enlist any considerable amount of ability, such as gives interest and influence to the New York club; yet each section has subjects as important, and means to make them as interesting to its own inhabitants, would each farmer and gardener but feel and resolve to bring forward the first and use the others for their elucidation. A unanimous, continuous effort to this end, a prompt, punctual attendance at every meeting, a determination to interest and to please animating each mind and heart during the intervals between the meetings, would go far towards making any club, however small its distric and limited its numbers, a permanent success. Perhaps I can better illustrate my views by giving a brief history of the Randolph (Vermont) Farmers' Lyceum, and some of its proceedings during the last term, from November to April, meeting every Monday evening. I offer this, not as a model, but simply as a specimen. of what may be done and even greatly improved upon by any company of farmers and gardeners of common education, and actuated by a mutual desire for improvement, directed by common sense and kindly feelings.

The Randolph Farmers' Lyceum was organized six years ago with 13 members, by the persistent efforts of one man, a mechanic and amateur farmer, and has continued until it now numbers over 100 members. Its specified objects are, first, the acquisition and dissemination of agricultural knowledge; second, the promotion of acquaintance and friendship among neighbors; third, the improvement of its members in conversation, composition, and public reading and speaking; and fourth, the improvement of farms, farm implements, stock, buildings, and every department of agriculture.

Its principal exercises at each meeting for the first four years were an essay, followed by discussion. The fifth year an oration was added, and the last term an impromptu speech was required. The speaker is called to the stand, his subject given him by the president, and he required to speak five minutes on it without preparation. The essay and oration are limited to fifteen minutes each. No admission fee is required, and the annual expenses have amounted to less than ten cents for each member. Of course no subjects are admitted except purely agricultural ones, and, consequently, no unhappy dissensions have crept in. Provision should be made by every lyceum for judicious and careful experiments, each to be confided to a certain number of members, who would subject every portion of the operations to the most careful test of weighing and measuring, and carefully enter on record every step in the progress of each experiment. At the conclusion of each experiment a full report should be made by each person engaged in making the same, embracing all particulars and details of soil, season, weather, operations and results. And such experiments, to be conclusive, should be renewed from year to year, until discrepancies cease, or can be satisfactorily

accounted for.

During the last term of 22 weeks the following were among the subjects of the essays, orations, impromptu speeches, and discussions, with brief thoughts upon some of them, as selected from the minutes of the secretary:

Butter factories. They were objected to on account of the small size of the dairies in this section; the great difference in the butter quality of different cows' ilk; the cost of transportation of small quantities of milk from the farm to the factory; the loss of the skimmed and butter-milk, and the various chances for and in the establishment.

Ploughing in the fall.-This was recommended by some because there was more leisure, and the team is usually in better flesh and strength than in the spring; the sward land is in better condition for sowing oats in the spring; dry