Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 August 1902 — Page 10

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Russey. The board was organized for business by electing— Joseph A. Wright, president; . John B. Dillon, secretary; Royal Mayhew, treasurer; George Hussey, first vice-president; Samuel Emerion, second vice-president. Such was the beginning of the state board of agriculture fifty-one years ago. By referring to sec. 2 of the act creating the board It will be noticed that the legislature had in view the upbuilding of Indiana’s great industry and chief source of wealth, and manifestly, in naming the men who were to be the representatives of the great Interests Involved and give character and dignity to the enterprise, no mistake was made. They set the pace of progress. They were true to duty and to mission. They have all passed over the "great divide.” They sleep with their fathers. As a distinguished official of the board remarked, "They are all angels now." They sleep, with perhaps one exception. In unknown or obscure graves; but why may it not be said of the "turf that wraps their clay:” "When spring, with dewey fingers cold, Returns to deck their hallow’d mold, She then shall dress a sweeter sod Than fancy’s feet have ever trod.” The Board of Agriculture as an Educator. Manifestly the state board of agriculture was organised to exert an educational Influence in all matters pertaining to agricultural affairs In Indiana. This idea is deducible from the literature of the board from the first. Governor Wright, the first president of the board, in his message to the legislature In 1852, said: "Through the operations of a thorough system of organizations over the state the board will be able to collect not only general but particular and reliable information concerning the different soils of the state, the kind of agricultural labor that pays best, what articles are best adapted to such a soil and climate, the stock most in demand in the market, the various productions of each county in the state, different modes of farming by the best practical farmers, experiments on different soils with various crops, redeeming wet land, the mode and system adopted, stock raising, ditching, barns, stables, smoke houses, wells, spring houses, modes of supplying stock water,” etc. Nor was this all in the line of education. In addition the governor said: "The great advantages that result from ♦ho assembling of farmers, mechanics and

M. S. CLAYPOOL, PRESIDENT STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

nanufacturers In association in which (he productions of their skill and labors *re exhibited, consists in the free interchange of views and opinions; you tnereby stimulate Industry, bring together the moat distinguished mechanics of the state, with not only the work of their brain and hands, but they come together to inquire into the wants of the country, that they may return to their workshops to perfect their Inventions that have been suggested by these means. The manufacturer exhibits the results of his inventions and labors, the farmer the mode, process and Improvements of the farm The trials, tests and experiments that are thus exhibited will create a spirit of rivalry well calculated to develop -ue resources of the state and country.” There is no mistaking the tenor of such expressions. They establish the fact beyond controversy that the supreme mission of the state board of agriculture was and is educational. And this Idea receives support from the fact that Governor Wright, the first president of the board, was a university graduate, a statesman of broad views, a member of congress and of the United States senate, and twice a minister of the United States to Prussia, and withal, par excellence, an Indianlan, proud of his state and devoted to Its welfare, an historical fact in which the board may feel a genuine pride. Subsequent History. When the state board of agriculture was Organized Indiana had 93.000 farms, and in 1900 there were 221,897 farms, an increase In fifty years of 136 per cent., but the per cent, of increase in the number of farms affords no rational basis upon which to measure the increased percentage of staple products, as will appear in the tabulated exhibits which are herewith presented. In view of the vast totals the conclusion Is Inevitable that influences of tremendous force have been in operation to give Indiana supreme distinction as an agricultural state. We do not underestimate the power of the press It has doubtless done its part, particularly the agricultural press. Wo do not underestimate the ever wagging tongues of the trees as they tell of the glories of the timberland and its value. We do not underestimate the influence of the song books, of the brooks as they blend their melodies with the songs of the birds and win a verdict for rural retreats by their reposeful lullabies. Wa do not underestimate the orthodox divinity of the sermons preached by the stones, whether reposing tn the Bedford quarries or piled up in archlctectural beauty in the Indiana capital, but after all that can be said of these and other agencies the great work of educating farmers has devolveu upon the state board of agriculture and the work accomplished. though it has been eminently satisfactory, would have been still more gratifying if the state had provided for twice or three times a larger number of the annual reports of the board, since these documents contain the best thought of capable men of the state on matters pertaining to the interests of agriculture in all of Its departments. We do not overlook the fact that Purdue university has responded to every demand which scientific agriculture has imposed upon ft. A thorough knowledge of •oils and adaptable crops, of fertiliser and their proper application to different soils, and the demonstration of facts by experiments. are all In the line of agricultural progress in which Purdue has done and is doing a work worthy of the highest commendation. Nevertheless, the educational work the state board of grlculture is required to perform Is scarcely than herculean, and if We except

Purdue university it has no education assistance whatever. Governor Mount tn his message to the legislature in 1899 devoted considerable space to the advocacy of introducing text books on agricultural subjects into the common schools of the state. In his message he refers to what is being done tn certain European states as also to what is being done in the great state of New York, and, closing his remarks upon the subject, said: "I have quoted at length to show the trend of public sentiment in other countries. The abandoned farms In the older states sound a note of warning. The hundreds of thousands of acres of worn-out and abandoned land in the South earnestly appeal to intelligent thought. In our own state much land fails to produce paying crops and is being neglected. Many well-meaning and Industrious farmers who have to do directly with nature’s great laboratory are ignorant of its forces and reckless waste of soil fertility is the result. Insect peats and fungus growth threaten serious inroads into the profits of agriculture and horticulture. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. The time is opportune. Let Indiana take advanced steps in the introduction of this important science into her public school curriculum.” In 1850-54 there were 3,652 common schools in Indiana, and in 1900 the number had Increased to 10.038, or about 175 per cent., but in all these years, notwhb standing more than half of the number of these schools are located in the farming districts of the state, there was never k lesson taught the children of farmers remotely relating to agriculture or to horticulture. The farmers of Indiana have paid more than half of the many millions required to support these schools, but in return for these vast expenditures the schools have treated agriculture with uniform neglect. Governor Mount quotes from a report of distinguished citizens of New York, In which It was said: "One of the great underlying causes for the discontent that exists among the farmers is the fact that, as a class, they have no special training or education for their business. The methods that gave success in the past fall to do so at present. The soli has been depleted over a wide range of country'. The active, energetic young men needed on the farm to develop better possibilities are leaving it, because they have but little education or training fitting them for the business." And the committee suggests that to remedy the evils complained of is to begin "at the foundation and In the public

schools.” To repeat, as matters now stand in Indiana, the work of educating the children of farmers devolves upon the state board of agriculture and the fifty-six county agricultural societies of the state. Definitions. It may be well In this connection to define with critical exactness the classes engaged In the great work of agriculture, who are known as "farmer.” "husbandmen” and "agriculturist”—lexicographers say that the term "farmer" is derived from the Saxon feorm-food, and signifies one who "manages a farm or cultivates the ground for a subsistence” and that the term "husbandman” relates to one who “ follows husbandry.” that Is, the tillage of land by manual labor; the farmer, therefore, conducts the concern and the husbandman labors under his direction.” "Agriculture,' 'it Is said. Is derived from the “Latin ager, a field, and culo, to till,” and signifies any one engaged in the art of cultivation. The farmer is always a practitioner: the agriculturist may be a mere theorist; the farmer follows husbandry solely as a means of living; the agriculturist follows It as a science; the former tills the land upon given admitted principles; the latter frames new principles, or alters those that are established. Between the farmer and the agriculturist there Is the same difference as between practice and theory, the former may be assisted by the latter, so long as they go hand in hand, but In case of collision the farmer will be of more service to himself and his country than the agrlcultrulst. Farming brings Immediate profit from personal service; agriculture may only promise future, *and consequently contingent advantages.” Such definitions may seem hypercritical, but manifestly they are sound and state conditions. In Indiana the three classes, or their distinct characteristics, may all be found In one, that Is to say, the farmer may be husbandman and agriculturist, and the husbandman, who, In common parlance, is the "farm laborer," under the direction of the farmer, may become. If properly educated, a farmer and an agriculturist In the best sense of the terms, and Indiana has produced thousands of them. Methods of Teaching. Tfcat the state board of agriculture has been from the first a great educational force In Indiana does not require an affidavit. It was the original design that it should be thus distinguished, and the annual reports of the board demonstrate conclusively that It has not been unmindful of Its duty and mission. And It Is well to Inquire who have been the students of this agricultural university. We use the term "university” advisedly. It does no violence to language, but, on the contrary, the title is strictly in consonance with the proprieties of speech. A university, according to Webster, Is “an Institution organised and Incorporated for the purpose of Imparting Instruction and empowered to confer degrees;’’ and if "premiums” are substituted for "degrees" the state board university takes on all the dignity that attaches to Harvard or Xale or any other university in the country. The students of this great university come from more than two hundred thousand farms and are more than five hundred thousand in number. True, this great educational institution may have no Greek fraternities of the Alpha Tau Chi description, nor a hair-raising yell. The students may not be learned In the dead languages nor familiar with the dead past. They may know little of Greek mythology and careless about Homer’s description of the military methods of the gods In capturing Troy. They

might not be able to translate a Latin poem, were the performance to save the world from a second deluge. The state board university confers no degrees upon Its hundreds of thousands of students nor sends them forth Into the world or battle decorated with such titles as A. 8., A. M., Ph. B. and Ph. D.; Instead the university bestows premiums, every one of which is promotlve of the agricultural welfare and glory of the state. The Hon James Wilson, secretary of agriculture, is quoted as saying in a speech delivered at Savannah, Ga.: "The young farmer of the South should study soil rather than dead languages. He should learn of the plant in preference to ancient history and the feeding of animals before giving time to better letters. The study of the movement of moisture in the soil will pay better than the study of oratory. Barnyard poultry offers greater rewards for its intelligent care than county offices. ’’ This is as true of Indiana as of Georgia and thousands of Indiana’s farm boys are catching on to the idea and our agricultural university is rewarding their achievements with substantial premiums amounting to thousands of dollars annually. We do not know, but in glancing through the “Golden Jubilee" premium list we fail to discover a premium for the best Improved and conducted farm tn the state. If a royal premium of, say SSOO, for such a farm was offered it would be in the line of progress, Just what the rank and file of Indiana farmers require to inspire them with high endeavor, not only to make farms beautiful, but profitable. It may be difficult to determine, except on paper, what constitutes a farm of the various degrees of comparison, "good, better, best," but the state board of agriculture could readily determine the point. The farmer who exhibits the best stallion gets a premium of $25, for the best bull $25, for the best cow and heifer $25, for the best ram sl2, for the best boar sl2 and for the best of cocks, hens, turkeys and geese $3. This is all right and proper. It Inspires emulation, a desire to excel and in offering such premiums the state board of agriculture Is conducting an educational enterprise of far reaching Importance. Nevertheless premiums ranging from S2OO to SSOO for the best Improved farms, would, we do not doubt, be productive of results eminently favorable to the progress of agriculture in Indiana. The press would give special attention to such farms. They would be like the pictures painted by the best masters and would be be as attractive as the Indiana soldiers’ monument or any other grand achievement in architecture and thousands would visit such farms and interview their proprietors as to methods, soils, fertilizers, stock, barns and implements. and the result could scarcely fail of exerting a salutary influence upon agriculture, and the general welfare of the state premium farms of Indiana would have national renown.

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.

Indiana’s Yield from 1850 to 1900 Inclusive. The state board of agriculture was organized in May, 1851, and May, 1901. rounded up its half century of work, promotion of the interests of farmers. This probably can best be shown by presenting, in a tabulated form, the vast increase of farm products during this period of fifty years, and we begin the task by the tabulation of cereal crops by census years beginning with 1850. But the United States census reports furnish data only for the census years, and as a result for the nine Intermediate years no Information is supplied. But by finding the average of the census years a close approximation is reached, which, all things considered. Is fairly satisfactory. The following tables showing the product of the various farm crops for ten years and for fifty years by investigation are shown to be conservative: BARLEY. Year. Bushels. 1850 45.485 1860 332.245 1870 356.267 l>Bo 352.835 1890 250,200 1900 260,550 Total 1,597,582 Average annual product for census year 266,264 Product for fifty year 513,313,200 By calculating product by decades, as above, the result gives a total for fifty years of 13,315,200; something less than by estimating product for each of the fifty years of the period from 1850 to 1900. BUCKWHEAT. Year. Bushels. 1850 • 149.740 1860 396.989 1870 80,231 1880 166.805 1890 94,950 1900 102.340 Total 991,055 Average product census years 165,176 Product fifty years 8,258,800 INDIAN CORN. Year. Bushels. 1850 52.964.363 1860 71,588.819 1870 61,894.538 1880 115.482.300 1890 108.843.894 1900 178,967.070 Total 589.740 984 Average product census years.. 98,290.164 Product fifty years 4,914,508,200 OATS. Year. Bushels. 1850 5,(Lw,014 1860 5,655,014 1870 6.590.409 1880 15,590,508 1890 31.441.661 1900 34.565.070 Total 99,160,493 Average product census years.... 16,526.749 Product fifty years 826,337,450 RYE. Year. Bushels. 1850 -- 78,292 1860 5,317,831 1870 457.468 1880 303,105 1890 877.532 1900 56-1.300 Total 2,744,195 Average product census years.... 457.366 Product fifty year 522,868,300 WHEAT. Year. Bushels. 1850 6,214.458 1860 16.848.267 1870 30.128.468 1880 47.284.833 1890 37.318.798 1900 84.986,289 T0ta1172.781.113 Average jfroduct census year.... 28,796,852 Product fifty year 51,439,842,600 RECAPITULATION. Crop. Bushels. Barley 13.313.200 Buckwheat.. .. . 8.858,800 Indian Corn 4,914.508,200 Oats 826.337.450 Rye 22.868.300 Wheat 1,439,842,000

Production In fifty years 7,225,130,550 Taking the total production of the cereal crops, as shown by foregoing recapltuatlon, 7,225,130,550 bushels, and dividing the sum by 50, It is seen that the average annual production for fifty years has been 144,502.611 bushels. But this does not Include all of the products of the farm. Nob is it proposed In this epitomized history of ths state board of agriculture to do more than to present the principal products, such as have an admitted commercial value and are recognized in the

market reports of the state and country, as will be seen by the following tables: WOOL. Year. Founds. 1850 2.610,287 1860 2,552,818 1870 5,029.028 1880 6,167,998 1890 779,755 190') 6,891,601 Total 34,031.483 Average produced, ten years 4,006,247 Produced, fifty year5...,200,262,350 HAY. Year. Tons. 1850 403.830 1869 622,426 1870 1,872,768 1880 1,361,083 1890 2,741,645 1900 3,470,378 T0ta110,472,130 Average produced, ten year 5.1,745,355 Produced, fifty year 587,267,750 TOBACCO. Year. Pounds. 1850 8,044,616 1860 7.993,378 1870 9,325,392 1880 8,872,843 1890 7,710.207 1900 ;6,882,479 Total 48,828.908 Average for ten years 8,138,151 Total products for fifty year5....406,907,550 IRISH POTATOES. Year. Bushels. 1850 2,093.387 1860 3,866.647 1870 5,399.040 1880 6,232,246 1890 9,516.978 1900 6,095,130 Total 83,203,428 Average for ten years 5,533,907 Total product for fifty year 5276,695,350 BUTTER. Year. Pounds. 1856 12,881.535 1860 18.366.657 1870 22,915,385 1880 37.377,797 1890 48,477,766 1900 51,042,396 Total 191,061,536 Average product, ten years.... 31,843,589 Total, fifty year 51,592,179,450 CHEESE. Year. Pounds. 1850 624.584 1860 605.795 1870 283,807 1880 367,561 1890 360,948 1900 178,733 Total 2,421,428 Average ten years,.... 403.571 Total, fifty year 520,178,550 POULTRY. Year. Numbers. 1860 1860 1870 1880 6,815.724 1890 13.597.183 1900 14.590,424 Total 134.953.331 Average, three years 11,651.110 Product, fifty year 5582,565,500 EGGS. Year. Dozens. 1850 IS6O 1870 1890 28,823.819 1890 48,620,600 1900 70,782,200 Total 148,226 679 Average, three years 49.438,893 Total, fifty years 2,470.444.650 Taking into consideration the fact that statistics relating to poultry and eggs produced in Indiana in any given year is largely conjectural, and as a general proposition largely below the facts, no violence is done by assuming that the average number of poultry and dozens of eggs given for the three census years as tabulated is a fair presentation of the average for the census years for which no data are given, and the sum total for fifty years is admissible. bORGHUM. Year. Gallons. 1850 1860 881,049 1870 2.026,313 1860 1,741,853 1890 751,803 1900 * 679.361 Total 5,980.383 Average, five years 1,196,077 Total, forty-nine year 558,607,743 MAPLE SUGAR. Year. Pounds. 1850 2.921,192 1860 1.541,761 1870 1,332.333 1880 235.117 1890 115,580 1900 51,900 Total 6,197.883 Average, ten years 1,032,980 Total produced, fifty year 551,649,000 There are other farm products, for Instance, milk, the product for 1899 and 1900 being given at 286,142,475 gallons, and as the number of milch cows has not greatly varied in fifty years it may be assumed that during the period Indiana has produced 7,153.561,850 gallons of milk, enough to float the battleship Indiana and several smaller craft RECAPITULATION Annual Total In Product. Average., 50 Years. Wool (In pounds)..... 4.005,247 200.262,350 Hay (In tons) 1,745,855 87,267,750 Tobacco (in pounds).. 8.838,151 406.907,550 Irish Potatoes (in bu.) 5,533,907 276.695,350 Butter (in pounds)... 31,843,589 1,592,179,450 Cheese (in pounds)... i-403,571 20,178.550 Poultry (in number)., 11,651,110 582,555,500 Eggs (in dozens) 49,408.893 2,470,444.650 Sorghum (in gallons) 1,696,077 58,607,743 Maple sugar (In p’ds) 1,032,980 51,649,000 Milk On ga110n5)143.071,237 7,153,561.850 Live Stock. United States census reports showing the number of live stock in Indiana by decades: -

IWork’gl Milk Other Year. Horses. Mules.] Oxen. Cows. Cattle. Sheep. Swine. 1850 314.797 6,999 40.221 284,554 389,891 1,122,493 2,263.776 1860 520,677 28.892 117.687 363,553 538.144 991.175 3,099.110 1870 497,883 43,259 14.088 393.738 618,360 1,612,690 1.872.250 1880 581,444 51.780 3,970 494.944 864,846 1.100,511 3.086.413 1890 725.065 59,614 6.563 570,287 921,068 1,081.153 3,380.817 1900 751.715 67,725 574,276 1.010,202 1.010,648 3,763,389 Totals 8,391.571 258.265 182.529 2.681.350 4.342,502] 6,918,670 17,465.756 Average by decade .... 566,262 43,042} 36.506 446,892 723,733] 1.153,112 2,910.959

The live stock interests of Indiana are of special importance and the census re-

ports relating to the subject attract deserved attention, but they do not serve to show the annual product, and hence are unsatisfactory in circles where annual product is discussed. Nor is it an easy task tosu*rlve at satisfactory conclusions, and the conclusions which we submit, showing the annual increase of live stock and the product for fifty years, are the first in that line that have come under our observation. Referring to live stock, as a general proposition, it is admitted that the average life of horses and mules is ten years, that of milch cows, working oxen and other cattle five years and of sheep and swine two years. That is to say, the 314,797 horses and the 6,999 mules on hand in 1850 would have all disappeared by 1860; the working oxen, the milch cows and other cattle on hand in 1850 would likewise have disappeared in 1855, and the sheep and swine on hand in 1850 would have disappeared in 1852. Accepting such conclusions as a reasonable basis for calculation, it is found that the live stock product of the state for fifty years has been as follows: Horses 26,433,916 Mules 2,152,100 Milch cows 44,689,200 Working oxen ...1 2,920,980 Other cattle; 72,373,300 Sheep\ 288,278.000 Swine 727,734,750 T0ta11,164,582,246 To demonstrate the approximate correctness of the figures presented, showing sum totals, we should know the average number of farms engaged in the production of live stock in Indiana. Farms In Indiana by Decades. The number of farms in Indiana, as given by census reports, is as follows: 1850 93.896 1860 131,820 1870 161,280 1880 194,013 1890 198.167 1900 221,897 Total 1,001,073 Average 166,845 In this connection it will be instructive to show average product of live stock by the average farms, as follows: . ■c « "S £ 8 ?w -1 LIVESTOCK. u J E« C C -M > o > o<c > 55 ■< < 3 Horses 26.433.916 166?845l 158 O' Mules 2,152,100 " 128| .21 Milch cow’s .. 44,689,2001 ” I 2661 5.1 Working oxen. 2,820 980 " 17| .17 Other cattle... 72.373.300 ” 433 ! 8.4 Sheep '288,278.000 “ 1.728' 3.3 Swine 1727,734,750 ” 4,366! 8.6 Quite probably the results, as the foregoing table discloses, will strike the average farmer as conservative. At any rate, a reliable basis is supplied for such calculation as they may care to engage in. Annual Fairs by the State Board of Agriculture. The great educational influence exerted by the state board of agriculture has been by its annual fairs, the first having been held In Indianapolis in 1852, one year after the organization of the board. These fairs have been held at Indianapolis except in 1853. when it was held at Lafayette. in 1854 at Madison, In 1859 at New Albany. 1865 at Ft. Wayne, and In 1867 at Terre Haute. No fair was held in 1861, but in 1862 a fair was held at Indianapolis, and premiums awarded to the amount of $3,994. In 1863 no fair was held, but in 1864 a fair was held tn Indianapolis, and premiums awarded to the amount of $4,078, and since 1867 the state fairs, under the auspices of the state board of agriculture, have been held continuously at Indianapolis, and hither thousands of the people of the state have flocked like pilgrims to Mecca. The week In which the state fair is held Is In the nature of a series of holidays for farmers and their families, and at these fairs the whole clrrlculum of the state board university undergoes review and meritorious students are generously rewarded for their proficiency in their agricultural studies, which, in the current year, include, sixtynine classes, and the premiums will reach the goodly sum of $20,060. These premiums do not all go to the farmer and to those of the masculine pursuasion, but also to the home where the imperial sway of women Is acknowledged. to whom premiums are awarded for the best bread and cakes, painting on china, etc., and this noble work has been steadily progressing for fifty years often under serious dlcultfes and loss, but always with a resolute determination to go ahead in spite of adversities as the following exhibit of fair receipts, expenditures, premiums and attendance triumphantly demonstrates. Following is a list of Indiana state board of agriculture fairs, held from 1352 to 1901, Inclusive:

Table Showing the Annual Fairs Given by the State Board of Agriculture. Where Held and Yean FRecelpts. Expenditures.[Premiums.[Attendance. Indianapolis. 1852 ...♦•fs 8.853 i«l $ 4.971’77f $ 1.020 00) 20.000 Lafayette. 1853 .7 6.727 00 6.725 46! 2.617 00 35.000 Madison. 1854 7.430 77 4.002 85 2.000 77 45.000 Indianapolis, 1855;... 14.572 54 14.210 44 3.<16 59, IL.OOO Indianapolis. 1856 14.373 341 13.381 26 3.512 w 20.000 Indianapolis, 1857 18.850 44, 13,679 16 4.3.->4 60 30,000 Indianapolis. 1858 15.628 21 15.134 00 51380 00 Bn,<»o New- Albany, 1859 18,547 56 1 *.318 < 6 6.153 00 30.000 Indianapolis, 1860 14,062 11 23.551 061 8.854 00 50,000 Indianapolis, 1862 » W 4 00 Ftwayn^i^.::::::::::::::::::::: ’«:ow Indianapolis 1866 29.135 50 608 , 5 4,121 00 Terro Haute 1867 36.775 93 22.046 83 6.331 00 fo.OOO Indfanapolia 1868 ' 38.146 79 82,074 20 7,087 00 60.000 U inaianapoiiß. law .... 27 94.8 56 6,841 50 80.000 Indianapolis, 1870 •••••«••• •••••••••••• 3% oq' , ~4q aa Indianapolis, 1871 oHcl m 45 9 619 00 95,000 Indianapolis, 1872 M 451 58 1874 51*742 10 13480 10 10.164 00 150.000 HrSi - M S&i I®’ :::::::::: H Tnd snaKS ? 1881 ’*’'.lssl . 57,277 JO 44,816 41 6,855 50 80,000 Tnd anaM s’ 1882 55555 51,144 06 46,534 67 8.106 00 K.nOO Indiana^!is 1883 .5 94 80 ’ 299 22 9 581 13 22’222 is 1884 '55 35,291 82 81.50 Q 62 10.414 30 7\ooo T t s’ 1886 5 89,197 86 28,613 57 9,220 00 45,000 Ind anano s’ 1887 ’55 <l-721 08f 33.305 84 9.996 50 50.000 la 1888 ♦O- 566 23 <°’ 3ol 64 8 917 26 ?2’222 IJS9 27,130 10 19,002 24 10,200 00 50,000 ISW 46,912 50 21.360 13 13,040 50 35,000 1891 ”’55 30,178 93 22,165 84 12,472 00 50,000 22222 « 189’ 28,133 74 25,001 68 19.876 00 75.000 TndiJnanoHs 1893 13,532 71 23.384 34 17,758 00 150.000 ?2d 22222 s’ im .5.5. 27,12461 26,32507 17.5534 s 40.000 J2d 22222 s’ ms 55 19,64473 21,27337 ip6i7B 30.000 ?2d 2222215’ 18% ”55.5. 82,46657 22.46657 14.81717 35.000 ?2d 2222212 57,15980 55,55010 19,29683 75,000 2222212* ism ” 5 46.81710 <2,77830 11,11332 50,000 22222 2’ ism 5 5 56.54330 55,80680 iuogjn 55.000 l2d 22222 2 1900 i2di2£2p2ii2: m 555 : 83 < 3 _ Totals $1,492,836 77 $1,206 t B2O 45] $443,869 99 2,786,000

In discussing fairs it Is well to refer to fair grounds and their value. It has been the laudable ambition of the state board of agriculture to have a permanent home

■ Strength and security are combined in BLLWOOP ■ •> \ ■ FENCES. Made of beet steel wire, heavily galvan- ? ■MIhKIT?® X> >«<t mesh at bottom, larger mesh at top, J V ■-WcShE '.'-Is. yX'-T .make tliemMcure for large and saaaU stock. Farms, J E ’■'wWKlyjatag ranches, orchards, nurseries are safest fenced with g I FENCES/ ftOl all purposes. Sold everywhere. Ifyour dealer hasn’t them, write to f 1 ~ | AMERICAN STEEL A WIRE

for its fair, and this has been secured, the valuation of which is now $161,189.00 as follows: Eighty acr*s of land and improvements ... $ 145,000 00 Value of improvements on leased land 10,000 00 Other itemsL 6,193 00 Total|sl6l,l9B 00 Omitting special reference to receipts and expenditures, as shown in the foregoing exhibit of the fairs held by the state board of agriculture which, though taken from the published reports of the board, are doubtless in some measure a part of the financial transactions of the board separate and apart from the receipts and expenditures of the fairs, but the amount paid for premiums, $443,369.99, is substantially correct and reliable and shows the average expenditures for premiums have been $9,247.23, and these sums have gone into thousands of farmers' homes in every portion of the state where graduates of the state board university live and extol their alma mater—the gracious mother of agriculture in Indiana. And to rhow that the state board of agriculture has been largely instrumental in producing it only remains to give estimated values of the products of the farms of Indiana since the board was launched on troublous seas in May, 1851. It is scarcely required to say that average prices of the units of numberbushels, pounds, etc.—are more or less conjectural, but the table will serve the valuable purpose of enabling farmers to fix the prices, and find sum totals, which will be in the nature of levelatlons. Farm Products. The following table shows the average prices for farm products for fifty years:

Live Stock. £ i :ioDi yr. hjj -- gl ai 3 J|S “ O 3 a a u 3 o'® <y p Ch J H Horses , 26333,916 Head SSO 00! $ 1.321,695,801 Mules 2,152,100 ’’ 30 04)1 64,563,(MX Milch cows 44,689,200 ” 20 001 893,784,001 Working oxen J .2,9.0,980 ” 60 00[ 175,258,801 Other cattle .' 72,373,300 ” 67 50| 4,884,197,.54 Sheep 288,278.000 ” 2 001 576.556,001 Swine 727,734.750 ” ! 10 001 7,277,347,501 Totals 1,164,582,246 | $15,193,402,854 Cereals. PRODUCT. . < p, > E ' as c ta cti a p b Barley ~~~ 7.7777777777777777777 E£3l3,2oo''Bushels | $ 60 $ 7.987.9 S Buckwheat„ 8,858,800 ” I 75 6,644.00 Indian corn 4,914,508,200; ” f 27 1,326,917,21’ 4g Oats 826,337,450 ” 1 20 165,267, 49*® Rye Wheat L439.842.600i " I 75 L079,881,95<». Totals | 7,225,728,550! | 2,603.845.791 Miscellaneous. „ -- - 7 s • \ k L h ■ I li ?| I <5 C | S I£ I g I Trteh~SsStoes 1777"”.. .71 276,695.350!' Bushels I$ 0 4075 110,678,14 potat 200,262.350 Pounds 17] 34,044.60 :" 406.907,5507 ” 7[ 28,483,52 Mania surar 51,649.000 ” 20 10.329,92 Maple sugar $7.267,750 Tons 7 50' 654.512,12 6 T 85,011,70 . 2,470,444.650] Dozen 10 247.044.46, Milk * Total I I 2,427,298,64 J Live stock ; Miscellaneous I Grand total $20,224,551,29 I

The foregoing figures are eulogistic of the farmers of Indiana. The highest oratorical gifts now reach the 20.000.000,000 mark, and the more they are studied the more splendid becomes? the renown of Indiana as an arjtialti’.ral state. Retrospective and Prospective. Elsewhere In this article the names of the men are recorded who constituted the original state board (of agriculture, accompanied with the announcement that they are all dead. During the period from 1852 to 1902 fifty years—many and extraordinary changes have occurred in the methods of farming in Indiana. Farms have increased from 93.896 to 221.897, requiring the investment of millions of capital, and the personnel of the board has undergone numerous changes. Aa the members have retired, other distinguished citizens have

taken their places and have carried forward the great enterprises for which the board has been distinguished and eminently successful, and now, In 1902, known

as the “jubilee year” of the board, th®roster is as follows: Members of the Indiana State Board of Agriculture, 1902. First District—John C. Haines, Rockport, Spencer’county. Second District—Mason J. Niblack, Vincennes, Knox county. Third District—E. S. Tuell, Corydon, Harrison county. Fourth District—John Tilson, Franklin, Johnson county. Fifth District—H. L. Nowlin, Lawrenceburg. Dearborn county. Sixth District—Knods Porter, Hagers town, Wayne county. Seventh District—David Wallace, Indi anapolis. Eigthth District—Sid Conger, Shelbyville, Shelby county. Ninth District—W. T. Beauchamp, Tern Haute, Vigo county. Tenth District—J. C. Bridges, Bainbridge, Putnam county. Eleventh District—Marc S. Claypool, Muncie, Delaware county. Twelfth District—William M. Black-! stock, Lafayette, Tippecanoe county. Thirteenth District—John L. Thompsons Gas City, Grant county. Fourteenth District—Joe Peru, Miami county. Fifteenth District—C. B. Benjamin, Leroy, Lake county. Sixteenth District—James E. McDonald; Ligonier, Noble county. Officers. President^—M. S. Claypool. Vice-President—John L. Thompson. Treasure!*—J. W. Lagrange. Secretary—Charles Downing. General Superintendent—E. H. Peed.

Executive Committee. ■ Messrs. Niblack. Thompson, Beat ■ champ, McDonald, Conger. H Department Superintendents. H Admissions—John C. Haines, Rockpor ■ Grand Stand—Knode Porter, Hagen Speed—Mason J Niblack. Vincennes. Heavy Horses—William M. Lafayette. Light Harness Horses—W. T. BeatßH champ. Terre Haute. Beef Cattle—David Wallace, Indiana] oils. Dairy Cattle and Dairy Products—O. I Benjamin. Leroy. Swine—Joe Cunningham. Peru. Sheep—John L. Thompson. Gas City. Poultry—Sid Conger, Shelbyville. . Art—J. E. McDonald. Ligonier. Horticultural and Table Luxurles-Joh|| Tilson. Franklin. Agricultural—J. C. Bridges. Balnbrldg® Mechanical—E. S. Tuell, Corydon. Privileges—H. L. Nowlin. burg. Just what will be accomplished by th board during the coming fifty years Is b( yond the ken of prophet or sage, but tha Indiana enters upon a new era of progres In agricultural affairs Is a foregone cor elusion; that when the state fair of 1952 1 held premiums amounting to SIOO,OOO Ir stead of $20,000, as in 1902. will be awarde< We are building for the future-our mo< ' to’s "go ahead.” And the outlook is auspicious—let th past Inter Its dead. The busy brain of science, and the genii' of the farms. Will tell a grander story of crops an J herds and barns.

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