Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 January 1907 — THE FARMERS’ INSTITUTE. [ARTICLE]

THE FARMERS’ INSTITUTE.

Report of Secretary of Annual Meeting Held Here Last Week. The 17th annual session of the Jasper county Farmers’ Institute and Ladies’ Auxiliary convened according to official program on Jan. 3,1907, at 10 a. m , in the Public Library hall; was called to order and address delivered by the president, Joe Pullin. Miss Edith Adams rendered a piano solo. Mrs. Lindley of Salem gave a splendid talk on “The wife as a business partner.” Mrs. Lindley believes that a frequent cause of divorce lies in the fact that too often young people deceive each other before marriage; the young man too often represents himself to be much better fixed financially than he really is, which causes some unnecessary extravagance from his wife. And too often the prospective bride succeeds too well in covering up any shortcomings, such as ignorance of cooking and housekeeping and a temper not too sweet. This subject was enthusiastically discussed until the noon hour. Miss Edna Hauter rendered a piano solo at 1 p. m. followed by Mrs, Jay Lampson on “Mother and Son,” a very interesting and instructive paper which called forth much discussion. Mrs. Lindley gave another talk which was of vital interest to pupils as well as parents. Mr. Amos Alter read a paper on “Maintaining Soil Fertility.” There are in the United States, he said,

80,000,000 people, 75,000,000 cattle, 17,000,000 hdrses, 3,000,000 mules, 45,000,000 sheep, 47,000,000 swine. $8,000,000,000 00 worth of food stuff. must ali come from the soil. Rotation of crops he recommends in the following order: Corn, oats, wheat, clover, timothy. Timothy is a soil robber, beware of Belling it off the farm. Keep all fields tightly fenced so stock can glean them. If you wish to raise a nice crop of potatoes, select a piece of the sandiest ground in the field where you had clover last year, fertilize heavy with sheep manure. (If you have no sheep, get some) plant early, tend well—you will have potatoes. This subject was much discussed but Mr. Alter refused to speak regarding commercial fertilizers. Amos Alter is a very successful farmer'and is regarded as authority on this subject. About 275 people were present during this session although the weather and roads were anything but pleasant. In the evening Miss Glenn Day gave a piano solo and Mrs. E. C. English delivered a fine solo with that rare voice of hers. “Sorghum as a forage crop,” by Winfred Pullin, was a subject that would have been a rare treat to the farmers had they heard it, but the night session was mostly of town people owing to the stormy weather and bad roads. Few people of this country realize the

profitableness of this crop. Mr. Pullin shocked his fence posts and left them in the field until Nov. 24. He harvested 12 tons of feed per acre that has a feeding vAlue greater than timothy, besides 80 bushels per acre of seed that has 90 per cent of the feeding value of Indian corn. This seed should be ground or soaked for hogs or cattle.

Sorghum will grow where clover will not. That is, on thinner soil than clover. B. D. Comer, one of the pillars of the Farmers’ Institute, caused considerable merriment in his talk on farming as a pastime, but was a little afraid that such men as Dr. English, Walter Porter, Frank Foltz and Geo. Pumphrey would commence raising cane around town after listening to Winfred Pullin on “Sorghum as a forage crop.” The first day’s session closed with a song from Mrs. Joe Pullin. SECOND DAY’S SESSION. The sun shone and the attendance was most excellent. 350 seats were filled and 25 took standing room. Mr. C. B. Benjamin of Leßoy, Ind., was present and delivered three addresses. “How we grow potatoes every year.” Mr. Benjamin agreed with Mr. Pumphrey that level cultivation ie the proper method. Hilling up potatoes will dry them out and dwarf their growth. He uses Paris green to kill potato bugs. Plant three patches. Early potatoes plant very early, late potatoes plant late. AGRICULTURAL TRAINING FOR OUR BOYS AND GIRLS. Mr. Benjamin dwelt largely upon the fact that too many children are grown up without any business training whatever. They know very little how to handle money or the value of it. Their parents do all the buying and selling. The result is that when they are thrown on to the world to transact business for themselves and they fall an easy prey to sharpers and they and their property are soon parted. Mrs. John Randle read a paper on “How to make the most of one’s self at home.” This subject was well handled. The parent must not lose the confidence of the children, and no mother can afford to engage in any sort of amusement of a questionable character. That is, to engage in any game at home that at school they are taught to be wrong. Mr. Benjamin is a great friend of corn shredding; says the cost of the labor is repaid by the method of saving manure.

The closing session at night was largely of the entertainment character. “Bill Bat,” the author of the celebrated “Hoosier Hunting Grounds” was on hands—or rather on his feet, as he expressed it — and while his song was not exactly a quartette yet it was good enough to produce an encore. An original poem by Miss Oka Pancoast was the subject of many compliments. Mrs. Delos Thompson and daughter Lois rendered an unusually fine instrumental duet on the piano. Geo. A. Williams far outdid himself and the expectations of the audience. He spoke of his boyhood days on the farm back in Ohio, after a manner and with such warmth of feeling that one could readily know that George is really a product of a country life amid scenes more beautiful, more rare than are found in any book, any park or city. And, like the author of “The Old Oaken Bucket,” his fancy reverts to his father’s plantation and sighs for “the bucket which hangs in the well,” and again, “For the boy’s will is the wind’s will, and the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts.” John E. Alter, the dauntless, the hero of seventeen farmers’ institutes, was there with his pencil and his “periods” taking notes. He had two mathematical problems that he seemed anxious for some pupils to solve. The entire institute work seemed to interest him greatly and hewas particularly touched by the speech of the librarian, Miss Bessie King, which was most excellent, as Miss King told the farmers that they were welcome to the library at all times, and even invited them to leave their children at the library in her charge. But “Bill Bat” was evidently a little excited when listening to this portion of Miss Bessie’s speech, for be had it down in his notes that Miss Bessie invited the farmers to leave their