People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 February 1896 — Jasper Co. Farmers Institute. [ARTICLE]

Jasper Co. Farmers Institute.

The 6th annual session of the Jasper county farmers’ institute met in the court house, at Rensselaer, Feb. sth, 1896. • After a few appropriate introductory remarks by the president, Lucius Strong, Mr. Aaron Jones of South Bend addressed the institute on the subject of “How shall farmers market the products of the farm?” He said the main question of the farmer has been how to produce, and all books upon agricultural subjects have dealt principally with this one item. He said the most important part in running a big business, such as large factories, was not in overseeing the many men at work, but it was in finding markets, in dealing with the consumer, not how to work, but how. when and where to sell. He insisted that every farmer should keep a complete set of books that he may know the cost price of every article he produces, and in this way, be able to set a price upon whatever he has to sell. The farmer should acquaint himself with the markets, not only with the market prices, but with the demand of the markets produce that for which there is ready sale, strive to excel, for it is the best that pays the best. Farmers should be honest and never misrepresent the articles they place on the market. W. E. Moore followed Mr. Jones upon the subject. Mr. Moore did not keep a set of books but he generally knew the cost of whatever he produced. He said by knowing the cost price we are not always thereby enabled to set the selling price. Farmers have no way of controling the markets, the majority of them being poor and in debt must sell their products as soon as produced whatever the price may be. “Clover and practical ways of handling it” was an interesting subject presented by S. E. Kelsey of Momence, 111. The speaker said there were two objects in growing clover; to firtilize the soil and to produce a valuable stock food. He said most all farm plants abstract from the soil but clover increases its fertility. He would neyer sell any clover hay for besides its use as a valuable stock food it is worth as a manure $6 and $7 per ton. Mr. Kelsey said there were two ways of putting up clover hay, green and dry. When it is put up green see that there is no dew on it and no moisture in the air. He said green clover hay could be mowed away with perfect safety if proper precaution was taken. When curing in the field make caps for the shocks, don’t let the hay get too dry and never stack outside. F. W. Bedford would rake his clover hay in the afternoon and let it lie over night and then stir it up next day and shock it and let it stand two or three days, then open up the shocks, rake them again and haul to the barn. He would not let his hay get dry enough to shatter the leaves. He would cut when in full bloom. He thinks clover, as a food, is equal to grain pound for pound. Mr. Bedford would sow his clover from the first to the twentieth of March. Do not turn clover under when it is green but plow it under in the spring. This subject of clover elicited considerable discussion and showed that the farmers present were beginning to learn the value of this great crop. ‘ Co-operation of town and country in institute” by Aaron Jones, was the last subject of the first day’s meeting. Mr. Jones said fanners institutes were supported by the state, the whole people were taxed to keep them up, so they weie not for the farmers alone but every other calling in the state was more or less interested in them. He said the intent of the law was to make these meetings broad enough to bring together the merchant. the professional man, the manufacturer, the farmer and common laborer. In many places he said this was the way the institute was conducted. Mr. Jones would make it not only a farmers meeting, but he would have it a social gathering of men and women of different callings each one. having something to say upon that line of his life that brought him in contact with his fellow worker in other pursuits. I S. P. Thompson followed on this subject he thought that other professions should interest themselves in these meetings. He advised a more thorough organization in this county, and outlined a plan of work for the future, which, if put in operation, will surely do good. REHOLL'TIONB. Mi*. President: Your committee having carefully considered the subject of ■ Farmer’s Institutes in Jasper county, Indiana, report the following resolutions: ■ 1 That the thanks of those in attendance are due to Aaron Jones. 8. E. Kelsey and the officers of this institute for the

practical and useful tuition presented. 2 The instruction at these institutes should be made as broad as the equal citizenship of the farmers of the county, without distinction as to sex, or branch of that industry. 3 The benefits of the institute should go to all parts of the county and we recommend such an organization as will reach and* interest farmers in every neighborhood. 4 This county is next to the largest in the state, is favorably located as to markets and has a soil capable of producing all vegetation common to a temperate clime, and with proper organization we ought to have an institute as well patronized as any, and we recommend to the committee oft organization to take the matter up and provide for a still more interesting and profitable institute in 1897. 5 That all of the newspapers of this county be requested to publish an account of this Institute to be prepared by its Officers. 6 That this county next year hold a four days session of the county institute. Simeon A. Dowell, Calvin E. Jenkins, * Lee E. Glazebrook. Committee. second days institute. Mr. Kelsey took up the subject of “How to utilize corn fodder." He said that 35 per cent of the corn crop was in the fodder, and we have been throwing this away. The fodder on an acre is more valuable than an acre of timothy hay. He said there was no profit in turning cattle on a stalk-field. The fodder should be cut up by machinery and stored away in barns; 250 shocks could be mowed away per day at a cost of from $2 to S 3 per ton. The fodder should be cut early and put into shocks of ten hills square. Mow it early and dry, but don’t be afraid of a little juice in the stalk. Mr. Monnette would cut his fodder early, but unlike Mr. Kelsey, would make large shocks. He would not mow till December. Mr. Bostwick said in his state, New York, they cut their corn early, put it in small bunches or shocks, which can be handled with a pitch fork. It is stored away in barns early, between two foot layers of straw. This fodder subject was the most interesting subject that came before the institute. We think the consensus of opinion showed that fodder should be cut early and shreded early, shreded before the storms of winter come on. “Drouth its causes and how to ameliorate its effects,” by Aaron Jones. He thinks the drouth in the future is going to be a very serious matter. When our country was new we had but little trouble with dry weather; he thinks the clearing away of our forestsand the draining of our ponds are the causes that bring the drouths. Our government must discourage the destruction of forests and encourage the planting of trees. He said in other countries the governments control the growth and use of timber. The state may assist, but the farmer must be more careful in handling the soil. We must break our ground deep, lay our tile deep, and grow clover. Mr. Jones would work less land but would not perform less labor; level shallow cultivation, harrowing, draging, pulverizing, etc., are the means to be employed to ameliorate the effects of the drouth. Mr. John Alter followed on this subject. He said men have toiled half their lives in clearing away theforests and now they are called on to replace them. Mr. Alter said we must farm so as to hold the moisture, cultivate shallow and often in dry times; muck land should be rolled to retain the moisture. We should adapt our grains to our soil and reason. Mr. Bedford would plow for moisture, would follow the breaking plow with a drag or roller and then harrow and keep the soil completely pulverized. This subject of drouth was followed by “Dairy Farming,” lead by Mr Kelsey, as this has appeared at every institute we have had here, there was nothing new presented by the speaker. Mr. Smith, of of the creamery* followed Mr. Kelsey. This gentleman is a new man among us, and appears to thoroughly understand the dairy business. We trust his labor here Will be amply rewarded, and he will become one our permanently located citizens. COMMITTEEON ORGANIZATION. Mr. president: Your committee, having carefully considered the subject of the organization of the county for the coming year to close with the next annual institute, beg leave to report as follows: 1. We recommend that on Labor Day, September 7th, 1896, that a township fair and picnic be held in each township of the county, and that a vice-president be then selected for that township, and a township organization be then completed and delegates selected to attend the next institute. The place of these meetings to be determined by the executive committee, herein after provided for, who shall determine the same on or before July 4th, 1896. 2. Tliat an executive committee of seven be appointed to arrange the programme for the next annual institute and we recommend that such committee shall consist of the following named persons:— Joel F. Spriggs, Cornelius Bierma, Henry Marsh, Ed W. Culp, Mrs. Ida Randle, Mrs. Eva K. Foltz, and S. P. Thompson, the latter of whom shall be chairman, to be appointed by this institute, two of whom shall be ladies, and two shall re-

side in each commissioner’s district. 3. Werecomipend that the following persons, to-wit: Edwin P. Honan, Fitz Bedford, Rial B. Harris, Mrs. Caddie Martin, and Mrs. Martha J. Wasson be appointed a committee of reception to see that those who attend out next institute from the remote parts of the county be entertained and their attendance be made as agreeable and profitable as possible, Edwin P. Honan be chairman of said committee. 4. We recommend as officers of this association for the next ensuing year, for president, Lucius Strong; secretary, Lee Glazebrook; treasurer, Estella Parkinson; and that the next institute be held at the court house in Rensselaer under the auspices of said officers and the committees herein named and those named by township meetings as herein before provided for. 5. We recommend that during the institute lectures be held at the opera house each evening, and that one of the meetings be conducted by the ladies, and that at least one third of the tijne in the program be devoted to subjects of interest to the farmers’ wives and daughters. David H. Yeoman, Robert B. Porter. Simon P. Thompson.

John Casey was circulatinga subsrcription paper in Rensselaer Wednesday for a new church in Fair Oaks. Church services have in the past been held in the school house, but for some time the director has refused to allow it to be used for such* purposes. Mr. Casey is soliciting orders also for James Halleck's nursery stock. Antrim & Dean have an advertisement in this issue announcing their advent in the hardware business. The firm has adopted the cash system, both in buying and selling, and state their intention of giving theii customers the benefit of shrewd buying. If you want to hear the'jubilee singers Monday night, reserve your seats at Fendig’s drug store, as there are but few open spaces now, and the house will surely be crowded.