Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 February 1899 — Presidents’ Address Opening Exereises Farmers’ Institute. [ARTICLE]

Presidents’ Address Opening Exereises Farmers’ Institute.

ladies and Gentlemen: One year ago the 12th day of this month we met in institute. Since that time we , have had seed time and harvest. The result is that we have, bountiful crops for which wa should be devoutly thankful, l)uribg the.yeqr wehaye’hed our difficulties to overcome. How well we have done this is for each one to decide. If we have not foamed profitable lessons from these, and have not been close observers, then we have failed to improve our opportunities. If on the othhr . hAnd we have met these difficulties with a view to Avoid them in the fosu{e, then we have taken a step ip the right direction. In either case let us not forget that, after applying all of the uu, ia oi>iaiju*Lie, woodier gained through the institute or. from any other source, the result of which has materially increased our prqfit, that it is God:wbo fjlYhh the increase. It might be well at this time to take a retrospective view. 1 When Milton B. Hopkins conceived the idea of township institutes and succeeded in putting those ideas in to praotioal use, it opened the way and might be properly called the forerunner of farmers’ institute. I know that the pfople and the legislature as well looked upon the matter to of very; little importance, and treated it as an experiment. This is evident from the readiag of the law that auteorized them. I nave stated that this matter was treated as an experiment. Bb that as it may, )t. sevens to me that after meeting representatives from sevens ty ttfby?2) counties of this ktffte at' Purdue University last Oct; and olofofo obsorving the ; status of each county tliat we have succeeded ip passing the experiment stage, and : are fast making the farmers’ institute; a .permanent institution of the great state of Indiana, I want t 6 say farther that Jasper; Ob. is not trailing behind, but is forging ahead, and it behooves us at. the beginning of this our 9th institute to look well to bur laurels. 1 The subjects to be discussed at thii institute are practical and are in line with the law. No one ought to go away from here without giving his or her approval or disapproval of what is done or said, we invite friendly criticisms. In this institute work we proceed along educational lines, not only do we seek to make farming more remunerative, .bat to elevate it, so that instead of being drudgery, will be a pleasant trip. No other busines3 or profession affords such opportunities as does farming. It brings us in oontaot with nature’s laws, at almost every step we take. The person that is not made wiser and better thereby has missed his calling and had better turn his attention tc something else. It requires labor, hard study and skill to farm successfully. Slipshod methods must give away to something better. This is a progressive age and it stands us in hand to fall in line, wa can not stand still, we will either go forward or baokward. I would like to see the young people of our county take hold of the institute work, we are dependent upon them to carry on the work already began to make farming a ennobling homes pleasant and attractive. What a field I see before me for some good and bright women to occupy in the women’s department of the farmers’ institute. The state of Michigan has a department of this kind in successful operation. A few counties in Indiana have. That part of the work will be taken up in all of the counties and pushed to a successful conclusion. J asper should not be behind in this matter. If our homes are to be made pure, and the standard of agriculture is to be raised higher, we must appeal to the wile and mother for aid. We should study economical questions more than we do. Strict economy is not parsimony. It is putting to good use that which we have produced by our labor. Losses on account of bad eoonemy on the farm and in the household have never been computed to my knowledge. That they are greater than the profits of the average farmer, I have no doubt. The relation of the produner to the conconsumer should be well understood. One is dependent upon the others wants. Oar business methods should be strict and uniform. It is wrong to deceive. Our duties are manifold. Our best efforts are demanded, will we give them for the advancemeat of agriculture? the foundation

material prosperity. Farmers should be an educated people. It requires scientific research to get the best results from mother earth. If I am allowed to criticize, I would say that we are notoriously deficient in opr general information, which is sc essential to our welfare. We have our religious, social and political duties to perforate ;.^, t lack of knowledge as to what these duties; imply, plaoes us at the meroy of others, often, in the hands of - ufo scrupulous and designing persons. I am glad to .note that ttiere has be'en a great improvement in foie county in the last ten years in the matter o f drainage and' general farm methods, while wasteplaocs have been reclaim, ed, whole townships have been brought into cultivafom. Yet there is a large portion of the county viu.t is denied drainage ou account of insufficient outlet. Our county will never take its proper place in list of rating until there is better outlet privileges for drainage. Let me Say in conclusion, J have been at the head of the, institute Work, in the county for three years, It is not best to follow in the same old ruts, when a better way oau be found. I thank all who have in any way taken a part in the arranging and perfecting the details of this pro gramme.