Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 January 1907 — THE FARMERS’ INSTITUTE [ARTICLE]

THE FARMERS’ INSTITUTE

Toe Report of the Institute Secretary The seventh annual session of The Jasper County Farmers Institute and Ladies Auxiliary cocven ed according to program, on Jan. 3rd, 1907 at 10 a. m. in the Publie Library Hall was called to order and address thePresi dent Joe Pnllins. Miss Edith Adams delivered a piano solo, Mrs. Lindley of Salem, Ind., gave a splendid talk on the wife as a business partner. Mrs. Lindley believes that a frequent cause of divorce lies in the tact that too often young people deceive each other be foi e marriage. The youDg man too often represents himself to bo much better fixed financially than he really is, which causes some uu necessary extravagance from his wife, and too often the prospective bride succeeds too well in covering up any short comings she may have as ignorance of cooking, housekeeping and a temper not too sweet. This subject was enthusiastically discussed until the noon hour. Miss Edna Hauter rendered a piano solo at Ip. m. followed by Mrs. Jay Lamson, 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 horses 3,000,000 mules 45,000,000 sheep 47,000,000 swine 88,000,000,000 worth of food stuff. Rotation of crops he recommends as follows: Corn, oats, whea', cl over, timothy. Ti mothy is a so: 1 robber, beware oi selling it off the farm. Keep all fields tightly fenced so that stock can glean them. If you wish to raise a ni( e crop of potatoes select a piece of tie 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. Mr. Alter is a very success ful farmer and is regarded as authority on this subject. About 275 people were present during this session, altho tie weather and roads were anything but pleasant. Iu the evening Miss Glen Day gave a piano solo and Mrs. Dr. F. C. Euglish delivered a fine solo with that rare voice of Jiers. “Sorghum as a forage crop” by Winfred Pullins was a subject that would have been a rare treat to t|ie farmers had they heard it. But the night session was mostly of town people owing to the stormy weather, and bad roads. Few people in this country realize the profitableness of this crop. Mr. Pullins shocked his on fence posts and left in the field until Nov. 24. He harvested 12 tons of feed per acre, that has a feeding value greater than timothy besides 80 bushel per acre of seed. That has 90 per cent as great a feed ng value as corn, per cent as great as corn. This feed 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 *a 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 Pullins on Sorghum as a Forage crop. The Ist days session closed by a colo from Mrs. Joe Pullin. CONTINUED IN NEXT ISSUE.