Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 December 1908 — The Farmers’ Institute. [ARTICLE]

The Farmers’ Institute.

The secretary’s 19th annual report of the Jasper County Farmers’ Institute and Ladies’ Auxiliary, held in the Rensselaer court house, December 7 and 8, 1908. Invocation by Rev. Kindig was.followed by an address delivered by the president, John E.. Alter, after which A. G. Burkhart, of Tipton, spoke of ’’The Golden Hoof,” or the sheep. A very interesting speaker is Mr. Burkhart at all times and upon any subject. The sheep is called the Golden Hoof because there is more clear profit in the proper management of this animal than any other. The wool usually pays for all the ewe eats in one year, and the lamb is net profit No other animal will come so nearly destroying all weeds as the sheep. Sam B. Woods, of Lake county, is a very successful dairyman, keeping cows that annually clear, above cost of feed, SIOO per head. His subject was cow barns and how*to build them. No Jasper county dairy man could afford to be absent during this talk. A great many questions were asked by the audience, and Mr. Wood was found to be well, posted and a valuable instructor.

“Cement on the Farm”, by Amos Alter, was something new to us all. It was not theory, for Amos had the goods with him. Cement posts that he .makes himself and fences his fields, and he says they never rot. At the afternoon session Bill Bat exhibited a part of his great line of curios. Strange things picked up in Nubbin Ridge and other 1: nc’s. Here he had portions of animals from the everglades of Florida, s a shel s from Japan, leaves from Africa, bones from Central America, wild cloth from the bottom of the Kankakee river. Johnnie did not say how he came into possession of so many strange things and we thought it might prove embarrassing to him should we ask him, so that part we are unable to report at present. But Sheriff O’Connor astonished all by his lecture on “Ropes, and How to Splice Them, Knots, How to Tie,” etc. Mr. O’Connor is an old Sailor, we must remember, and has sailed the briny deep for many a month and what he don’t know about knots and ropes certainly would ndt take long to learn. He exhibited an old rope used in the ocean that was perhaps 100 years or more old. The information he gives to farmers about how to splice ropes and how to tie knots that will never get tight is certainly very valuable. Mr. O’Conner is certainly a very successful platform lecturer. The Patriotic Chorus sang a song entitled “The Jersey Cow Medley.” A reminder of the bye-gone-days when fences were few and the farmer often failed to find his cows that had wandered down the banks of the Iroquois river and he missed his milk that day. “Co-operation Among Fanners” by Sam B. Woods, in which he showed the audience the great advantages that met the pioneer that had no neighbors to co-operate with. He also spoke of the many advantages that so many farmers miss at present by neglecting to co-operate with their neighbors. He says that as a rule, farmers, and especially farmers wives, are doing too much bard work and taking too little recreation. Games and fun are as necessary as clean clothes for health. The president appointed a committee on finance—B. D. Comer, Marion I. Adams, Ira T. Meader. Committee on resolutions: H. J. Dexter, A. J. Bellows, Amos H. Alter. Committe on nominations: James McClanahan, John Norman, P. T. Hordeman.

“Sheep Raising in Jasper County,” by Robert J. Yeoman, of Newton township, was one of the most valuable papers that was ever brought out on that subject. Mr. Yeoman has been engaged in the sheep industry since he was a boy and his article shows that he is most thoroughly posted upon that very important branch of farm life. People used to raise sheep almost exclusively for wool. From 1870 to 1890 a lack of interest among sheep breeders was noticed, as wolves and dogs and diseases of various kinds made trouble for the sheep men. But now the marshes are mostly drained, the wolf is gone, only the worthless cur is still with us. Foot Rot, one of the worst disease that trouble sheep: place a trough filled with a parasite dsetroyer, such as cc al tar preparation, drive sheep through it Scab is cured by dipping. For stomach worms use gasoline in sweet milk, tablespoon fll three times a day. Keep sheep on dry land, change pasture often, salt and water well. Start with a small number of grade ewes, learn the business as you grow into it. Lambs should arrive in April, cl.p tails when two weeks old.

“Duties and Privileges of a Farmers Wife,” was discussed by A. G. Burkhart. Mr. Burkhart went at this question in his, own pecul'ar square open manner and made all of his points very plain. If you do not like farm life, never marry a farmer. Love is only one of the reasons for marriage. No matter how much you think of a man, if he follows a calling unsuited for yourself you make a mistake in accepting him as a life partner. When a woman is in her proper vocation she eliminates onehalf of the drudgery of life. The ideal farmer’s wife is ever ready to look after his business in his absence, while she may not do his she can see that it is done. If not interested in his work she is not in her proper sphere. Mr. Burkhart believes that a woman should choose her calling in life as well as a man. Let both work together, be interested together in the same garden, the orchard, the truck patch, the cow lot, the barn, the poultry yard and the fields, one purse for both. “Dairy Breeds" was well discussed by Barney Delphi Comer. He had the samples with him—Holstein for great flow of milk, Ayrshire for field gleaners, Guernseys and Alderneys for milk and butter, Jerseys for rich cream and butter, and Barney is building up a herd of Jerseys so his wife can do all the chores when he falls to get home In time; and Barney is often late. Sam B. Woods spoke of “Feeding a Dairy Herd.” He is a great friend of the com silo and feeds grass, oats and Canada peas or Insilage whenever the pasture dries up. Evening session. Song by male quartette. Select reading by John E. Alter on Difficulties.” Johnnie raises swine. One sow had twins but two of them died next day. I The first day’s session closed by a most eloquent address by Mr. Burkhart on “The Farmer and His Calling.”