The Butler Weekly Times Newspaper, January 13, 1892, Page 10

6 P tence to make every edge cut. Farmers must also learn of better methods, as they | to the farmer what a boil is to the person. Landlords won't pay a cen are being evolved by study and experience. and know how to put them iuto practice, or they will fall behind faster in the next twenty-five vears than they have in the last, and the middle of the twentieth century will see the American farmers the hewers of wood and drawers of water for the rest of the nation. A This ie an age of mental activity, an age when knowledge is indeed power ; and so long as it is human for man to do the best he can for him- self, even at the expense of others, he who uses the most mental energy, the most knowledge, in his business will push tothe front and others must follow. = bs Farmers have the mental ability, but too many of them let it lie dor- mart, and use up their stock of vital energy in physical labors. They should take a new departure, make the head do the most of the work and expect the hands to only carry forward well-organized plans. To this end, farmers’ institutes, agricultural bulletins, papers and all other means of getting information should be utilized. We hope the farmers of North Missouri will take an active interest in the institutes to be held in that section of the State, and thus prove to the legislature that the appropriation for meeting the expenses of the meetings was & wise one. We give herewith a report of the Institute held in LaFayette County, December 11-12, 1891, as published by the Odessa Moon, which indicates quite clearly the character of the meetings. THE LAFAYETTE COUNTY FARMERS’ INSTITUTE HELD AT ODESSA, DECEMBER 11-12, 1891. As reported by the Odessa Moon. The best way to ascertain the value of a tree ia to see its fruits. We perhaps were as ignorant of the designs and objects of the State Board of Agriculture as the average person before the meetings here last Friday and Saturday. And the people had no better means of knowing than to ask “What's this farmers’ institute that’s going to be held in Odessa 2” Less than ten years ago the first institute was held in this State. In 1882, Prof. Sanborn, Dean of the Agricultural College, succeeded in getting a small appropriation from the State for holding a limited number of institutes. From that time until the present the interest in these institutes has increased. It may be necessary to state that as far back as 1853 the Board of Agriculture had a beginning. Then the purpose was only to meet at two or three points in the State, and have a general exhibit of the products of the soil, something similar to the county fairs of to-day. In 1864 the matter was again revived, and the legislature took action; but the appro- priations were so limited that the meetings could not be a success. The State Board of Agriculture is a permanent fixture of the State government at present. The appropriation could not be better made than for such a purpose. Under the direction of Levi Chubbuck, the efficient Secretary, the work is taking a deep hold upon the people of the State. Mr. Chubbuck is truly alive to the interests of his office. Tn arranging the series of institutes now being held in the State, it is ; just to say that through the efforts of Hon. J. T. Ferguson. member of the legislature from thie county, County Judge R. S. Andrews, and ex-County Jadge W. T. Gammon, are due the credit for the institute for this county being held in Odessa. The greatest part of the forenoon of last Friday was taken up in arranging the exhibits, which consisted of apples, pears, corn, pumpkins, turnips, potatoes, cabbage, onions, sorghum, canning factory goods, etc. The display of apples was extra good. Mr. G. L. Turton and Mr. W. P. Keith, of Mayview, deserve special mention for their fine display. The meeting was called to order about 11 o’clock, with Hon. J. T. Ferguson in the chair. After a few words of encouragement he intro- duced Levi Chubbuck, who consumed the time until noon explaining the objects of the meeting. He stated in short that the Board was created to. better the methods of farming; that the Board had fourteen members appointed by the Governor—one from each congressional district. He emphasized the point that the State Board of Agriculture was separate and apart from the State College of Agriculture. The two institutions were in perfect harmony, but distinct bodies. He said that the Board was non- partisan, and was simply placed in existence for the reasons already men- tioned— to aid the farmers to better and more successful farming. “TRANSPORTATION, A FACTOR IN PROFITABLE FARMING.” Col. M. V. L. McClelland, of this county, was the first speaker in the aiternoon, his subject being, “Transportation, a Factor in Profitable Farming.” After making a few preliminary remarks he entered upon the discussion of the subject in a manner perfectly surprising to us; for it was, the firat time we ever heard the Colonel make a public address although we. have known him for several years. He uses the best of language, and his style of delivery is far above the average. “The railroads are an important factor in marketing the products of the country,” said he. ‘Government ownership of railroads as advocated by eome would work disaster to this commonwealth. It would take ten billions of dollars to buy the railroads, and to issue three-per-cent. bonds would require two hundred and fifty years to pay the debt. Such a pro- cedure would destroy our system of government. Beware of the law to amend the constitution of the United States. It was pot formed ina day but dates back to King James and the Magna Charta. he railroad mag- nates are selfish to be sure; but so is everybody to some extent.” Here the speaker commended the interstate commerce law, and argued that it was a step in the right direction. ‘Transportation can be cheapened by improving the waterways,” said Col. McOlelland. ‘‘This would aid in regulating the railroad rates.” In concluding the speaker grew eloquent and pathetic. He was thank- ful for the present good feeling existing between the North and South. Sectionaliam has almost disappeared. How good! A potent factor to this end ie the interchange of commodities, and the fine system of railroads in quick transportation has added much to bringing about the general good feeling between the once-hated sections. ANIMAL DISEASES. Dr. H. B. Adair, Deputy State Veterinarian, then took the floor, and announced that he was not present to make a speech, but to answer questions in regard to the different diseases of animals, and the cure for same. He was asked a number of questions, and was quick with an answer. MISCELLANEOUS FARMING. Mr. D. J. Rumbaugh then took the floor and spoke for some 40 min- utes on the subject of ‘‘ Miscellaneous Farming.” He said: ‘I did not expect to speak when I first heard of the Institute. I thought the speak- era, would all be imported. I like farming because it was the first induatry—raising Cain. Miscellaneous farming is farming in various ways. I don’t like the old adage, ‘ Raise a little of everything, and you'll have something for market.’ Plant only what you can cultivate. Theory is | one, thing, facts another. ‘Theorists tell us we farm too much. We ought toplant more grass and raise more stock. There are more farmers inthe ol4 ruta than in any other industry. Too many farmers own too much land = own less land and keep what you have in good condition. Some farmers let their machinery stay out doors all winter, and by this means more machinery is ruined than is worn out from use. I expect to live and die in Miszouri ; the soil is so rich I believe it will produce the first fruits of the resurrection, There is not a farmer in the country so cramped that he can- keep the brush out of the fence corners. Brush in the fence corner is have farms kept up. Landlord has the land left: renter nothinz. believe in the Mosaic law that land should have rest every seven years, Ladies, set more hens. Everything has been cornered except chickens— | they go from the coop to the pot.” WHEAT CULTURE. Mr. W. T. Hearne, of Jackson county, member from the sth district of the Board of Agriculture, followed with a very interesting paper on wheat growing. We intended to borrow his essay and copy a few extracts from it, but the matter was forgotten. As best we can remember, he said he plodded along in the old style of farming for 20 years before he would submit to the ‘‘new style.” He was raised in Kentucky, but now owned a farm near Lee’s Summit. For seven years he had raised an average of 41-2 bushels of wheat per acre ; ; never pastured wheat. He was interrogated at length by a number of farmers. When azked if he thought cheat would grow where clean wheat was sown, he could not answer directly said he did not believe it would grow if planted alone. He said the best time to plant oats was in February and timothy in September. sowed salt early in the spring The subject of clover as a fertilizer or relief to land was discussed freely. Some maintained that land would be equally benefited not to plant anything = Mr, Chubbuck, always ready to make a point, said that nature could be improved upon. ‘The land was bound to grow a crop of weedsif nothing was planted, and that, by alternating the seeding from year to year, the land received the same rest. He urged the frequent planting of clover. FRIDAY NIGHT SESSION. Hon. J. K. Gwynn, Executive Commissioner of Missouri’s World’s Fair Commission, was then introduced. His talk was mainly to awaken a greater interest of Missouri’s duty in having a good exhibit at the World's Fair to be held at Chicago, in 1893. He outlined the operations of the commission and gave the audience a splendid idea of the magnitude and wonderful buildings to be erected. Said that the government appropriation of ten million dollars and the five million given by Chicago had been found to be insufficient to meet the demands, and that Congress would be asked to make an additional appropriation. “A series of congresses will be a great feature of the fair,” said he, “which will be for the purpose of discussing all great questions aff. cting this and other countries : such as a universal currency ( the same money for® all countries), bimetallism, religions, a universal language, labor and capital, ete. The State of Missouri has appropriated $150,000 for an exhibit.” Ile placed Missouri at the head of statehood. ‘*The State has been maligned,” said Mr. Gwynn, ‘‘and referred to as ‘ poor old Missouri,’ but has greater natural advantazes than any State in the Union; it has a larger available school fund than any State.” After the address the following resolution was unanimously adopted : Resolved, That it is the sense of this meeting that the State Board of Agri- culture, through the Secretary, recommend the appropriation of $150 by each county court of the State of Missouri, under the provisions of the statutes, sec. 332, Revised Statutes of 1889, for the purpose of partially defraying the expenses of collecting an exhibit of the agricultural and horticultural productions of the several counties of the State for a display at the World’s Fair. HORTICULTURE, Hon. L. A, Goodman, Secretary of the State Horticultural Society, followed with a very valuable address on fruit growing. Missouri. The State is well adapted to the industry, the southern slope | beyond the Ozark mountains being the best for peaches. Forty-acre orchards are large enough. cut out the center shoot. your cornfields; don’t plant in orchards after it begins to bear ; prune orehards in June; wrap a piece of screen wire around tree at the ground to keep out bores’ He was kept on the floor some time after he had finished speaking answering questions. The lecture was indeed valuable. SATURDAY MORNING SESSION, Judge Thomas A. Catron, of Lexington, was the first speaker, his subject being *‘ Roads.” Because of the already length of this article we must be more brief in what shall follow, but let it be understood that the proceedings of Saturday were of no less importance than Friday. Judge Catron began by saying that if it were possible he would advocate a system of macadamized roads in this county, and suggested that the farmers petition the county court to levy a special tax on personal and realestate for this purpose. He argued that road beds should be 20 feet wide and two feet high. He spoke about 30 minutes and left on an east- bound train to fill an engagement at Higginsville. Judge Catron is a forcible speaker and is possessed of a good deal of magnetism. Mr. A. B. Hatch, a well-known progressive farmer, of near Odessa, | He said among | other things: ‘* Fruit growing will soon be one of the leading industries of | Don’t plant too | many varieties of apples ; study the market and raise what is demanded. Plant two-year old trees, and never | Take the same care of your orchards you do of | Board of Agriculture. He said we needed educated farmers. The pr | of a crop is not a mere chance ; bring it to a point when men ae see | a profession. Mr. Hearne and Mr. Chubback each enponien in short 4 | talks acknowledging the hearty welcome to our city. Mr. Chubbuck took | occasion here, as he also did later, to state that this was one of the best | meetings the Board ever held. FARM MANAGEMENT FROM A WOMAN'S STANDPOINT. Mrs. Geo. E. Dugan, of Sedalia, then followed with a& paper on “Pa Management from a Woman's Standpoint.” Truly it was an interesti paper, “Twas raised on a farm,” said she, ‘“‘and love every part of tl try home ; have gone through all departments of country life. Man’s work is from sun to sun, But woman's work is never done, Continuing she said, ‘‘The kitchen should be built first and the oth part of the house built to it. The men should be ashamed of themselveg. to buy every newly invented piece of machinery for farm work an 1 buil d fine barns, and coop the poor women up in 8x10 kitchens with bare ; enough vessels to cook a meal. Home should be the brightest place 9 earth,” and, following up this hne of thought with oceasional humoroi sketches, she captivated the audience. Mr. Hatch promptly arose an said it was the “best thing he had ever heard,” and Mr. Rumbaugh ove flowed with eulogies. The chair requested every one indorsing the pap to rise to their feet, and about every one in the crowded hall was up in an instant. Mrs. Dugan gracefully acknowledged the compliment. Dr. Adair was again brought into service and the farmers lost no time in questioning him as to the diseases of stock, mainly hogs and chickens. For cholera in chickens he recommended vaccination. Dry the blood of a diseased chicken and apply with a thread. Remedy for bots horse, aloes ; for thumps, an injection of morphine, followed by sedatives, Prof. H. J. Waters, of the Agricultural College, occupied the floo about twenty minutes, dealing out valuable information. He explain the operation of the college thoroughly. ° cou NIGHT SESSION. Prof. Waters again took the floor and proceeded to explain the diffur. ent feeding properties of clover, corn, oats, milk and turnips. In a numbeg q of glass jars arranged on the front of the stage were the several constituen of the foods named above, reduced by the chemist. He showed that clover contained more of the flesh-producing qualities than corn or oats ; that in pound of milk there were fourteen ounces of water, and that turnips wel also principally water, not being useful as food further than an appetizer, He favored shallow culture for corn. Recommended rotation in crop as wheat, corn and clover, It was an instructive lecture, as evidenced by the close attention of every one present. Miss Annie Phillips, a student in the elocutionary department of Odessa College, then favored the audience with a recitation entitled, “T Hero of Lake Erie,” which was rendered in a very creditable manner, Later in the session Miss Lucile Christy, of the same class, recited a shorg piece, ‘A Similar Case,” in a happy style. a PROF. D. W. MAJOR’S SPEECH, This gentleman, well-known to our readers as the wide awake President of Odessa College, followed with one of the best speeches of the Institu so far asthe social features are concerned. He chose for a subject, | Education for Citizenship.” and the manner in which he handled t subject showed that he is thoroughly conversant with education as affec |ing the various avocations of life. Prof. Major is a fluent speaker an e | commands the language and elocutionary power to hold an audience spell- bound, as he did in this instance. The remainder of the evening was spent in viewing stereopticon vie upon alargecanvas in front of the stage. A stereopticon was placed in the rear of the hall, and with a striking likeness the audience viewed the | different parts of the horse subject to disease, which was explained by. Dr, | Adair. After he had finished, Geo. D. Purinton, Ph. D., Professor of Biology in the State University explained the habits of insects injurous to | vegetation, producing in magnified size the various destroyers of our cereals, | This was indeed a prominent feature of the institute. Prof. Purinton is | away up in G in his line, and what he don’t know about insects is perhaps” | hot worth knowing. 3 | Resolutions thanking the Board of Agriculture for favoring Odessa with | the Institute were passed amid cheers. Mr. Chubbuck and his able | | assistants will ever have a kind remembrance in the lives of the citizens of this community for their valued suggestions as to the best methods of | farming. | METEOROLOGICAL REPORT. MISSOURI STATE WEATHER SERVICE. followed in a short talk upon the same subject. His statements were of a | personal experience, and were told in his usual matter-of-fact manner of speech, and elicited close attention. to have men work on the road over which they hauled their produce to market. When asked by the chairman if he could suggest an amendment | to the road law, Mr. Hatch said: ‘* Yes; lots of em! Amend the people —make them work when they come for duty and not stand around and tell yarns.” This brought a ripple of laughter from the audience. plain, common-sense talk, and he received a number of congratulations after the session had closed. MR. D. T. MITCHELL’S ADDRESS. Mr. D. T. Mitchell, of Boone county, followed with an able paper on roads. It was one of the best-prepared papers of the Institute. He advo- cated a system of turnpike roads and charge toll. He believed this system would come. For this purpose it was shown that it would require a special taxation of $1.25 per acre in counties where rock was plentiful. Mr. Chubbuck disagreed with the speaker as to the toll system ; didn’t think the plan would work advantageously to the public. The concensus of opinion seemed to be a direct tax for road purposes, which would undoubt- edly be better than the present system. HORSE BREEDING. Thomas Lafon, of Columbia, Mo., then gave a paper on ‘ Horse Breed- | ing,” advocated the trotting horse as the best seller; 16 hands high, weighing 1200 pounds. ‘‘ Breed only the best mares. those of good temperament : do not allow mares to run on clover when breeding.” His paper was quite interesting to stock breeders, and he was questioned at length, Dr. Adair being called up as referee on one point. AFTERNOON SESSION. Prof. J. A. Kemper, principal of our public schools, delivered the wel- | come address on the part of Mayor Phillips. Naturally this shou!d have been given at the opening of the Institute, but the professor was compelled to be in attendance in the circuit court at Lexington at that time. He was fully equal to the task, and in bis usual easy and self-composed style he cov- ered the premises. He began by saying that Odessa was a town of farmers, and that we never felt more at home than when our streets were crowded with farmers. He commended the act of the legislature creating the State He began road working directly after | the war; had served as road overseer six years ; he always made it a point | His was a} | (In Co-operation with U.S. Department of Agriculture Weather Bureau.) | DECEMBER, 1891. SUMMARY. \ Pressure (in inches ).--Monthly mean, 30.08; highest, 30.69 at | Glasgow, on 11th ; lowest, 29.25 at Keokuk, Iowa, on 34. TEMPERATURE ( in degrees, Fahrenheit ).—Monthly mean, 40°. 2, which | is 8.3° above the normal ; highest monthly mean, 58.6°, at South McAles- | | ter; lowest, 30.1°, at Pickering ; highest temperature, 76°, at South McAl- ,ester, 6th, 11th ; lowest,—-1°, at Adrian, 25th, Pickering, 7th; monthly | | range, 77°; greatest monthly range, 70°, at Adrian ; lowest 44°, at Hermann | and Cairo, Illinois. ; + PRECIPITATION ( inches and hundredths of inches ).—Monthly mean, — | | 246 inches, which is 0.46 of an inch above the normal for December; | greatest amount, 9.30 inches, at Glasgow ; least amount, 0.72 inches, at | Harris. Average number of days with precipitation, 6. Excessive precip- — itation occurred at Conception on 6th—3.05 inches in 24 consecutive hours. f THUNDERSTORMS—Adrian, 5th, 31st; Oak Ridge, 2d, 28th ; Eight | Mile, 5th ; Excelsior Springs, 34, 31st ; Glasgow, 5th, 6th ; Kansas City, Sth, 6th, 31st ; Liberty, 3d, Sth, 31st; Oregon, 3d, 31st; Pickering, 21st, 3lat ; Platte River, 31st; Gordonville, 29th ; Mine La Motte, 28th ; Marble Hill, 29. Sorar HaLos—Platte River, 30th. eS Lunar Hatos—Platte River, 10th, 20th ; Glasgow, 10th ; Excelsior ” Springs, 10th ; Oregon, 5th, 7th, 8th, 10th, 20th ; Adrian, 10th. Corox£—Columbia, 8th. Harr—Fight Mile, 5th ; Platte River, 31st. ParHeELIA—Oregon, 6th, 16th, 25th. MetEors—Oregon, 3d, 11th, 12th, 13th. Wixp—Prevailing direction, south; maximum velocity, 52 miles per hour, at Cairo, Ill., from south, on 3d. LEVI CHUBBUCK, Secretary State Board Ag’l. and Director State Weather Service J. H. SMITH, i Observer Weather Burean.