The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-07-05
THE GRAND TRIAL.
MODERN FARM MACHINERY.

FIRST FRUITS OF THE STATE FAIR-PoLICY
OF THE BoARD-A WORD ABOUT THE UNI
vERsITY-A WET BLANKET-PLows AND
Pill vIOUS - DULL BEGINNING BETTER
| OUILooK-HAYING BEGUN.
Especial Correspondence OF the sentinel.l
PURDUE UNIVERSITY, LAFAYETTE, June
%, 1s76.-By a Iudicious policy of the
State Board of Agriculture, the trial of
| farm implements and machinery for this
| year was removed from the time and ex-
elements of the state fair and assigned to
season when, under ordinary circum-
stances, all kinds OF field implements
could be tested In a practical way. AT
this time there is work for reapers, now
ers, and their accompanying apparatuses;
| for plows, cultivators, hsrro~s, etc. Il
Is we'll known by long past experience
that amid the scenes and attractions of
lair but little attention can he secured to q
careful and accurate Trial Of agricultural
implements and machines. Yet these con-
stitute one of the most important features
of modern agriculture and are exerting
an influence on the wealth and welfare OF
the world not second t. any material
agency. They have revolutionized farm
ing, changed the conditions of labor,
emsn cipated production from slavish
drudgery and
UTILIZED THE VAST RESOURCES
of this rich continent in a degree that
seems miraculous. The s. ate board have
therefore vindicsted their character as
/ valuable servants to the state in giving
such prominence and encouragement to
machine farming. The arrangements for
| this "Grand Trial" have been made with
| the greatest care to secure fair and in
telligent test of the machines both COM
psrative and absolute, and to discloss
whatever defects may yet require to be
| overcome in machines " hich seem already
to have closely Appropriated 10 perfection.
The committees have been chosen with
great care tor their intelligence and integ-
rity, and are composed OF six men, as fol-
lows: The committee on plows, eultiva-
tors and that class of Implements, consists
of j. Kelly O'Neal OF Tippecanoe county;
Senecs Armstrong, Rush county; ana
George s. Durham, Park county. The
| committee on mowers and harvesting
machines is composed Of John NJ. Seward
of Monroe county; LiRville Ferguson,
| Rush county; and Isom Wrsy, Shelby
county. The premiums offered are gold
aud silver medals and diplomas, and the
| awards will not be made known until the
| close of the state fair October Is. The
| board are to be further commended
for good stroke OF policy in the
selection of the place for holding
this trial. 1t was eminently proper in
several respects to bring this intelligent
body OF farmers and manufacturers TO the
PURDUE UNIVERSITY,
where the best possible facilities are offered
for the work of the machines and thereby
to extend an acquaintance with this new in
stitutioD OF the ale upon which the sun Of
| prosperity is now PROFESSIONALLY about to
| rise, As the unfavOrabie weather has re-
tarded operations considerably up to this
4 4 IL -
| few words to the present aspects and pros
| d cts of the school. L. is now clear enough
that good start has been accomplished TO
| build an institution OF learning which will
| speedily become an honor to the state OF
Indiana. The prospects have never before
been so b psful. The trustees, patrons
and the public feel the utmost con-
Fl 3epcs that, in the election OF
DR.. White to the presidency, a man
| mas been secured who will lead the institu
ton TO certain and brilliant success. Their
| is no doubt that President White Is the
pser of any educational leader OF the
| times. His aims are intelli gent, well de-
| lined, and sdsp ed tn the situation, while
mis- executive ability has been amply
demonstrated in bis
PAST History ELSEWHERE
The corps OF professors also includes some
OF the most scholarly and efficient edu-
Gators to be found anywhere. New de-
| psrtments have been Gev SGD to meet the
| requirements of the public inI this psrtic-
uar field, and the coming year will I'M
dOubtedly sea more than one hundred
students In attendance at It's opening
Young men can come here, and, il so dis
posed, can, by their own labor on the .srm,
sustain themselves aud obtain q
good education to prepare them
for succt ssful careers in lie.
Things begin to look better on the farm
aud in the surroundings of the institu-
ton. Cap ain Burke, the farm superin
tendent, is certainly making the mos
streu uous exertions and with good success
to manage the estate in q profitable and
economical manner. A good start has
been made in blooded stock. Some Jokes
have been perpe'rsted about sending =
committee to Kentucky W To 81 900 TO buy
fac stock at sales where single calf sDld
at more than TOUR times the amount. But ss
q matter OF fac by the discretion and in
dustry of Mr.. john Sutherland and Cap
tain Burke, q remark ably fine herd of short
horns and Jerseys has been secured at a
very email expense. Hereafter, under the
came judicious management, the stock
business of the concern will pay q hand
some profit. But 10 return 10 the
BUSINESS OF THE OCCASION.
A "wet blanket" has been literally cast
upon the affair, which neither the board or
anybody else could have forsseen. Yes
terdsy between showers Something was
done in the trial of plows, late In the after
noon. but to-day the rain has been so
steady and cooperating that the plan OF
operations had to be abandoned entirely
Nothing at all has been done up to q be
hour OF noon, aud the heavens are still
irownins; but all are waiting patiently, fill
ing up the time with discussions OF green
backs, contraction. ipflstion and candidates.
The show OF machinery on The ground is
more than respectable and CONES from all
parts of the country. Had the weather
been the best 1t is hard TO see how all the
trials could have been carried through