Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-03-16
Prof. Henry's Lectures.

A good number of representative
farmers assembled at the Opera House
on Friday last to listen to W. a. Hen
ry, professor of agriculture in the Wis
consin state university, lecture upon
agricultural topics, before the S. W.
Wis. Industrial Association. Besides
the farmers of this vicinity who al
ways take lively interest in all meet
ings or matters relating to the fair,
there were few present from adjoin-
ing counties, and deep interest was
manifested by all.
In the morning Prof. Henry explain
ed "How sugar is made on the Exper-
mental Farm" near Madison. and ex-
hibited good sample of hght-brown
sugar. This sugar, he said. could be
produced at cost of four and one
quarter cents per pound. He claimed
that this section of country was well
adapted for raising early Amber cane.
and wished to have farmers generally
cultivate it more or less. He explained
that aside from its value of the cane
for producing sugar, its seed is very
nutritious and makes excellent food
for stock. His remarks on the produc-
tion of sugar and the raising of cane
appeared to be favorably received by
all present. and especially those who
have had experience in raising cane
for syrup, among whom were James F.
Brown, of Linden, Joseph Van Matre.
of Fayette. and John c. Martin, of
Mineral Point. The lecture, we think.
will have the effect to increase the eff
forts expended in the cultivation of
cane in this vicinity the present season.
In the afternoon the subjects were
''Dairy and Dairyin@" and "Silos and
Ensilage." The professor extolled the
benefits to be derived from dairy:ng
when properly carried on. and pointed
out to his hearers the different meth
DDS by which it is conducted at profit
or loss. respectively. Among the re-
quisites for dairying to advantage were
W ell-bred cows, improved and econom-
ical methods of feeding, modern ap-
pl iances for setting milk and churning
the cream. As some of the audience
were breeders of short-horn cattle,
which they raise fo- beef and not for
butter, of course they were not person
ally interested in these remarks of the
professor, but the lecture was atten-
lively listened to by all and very favor
ably received by the dairymen. Among
others who asked for particular infor-
nation were Francis Little, of Linden,
James Spensley and Paul Jones, of
Mineral Point, and Thos. Sheldon, of
Willow Springs.
The remarks upon Silos and Ensilage
were especially interesting and instruc-
tive. Silos are simply cellars or vaults
in which green fodder or grass is packed
and preserved, something after the way
fruit and vegetables are preserved in
alright cans OF jars. Prof. Henry had
with him can of ensilage and distrib-
uted samples among tile audience. He
did not advise sarmers to go into this
enterprise very largely at first, but
said that those who had already engag-
in it were very enthusiastic over it and
it would be well for anybody to con-
struct small silo and give it trial.
He gave an, account of feeding ensi-
lage on the Experimental Farm, and
showed that it was very good milk
producing food for cows.
On the whole we think the meeting
will be productive of good results
calling the attention of farmers to new
methods in agriculture and to the work
done in the agricultural department of
the state university.