Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-03-05

plHtou III JlllS TcSOluLlOA, anu III NUMBERS
sufficient to justify the expense of at least
a trial.
Nor was it sense of ignorance alone,
introduce and push this resolution. If
ignorance was necessarily disgrace, or
envy always vice, mi ght we'll blush to
acknowledge these incentives.
Envy resulted from the fact that others
of our state, notably the horny-handed
grangers of St. Paul and Minneapolis, en-
joy almost exclusively the benefits to be
derived from meetings for the promotion
of special industries, of the practical ex
periments conducted on the State expert
mental farm, and of the scientific and
practical lectures Of the professors of the
University and of experts and learned
men from abroad, and these largely paid
for by the State, we paying our proper
ton of the sum. This condition of affairs
caused cogitations, resulting IN the intro
duction of this resolution. Possibly you
might have killed off my bantling, but
for the unqualified success of the meet
ings of the Dairymen's Association lately
holden at this place, which / think you
all admit to have been both interesting
and profitable. This meeting was precise
ly of the same character contemplated in
this resolution, except that was limited to
consideration Of one business or branch
and therefore more generally beneficial.
Now, the question IS, do we want more
such meetings, and if so, can we have
them without State aid? Our incomes are
materially reduced, and hucksters' and
grocers' profits increased, because we are
buyers of fruit for family consumption,
both fresh and preserved, amounting to
thousands of dollars annually, while we
should be producers and sellers, in place
of buyers, of nearly everything in the
line. Our expenses for sugar and syr-
ups are enormous, and am satisfied, if
we only knew how, this might largely be
saved. We raise cattle, but most of
them are of the kind known as "Phar-
aoh's lean kine," any seven of which can
eat up all we have, and still be none the
fatter, and when we have different ones
it is doubtful if we know how to feed
them to produce the best results.
We don't know how or when to apply
fertilizers to land the most effectively
when, how, or what, is best to SOW or
plant, nor in what manner it is best to
cultivate, or harvest, or store our pro-
ducts, and worst of all, in what manner
or shape to dispose of our surplus pro-
ducts, at least SO as to replenish the de-
pleted pocket. We do many things in
differently we'll, with very Indifferent
profits, this without knowing why or
wherefore, except that as our fathers did
so do we, not forgetting to plant in or by
the moon, and regard signs and omens.
Ill ,,,+ ,,,,,, ~, ,,o1o.,,,+ fo,+r,o
further. Suffice it to say, our'wants and
mistakes are too numerous to mention.
Again, where we have faith to believe,
we know how to go to work to accom-
plish some desired object. We hesitate
and delay, and perhaps abandon, the
project, when little stimulus, such as
these meetings would afford, might result
in encouraging us to attempt and result
in a grand success.
A word in reply to the attempted slur
at this scheme, as being in the interest
of "book-learning" and "book-farming. u
1 had supposed this old prejudice against
book knowledge thing of the past, and
quite "played out" Certainly, no occu-
patton is so largely governed by natural
laws, or depends for success so much up
on the laws of cause and effect as the
farmers. If we were better posted in
natural laws, we would make less mis-
takes, and l have no objection to the
charge, nor apology to make for its be-
ing a scheme partly in the intesest of
scientific or so-called book farming.
However, imagine our meetings would
deal more with practical results than
with practical or scientific questions.
Personally, if this embryo should devel-
op, would consider it especially desira-
BILE that ample opportunity be afforded
for disseminating veterinary knowledge.
The Importance of this is too often fatal
~ apparent. And if some member of
the State Board of Health, or other COM
petent person, would address us upon
hygenic law, and the best manner Of
preventing the spread of epidemic dis
eases among human cattle, it might
prove ample compensation for all ex-
penses incurred of whatever kind, nature
or extent. A good practical economy
would be desirable. But it is unnecces-
sary for me to enumerate the many ways
in which such meetings could be made
profitable.
AS to the charge that suitable persons
could not be found to conduct them, it is
too peurile for consideration. There.
fore, pass to the consideration of what
I supposed would constitute the only
serious objection in your eyes to the
adoption Of the resolution, viz: The. ex
pense it would necessarily incur, and the
probable failure of any attempt to make
the Legislature do SO much, or anything
that was more particularly in the inter
est of the farmers. That the expense
will be considerable is not to be denied
but it will be but q drop in the buckle
of State expenditures, and compared
with other items, quite Insignificant
Moreover, it is safe to assume that oul