Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-01-28
THE FARMERS INSTITUTE.
The Farmers OF Grant County, In Institute a,
Plasteyille, Hold Pleasant and Profitable
Three Days Session.

As previously announced the Platte
vile Farmers institute began its tire,
days session on Thursday, Jan. 81, il
the new city hall and was called TO or
der by Hon. Hammer Robbins, o.
Platteville, who was chosen chairman
The exercises were opened with music
by chorus under the leadership Of
Prof. ID. f. Gardner, the Rev. b. E.
Wheeler following with prayer.
President McGregor then delivered
the address of welcome very eloquent
and apropos-which was responded to
by ex-senator Matt Anderson, of Mad
ison, who was very happy and took oc.
casion to pay an appropriate compli.
ment to the ladies.
Supt. Morrison followed with few
words in regard to the Trainer of the bill
under which these institutes were held,
Hon. G. E. Estabrook. He was farm.
er himself. and he knew the feelings OF
Mr.. Estabrook in his solicitude in re-
gard to the success of these institutes,
and he hoped each one would take a
personal interest in the matter. in being
promptly on hand himself, and in see
ing that his neighbor came out. They
would find 1t one OF the best opportuni-
ties they have ever had to get together
and exchange opinions and learn new
ideas. He said when he was boy at
Milton college, President Whitford
asked class of 40, all farmer boys,
how many of them proposed to be farm
ers, and out of all that number only one
answered in the affirmative. Many of
them. however, were compelled, by adj
verse circumstances, to go back on the
farm, but the great majority became
leading business men of the state. He
said there was great deal of bosh
about keeping boys on the farm. He
thought it all depended on the boy-his
ability and inclination, and he thought
it was great deal better to make a
good professional man than a poor
farmer.
In the afternoon the exercises were
opened by music by the chorus, after
which Prof. Whitney, of Michigan, was
introduced who addressed the institute
on the subject: what should the edu-
cation OF the farmer be, and how, when
and where obtained" The gentleman
is very fluent speaker and his address
was listened to with marked attention.
II. G. Adams, of Dane, thought it
was our duty to educate our children,
not only Intellectually, but morally and
physically, SO that he will grow up 10
be useful citizen and be able to take
his place among his fellows He be-
lieves that much of this can be obtained
on the farm. Then let the schools take
him where the farm leaves him. If he
had boy that wanted to become a
farmer he would send him TO an agri-
cultural college, where there is an at
mosphere in consonance with his desire.
G. G. Hendy, of Platteville. said one
means of education is reading. If you
want your daughter to become good
butter maker give her books and papers
on dairying. If a good poulterer,
furnish her reading it that line. If a
vegetable raiser or bee culturalist, give
her such reading matters as will inform
her in those avocations.
Hon. Matt Anderson, of Dane. fol-
lowed with paper entitled 1.-The Needs
of Wisconsin Farmers He said the
needs OF the farmer were many, and he
would only be able to note few. First,
how to work the soil so as to obtain the
best results. He has made it a business
to test everything he raised ON the farm
and has always had the best results
Horses and cattle were considered as
the most valuable of any kinds of stock.
and he thought 1t necessary that every
farmer should inform himself as to the
best breeds TO raise. There is great
lack of knowledge in regard to these
matters as we'll in horticulture. Every
farmer who has good wife, and every
one should have one, knows how much
comfort and happiness comes from the
alluded to the old fashioned way of
farming, and said that in those days al
most everybody could run farm. The
old notion that it is not necessary to
educate the farmer is now being ex-
ploded. He was sorry to say that there
were some farmers who did not see the
necessity of any education. Lawyers,
doctors, preachers, and those engaged
in other literary and scientific pursuits
are all given the means OF obtaining an
education suited TO their calling. Why
should not the farmer? The speaker
strongly urged the establishment of an
agricultural college, saying that this is a
progressive age, and that the farmer
should insist in not being outstipped by
those with whom he is surrounded. He
insisted that the principal opposition to
an Agricultural College comes from the
State University, and claimed that thou
sands of dollars which should have gone
to the support of such a college, had
been diverted to the use of the Univers
ity, and in justice to the farmer, il
ought to have been paid back, and thai
| they never would be satisfied until i
was.
Prof. A. j. Hutton, of Platteville
then read very excellent and thought
full paper entitled. What makes tbs
boy leave the farm?''
Prof Hutton's paper was ably dis
cussed by Messrs. ID. L. Gardner ant
j. w. Murphy, of Platteville.
The exercises of the evening session
were opened by music by the choru
under the direction of Prof. Gardner
Prof. Beck. of the Normal School, thel
discoursed on Sunshine on the Farm. ;
Contrary to expectation he took the yer
liable Father of Light for his text. an,