Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-02-11
FARMERS INSTITUTE.

FARMERS INSTITUTE.
The Proceedings of Friday and Sat-
urday, Feb. 3 and a.
FRIDAY FORENOON SESSION.
The Committee on Program report the
forenoon exercises as follows:
General talk on Farming, Forestry and
Horticulture-W. w. Walkey.
Farmer and Merchant A. L.. Flu
son.
Talk by Prof Walters.
WV. Walkey took up the subject OF
the Potato, exhibited samples OF tubers,
and claimed that they did not show any
rot which should alarm any one. Always
cut the tuber lengthwise, thereby insuring
better success. The speaker did not
think that mulching is essential. Com
post from the barnyard will prove det-
riment to growing good potatoes. Two
year-old ground gives the best results.
Plant deep. Plant at three different
times-during the full moon in April, the
full moon in May and in July. Number
of eyes in a hill one or two. Procure the
best potatoes for seed. Do not hinder
the top from growing tall. Never bill.
Destroy the large tobacco worm by shak-
ing it off and crushing it with your foot
........ L am of the opinion that Milo
maize is mixture of rice corn and sor-
ghum. Milo maize, rice corn and Stow
ellis evergreen are staple products for this
country. Let the big corn go; do not ex-
pertinent with it ........ The box elder is
a favorite tree of mine. Russian mulberry
can not be esteemed too highly; the same
is true of white ash and honey locust.
Mr.. Walkey is satisfied that pears can be
grown in western Kansas. He handled
the cherry tenderly and in a straightfor-
ward manner, and advised that the grow
ing of this fruit be tried.
Mrs. Fuson gave the institute very
instructive lecture on the subject of
Farmer and Merchant. This essay will
be published in full in the World
[EDIToR.
The Committee on Program report the
following exercises for this afternoon.
Forestry-S. G. Robb
Agriculture-BenC @. Rich.
Horticulture B. J. F. Hanna.
Individual and Cooperative Dairying-
General Discussion.
FRIDAY AFTERNOON SESSION.
8. G. Robb, state commissioner of for
estry, opened the discussion on the i'm
portant subject of forest-tree culture in
western Kansas as follows:
For the purpose of this paper. shall
assume that it is unnecessary to prove
to the farmers of Trego county that
it is good thing to plant forest trees;
neither will 1 try to prove that the
actual amount of rainfall is modified by
forests; nor that the climate is affected
thereby; nor that the temperature is
equalized, and the extremes of heat and
cold are not so great; nor that the air is
modified as to the amount of moisture,
especially in dry times in summer; that
the moisture of the soil is better distrib-
uted through the year, the running
streams better sustained and also less
subject to destructive floods: that heavy
winds are greatly checked, much to the
comfort Of man and animals; that crops
are preserved in various ways from the
destructive influence of air moving too
rapidly; and, lastly, shall not attempt to
portray the aesthetic effect of the planting
Of trees for ornamentation of the home
area, as well as for the wide expanse of
the country itself-all these matters hav-
ing been so thoroughly discussed through
our weekly papers and in various other
ways that nearly every one has formed,
If not expressed, an opinion in regard
to the truth or correctness of these vari-
GUS theories or facts; and now ask more
particularly, what, how, and when to
plant. As no biological study of the life
history of our native forest trees has been
made and published to my knowledge we
must depend largely on our own exper
fence and observation in the determine
tion of the best kinds of trees to plant
and this observation and experience, hav-
ing but lately been called into action by
the circumstances surrounding us, it
would be great wonder if we did not
make many mistakes in our selections.
The fora of the United States contains
412 arborescent species. B. F. Fernow,
Esq, chief of the forestry division, bureau
of agriculture, has reduced this number
to 80 of those which are likely to main
tain their position as valuable forest trees.
This number we must again reduce to
such as are likely to grow in our climate;
and first come mainly such as are indigo
nous to this climate-ash, box-elder, elm,
Usage orange and cottonwood, of the de-
ciduous kinds. and red cedar of the
conifers; and next, for economic purposes,
walnut, oak, black and honey locust, ca
talpa. soft and hard maple, and wild
black cherry; and, for aesthetic effect, the
poplars. willows, mountain ash, pines and
spruces, especially those kinds that are
indigenous to the dry and arid Rocky
Mountain region. OF the foreign kinds,
and Tor the purposes enumerated, we can
scarcely make many mistakes; and I
hope, by iudicious experimenting, we may
s.s21 1ow<roIv of rrfhor -