The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-03-30
Saturday Afternoon.

when the Institute assembled Satur-
day afternoon Prof. Pierce continued his
talk on grape culture, but was soon
obliged to leave in order to take the
train for his home at Minneapolis. He
explained the manner of cutting and
covering. The former was to be done
only in the fall, just before laying down.
The vines were to be covered with straw
and enough dirt to hold them down. 1t
was not absolutely necessary, however,
to put on more than a little dirt.
Mr.. j. S. Harris, of LaCrescent, urged
the farmers to join the State Horticul-
tural Society, and suggested that Manka-
to people invite the organization to hold
its next winter sessions In the city. He
explained the work of the organization.
He also urged that county and township
societies should be organized and active
ly carried on, and showed the great ben
efits that would be derived from such or
ganIzation
Speaking of plums, Mr.. Harris made
strong argument in advocacy of the
improvement of the American plum.
He asked that everyone send rooted
sprouts of any wild plum that grew in
his neighborhood to Prof. Edward ID.
Porter, of Merriam Park, head of the
agricultural department of the State
University, for examination.
Various classes were formed, and an
hour spent in class work, each depart
ment occupying separate part of the
room. Each class had a separate in
structor, who went into the details Of
the particular branch assigned him, and
answered all questions. DR.. Dickson IL
Illustrated his subject by presenting the
bones of horses leg and his hoof.
Dairy Commissioner Howard had class
of ladies in butter making. DR.. Curryer
took a selected class of half dozen out
of the room, and gave them points on
horse training. There was also class
on bee culture and one on small fruits,
and another on beef cattle.
After coming to order again a song was
rendered by the Fairmont quartet.
Mr.. G. L. Gabrielson, of Iowa, was in
troduced, and took for his subject ''The
Hen" He gave his own experience in
raising fowls, and was afterwards called
on to answer numerous questions. HIS
hen house was composed of an old gram
airy, 2Oxl2, sealed inside, and covered
with tarred paper and ship lap on the
outside. Windows were placed on the
south and east sides only, in order to
give warmth and light. Straw was pack
ed under the roof. The granary was
placed on a stone wall one foot high,
and was filed with dirt to level with
the top of the wall, thus giving dry
ground. No floor was used, and the
roosts, which were of willow poles three
inches in diameter, were placed two and
a half feet from the ground and level,
thus preventing the fowls from fighting
for the highest place. He had had the
most success with Brown Leghorns for
layers. 1t was impossible to combine
good laying qualities with fatness. Kerr
osene was the best preventive of vermin.
He fed q mixture made of mlddlings, oil
meal and bran mixed with milk and
warm water, in the morning; wheat
screenings at noon; and corn, warmed
and charred, in the afternoon. Every
day or two bundle of unthreshed oats
was thrown into the hen house. Along
about Christmas he got from Is to %
eggs daily, from so hens. He stated
that there was no help for chicken chol-
era, and that should fowl have the DIS
ease he would kill it rather than leave it
to die.
Chairman Brown repeated some beau
hful verses on the overworked farmers
wife, after which the quartet rendered
another song.
Mrs. DR.. Curryer, of Lake Crystal, was
introduced, and read paper on Farm
Produce. She stated that since the
meeting of the Northwestern Dairymen's
Association in the city four years ago,
much improvement has been made IN
the dairy. but there was still room for
more. The mode of butter making was
outlined. Tin lined butter pals are the
hest. A large cheese cloth to strain
cream through is successful to keep cows
hair out of the butter when other plans
fail.
Though the cattle market is fiuctuating
the cattle should be all held. DIVERSE
fed horse raising pays the best.
BETTER school facilities must be FUR
nished in the country, In order to give
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