Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-02-17
nimal heat and vitality

the capitol Tin the assembly csamberl,
and the first paper delivered was that OF
Mrs. NJ. Z. Warner, of Fox Lake. Her
th, me was Farmers aud Farmers Wives"
Sac presented very interesting land
many said) true picture of the two
along down through life.
Then followed Hon. W. Il. Morrison,
superintendent of farm institutes, on
The Status of Wisconsin Agriculture.
This lecture was full OF interest, and 1t
showed that the superintendent had made
complete study of the labor he had
taken hold of.
The next paper was from Hon Geo. E.
Burrows, on Forestry" MIR. B. said:
Il have always contended that there was
no better place in the great northwest Tor
man to settle in, for the purpose of
farming, than in the southern part of our
own state, particularly young men and
emtgrants with limited means. No
where can you find & richer grain growing
region or one tn 1t promises greater dur
ability.
In wheat crops northern Wisconsin ex-
c.lled, and where is the average yield
more abundantS In tame grasses it
scarcely has q rival in the west either in
quality or nutritiousness. That this is
to DE the future butter ana cheese region
of the northwest-the very seat of dairy
ing enterprise, as much so as Vermont
and the celebrated districts of New York
and Ohio, is already well established.
"The most heartiess and cruel feature
of recent immigration is the blind, un-
ceasing rush of multitudes out upon the
bleak and barren plains OF the west,
where not only is every comfort sacri
feed, but health and life positively put
in peril. In what more horrible
condition could humanity be placed
than on those trackless wastes, with no
better shelter than cabins of sod or holes
burrowed in the earth; no fuel but hay
twisted into rope, with winter extremes
OF cold often from 500 to 60S, and
summer extremes of 1909 to 1929 in the
shade. 1t is from such sections of food
swept valleys and cyclone-desolated hills,
where the mantle of winter SHOWS draw
veil over human suffering, that a vail of
anguish and despair is yearly heard, that
makes humanity shudder and taxes the
hand OF charity to the uttermost even to
preserve life.
"The papers of to-day contain blood
curdling accounts of the recent blizzard.
Never did death send more terrible
avant courier than the binding, freezing
blizzard, against which Dakota stands
with her her treeless plains, defenceless
Without note of warning, the familiar
landmarks of ones home surroundings
are transformed into a trackless waste.
Many poor victim has crossed the river
of Death in attempting to reach his own
door from some immediate point around
his home.
"The late terrible blizzard in Dakota
has taught our Wisconsin farmers living
i'll the timber portion of the state good
esson-"to keepa good thing when they
have got it," and "to let well enough
alone.' No settler of our northern forest
need ever suffer from cold or hunger.
IL is true the cold has been nearly as in
t,nse, but being a timbered country, the
wind is shorn of its deadly power; and of
course fuel is abundant; consequently the
people have been spared the suffering
and loss of life whigh have overtaken the
settlers on the great treeless plains far
thsr west"
The senator has ON exhibition grand
display of the best woods of the northern
forests of Wisconsin.
In the afternoon session, the most in
terestipg topic was that in regard to the
dehorning of cattle by Mr.. III. d. Haaf, of
Chicago. He launched right out on his
system, and in few minutes he seemed
to have carried the vast gathering with
him. At the close of the address the
question of the aehorning of cattle was
discussed pretty freely; and it appeared
that nine-tenths of those present favored
! the eOperation.
EVENING SESSION.
The convention was called to order by
III. chairman, at half-past seven o'clock.
A the assembly chamber was but slowly
filing by the members, q discussion was
had for half an hour. Mr.. Phillips, of
La Crosse county, addressed the audience
on Draft Horses. He advised the farmers
| not to use immature sires for breeding
purposes. Get the best horse the
neighborhoo6 affords and breed good,
strong, healthy horses. He said that the
western horse breeders could not COM
pete with the breeders of Wisconsin, for
they produce an inferior animal and one
! which is not suited for common use.
The chairman then introduced Hon. j.
Il. Foster, assistant railroad commission
er, his subject being, Practical Expert
ments in Drainage. Mr.. Foster said he
was a farmer from Winnebago county,
and he would speak from the experience
iC u6O udu uthlEdRc' oLt vi
his farm, he said, had been a marsh
which he had successfully drained, hav-
ing on his farm about ten miles of under
drains. He said that there was
much marsh land in Wisconsin
which, if under drained, would
add to the wealth of the farmer, and, in
stead of being an unsis htly mud hole
would be beautiful meadow. Give the
marsh land a chance and it will repay you
ten-fold. Draw of the surplus water by
undertakings and it will produce the
same amount of grain as your other
land. He then showed them small sec
ton of the wooden trough he uses for
draining his land, and explained how the
iitchas we're to be dug to be cheapest and
to bring the bes. results. He has
seen the wooden trough used since
1860 and finds it as good to-day
"a when put in, This was a SPLENDID ed
dress and showed that Mr.. Foster was a
master of the system of under drainage.
Discussion followed, and Mr.. Foster ex-
planned some points that did not appear
clear.
The next paper was by M. f. A
Updyke, his subject being thrift" He
said that through mistake the title of
professor was added to his name on the
programme. ne was not plOfeskOf,
simply student, who had been
brought up amid the rugged scenes
of farm life in Pennsylvsnis ;
he hoped it would not seem psrsumptous
for him to address SO many old and ex
perienced farmers. He gave them some
good advice on how to take care Of farm
machinery, for thrifty farmer takes as
| much care of his machinery as he does of
his cattle. The young farmer does not
begin like his father did, he begins where
hs left of. He buys all the new machin-
cry, that comes into the market, mich of
which is worthless. A farmer should not
be greedy and want all the land he sees
and mortgage his farm to buy more
than be can use. Mr.. Updyke
recited the Tramp selected from the
writings of Will Carleton, in which vas
shown the great evil there is in mortgag-
ing the farn. He advised the young
farmer to secure a good education, for he
needs it as much, and more, than many
in other calli,lgs. This was q very fine
paper, and sff. Updyke was warmly ap
plauded. Although he is young man he
has san old head on young shoulders"
FRIDAYS gEAaIox.
Friday at noon the Wisconsin farmers
convention finished lis work.
A paper ON Economic vs. General De-
ssruction Of Insets was read by Mr.. f. A.
Carr.
Prof. ". 81. Chandler, assistant state
superintendent, delivered . very interest
iuz address ON State Educational Policy