The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-01-10
THE INTERESTS OF FARMERS
Value of Experimental Grain Tests at
Purdueas Described by Prof. Smart.
Institutes Considered by Members of the State
Board Very Beneficial to Agriculturists
-APaper on Drainage and Other Topics.

assembling yesterday morning was the re-
port of the committee on premlum-list. 1t
contained suggestions to fair managers, and
recommended that the ages of animals adj
mitted to livestock competition be made
more uniform, and that awards be offered
to larger class This met the strong APP
prevail of all, many farmers having at times
been seriously disappointed in being shut
out ON account of restrictions in the d.
rection named. 1t was also recommended
that the American ShOrt-hOrn Breeders
offer of an award of $3.50 for that class OF
cattle be accepted. =
Professor Smart, of Purdue University,
then spoke upon the subject, 1.-The Relation
of Our Work to the Farmer"
In his opening remarks he reviewed the
work of the university, through its various
departments, in manner similar to his re-
cent presentation of the subject before the
Horticultural Society. He then described
what had been accomplished during the
past year in behalf of an accurate knowl-
edge of agriculture at the Experiment Sta
ton" situated at Lafayette. In showing
the advantages arising from the system OF
experiments in use he said scientific agrl-
culture was so thoroughly established that
1T merited the term OF a new profession. lt
will, in the future, draw to itself, he
thought, many of Americas brightest sons,
and become one of the mediums through
which able young men: crowded out OF
favor in the older professions can return TO
the country, where their. grand
fathers came from and gain happiness
and competence as the cOunselOrS or
the sons of the SOIL The Professor
then spoke of the plans followed at the ex-
pertinent station in detail showing how
the tests are made, and how, year after year,
knowledge of qualities and capabilities OF
all the different species of grains and fruits
increased. Among the experiments there
had been fifty kinds of wheat tested the
past year, to see which would bring the
heaviest yield under the climatic conditions
of Indiana. The record OF these results is
always open to those interested, and the
agricultural department of the university
earnestly hoped that farmers would
form custom of regularly com
coming or writing for them. He
much from one seasons work. for they
should reflect that the university has 10
wait for the seasons as they do. Their crop
experiments were practical, and executed
and not in some scientific hOt-house
While it was true an important and
thorough test of grains had been made,
it is not, in all points, decisive. r. NJ.
Lockhart then submitted to the board the
report of the years work at farmers in
stitutes in which he said that while the
committee had only been organized one
year, many, regular Institutes had been
held and all were attended with great IN
terest by the farmers in their respective To-
calities. Robert Mitchell, of Gibson, also
gave his experience in holding Institutes.
j. o. A. Silg said that he regarded the IN
stitutes as a grand means OF assisting the
farmer to his practical knowledge and
thought. The State, he urged, should rec
Ognize their usefulness and give them
permanent appropriation. After hearing
the committee on rules and regulations the
boardadiourned until afternoon.
At the beginning of the afternoon session
the election of new members of the board
was had, resulting as follows
Second District-W. w. Berry, Knox.
Fifth Distinctly. X. Officer, Jefferson.
sixth Distrct-Richard Jones. Bartholomew.
Seventh District-E. Ii. Peed, Henry.
Ninth District-Thomas Nelson, Parke.
tenth District-Japer n. Davidson, McIi-
Eleventh Distrct--Lloyd S. JONES' Warren.
Twelfth District-John NJ Boggs, Tippecan0e.
Thirteenth Distriet-B. f. Clemmors, Wabash.
Reelected.
$. w. DUNCAN then presented the report
of the committee on fair grounds. The
property is in good condition and is in
creasing in value every year. After hear
ing number of minor reports, the board
was addressed by Aaron Jones, OF st. Joseph
county, on the subject Trades and Profess
siOns Connected with Agriculture" He
referred TO several industries which the
farmer especially desired to see prosper,
manufacture of thing, which he regards as
one of the greatest services ever done the
farmer. He held that the most urgent need
of the rural districts Is for the Legislature
to commence great State drainage system;
He outlined the course the work should
take from watershed to watershed, and to
river system, all with regard to their
respective levels. He showed from statis-
ties of the State surveys that the land SO
reclaimed would equal in area one-third of
the present farming land of the whole
State, used and unused In other words,
that SO per cent. of the possible farming
land of the State was too DOGGY for cuItiya-
ton. The region OF the vast kanka-
kee swamps, being closely tributary to
ing of some of the richest agricultural
lands in America, if drained, would become
one of the wealthiest parts of Indiana, and
the regions now assessed on the taX-list as
worth little would yield a great revenue.
ious to pay their part OF the accessory taxa
ton to accomplish this task, believing
rightly that in the end it would result in
greatly lowering the general tax rate by
much new farm land. But the farmers were
unable to pay for it all themselves, and UNI
less the State can see the issue and meet it
with public taxation, it can never be done.
lie suggested IndU the 10
whom the farmers have given literally
of their land, should be taxed according to
the value of their property to assist in max
ing these improvements, and in the outcome
they would receive an ample return in the
added millions of products they would raise
annually. The State, again, should compel
a more just schedule of prices of transport
tatiOn by these roads within her own bor-
ders. OF this, at least, she has undenied
and absolute control, and no move on her
part could brighten the railroads out of In
diana. He had recently known of transport
tatiOn of wheat across the State costing at
the best rate obtainable, 5 cents more per
hundred than it cost TO ship it from the
same point TO New York. This is because
New York has impressed the burden of her
interests upon the whole West, and Indi-
ana has ignored her own interests within
her own borders. He favored immediate
legislative action upon these points, and
said that there was not q farmer, in either
Senate or House of the General Assembly,
who would not be found ready to vote for
such measures.
After Mr.. Jones's talk was over. the board
adjourned. The election of president of
the board takes place this afternoon. In
addition to the incumbent, j. y. Davidson,
Vim. A. Banks, of LaPorte, and Dick Jones,
of Bartholomew county, will be candidates
for president.
Left Without Replying.
Leonard Mcqueen lost gold watch by
burglars entering his house, No. % Wiley