The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-02-12
Farmers Institute.
Representative rlners OF the Soil
IN County Convention.

OF TIE Pennsylvania Stale Board Of Agricni-
ture convened in the Court House .. 10
O'Clock 3. m this. Tuesday. morning Rep
Feseniaiiye farmers were present from all
parts cfthe county and at least one-third Of
the large audience was composed of ladies'
The meeting was called to order BY Judge
o. P. Shaver. who suggested Rev. n. B.
Critehheld for temporary chairman. On as
snmihg the chair, Mr.. Critchfield returned
thanks for the honor conferred upon him in
a very few words He stated that this meet.
ing was for everybody interested IN farming
and be hoped that all would understand that
they were At perfect liberty 70 speak.
J. 5. Miller. Of Qoemshoning. moved that
a committee OF ave on permanent oreanixa-
ton be appointed The chair appointed J.
5. Miller. Of Quemahoning, L. A. Lambert.
Of s,onycreek. J. r Boose Of Milford, A. F.
Dickey. OF Somerset and Albert Be.key, Of
Qlemahoning
Pending the report ofthis csmmittee the
chair took occasion to introduce the repre-
sentatiyes of the state Board OF Agriculture
present. First came Hon. John A. Wood
ward. Associate editor Of the f'rm JesrAal.
who said. regard institute work Of this
1 description as the best educational work
farmers can engage in. myself am farm
er when not engaged in duties like the pres
ent one. l have attended great many
institutes like this one during the past few
years, and have never attended one with
out going home feeling that ! was better
qualified for my work than was before.
Our Legislature has generously made APP
preparations for these meetings. but the
work has grown faster than the appropri-
stions. Progress is being made in all the
avenues of trade. and We farmers must
/ progress with them In all mechanical pnr-
suits new methods and new machinery are
I constantly being introduced. and the margin
Of profit is being cut down, and we must
keep abreast with them for our own pro-
{ lection. This meeting is for all. and what
you want to do is to help the members Of
I the State Board Of Agriculture, who are
here with you.
/ Don't fail to have & query-box and to
make use Of il you will find that the
answers and arguments on the questions
will be OF more use to you than the pro-
gram. as they always have TO be arranged at
a venture Fire IN the questions; they will
answer your own special needs. The pro-
ceedings Of this convention may be of very |
little importance, but it will start you TO |
thinking in the right way.
Mr.. j. Gundy, Of Lewisbure, another |
member of the State Board of Agriculture, |
was next introduced. He said " | fully |
concur in all that has been said by Mr. |
Woodward !, too, have never attended an /
Institute without receiving information. /
You all know something some one else don't |
know. il you will only communicate it.
| would suggest that the question box be /
opened at the meeting Of each Session, and
as this Institute IS likely TO bear more Of me
before il adjourns, will say nothing more
al present"
Thos. J. Edge, Secretary of the State Board
Of Agriculture, who's name is not on the pro-
gram was then introduced, and gave the
organization of that body stating that uore
of its members were salaried. only resolving
such compensation as barely pays necessary
travelling expenses.
Mr.. Phelps, Of Crawford county, got up to
show himself. as he said, :. the other gentle
men having stolen all my thunder.
B. H. Warren, VI. D., ornithologist ofthe
State Board of Agriculture, West Chester,
Pa, on being introduced said +" am only
an houary member of the State Board and
u. - --a,kv 1r,1 ~ ~ -
KEroRT OF COMMITTEE os ORGANIZATION.
Rev. y. B. Cntchfeld, President; Rev. J.
L. w. Seiberi, Vice President; H. J. Hoff-
man. Secretary, were here reported for
permanent officers and were unanimously
elected by the institute.
The regular program was then taken up.
Mr.. J. A. Boose. of Summit, read paper on
Farmers Institutes for Somerset County"
He regretted that it fell to bis lot TO open the
Institute. but remarked that ali things must
have beginning, and that be was pleased to
see that nine-tenths of bis audience were Of
his calling. The success of this ConTen-
ton depends upon how much interest We
farmers take in it. Though II may prove 5
little embarrassing for us to make speeches,
hope that all will do their part, and that
the program will be carried out, and, that
following Horace Greely's advice, We will
tell what we know about farming. Without
farmers we would have no bread, clothes,
schools, or country. oar meetings must
have no political significance. and We should
gag the local office seekers who seek to fur
ther their ends through them. They have
no more business here than have the fellows
who want to sell the latest patent fence, or
farm machinery. These meetings are for prac-
teal farmers and we should crease such an
interest among ourselves that we will go
home better qualified to perform our duties
than We were before. Farmers Institutes
are good thing every farmer knows some
thing that will benefit his neighbor, if we
can draw it out. Let the farmers raise their
voices against unjust discrimination in taxa
tion. and battle for their rights.
Mr. Boose said that be only urged that
politics be kept out Of the Institute, to which
Mr., Seibert rejOined, %farmers are politicians
Philip Walker Of Somerset tovnship,
lDtn read paper on fdtucIS 1ilSldkcc
He commenced by saying I'VE have some
pretty big guns here and they acknowledge
they have a ~erank" among them, so may
be pardoned If ! merge on the crank" order.
TIE farmer Is compelled 10 do more work
now than in IS years past, and our farms
are approaching very little in value Mr.
Walker thinks there is soHethiqg radically
wrong sOmexhere that causes this state OF
aaairs he thinks farmers make a mistake
in selling their bay and straw. Better feed
it on the farm and reap the benefit in fat
stock and manure. Another mistake Is IN
not providing better shelter for stock in
stliag their cream 20 agents who call around
aud collet il only to manufacture inferior
butter in signing remonstrances against
the granting Of liquor licenses, since there is
no decrease in drunkenness and the grant
ing Of licenses would lessen the burden Of
taxation that il is mistake 10 vote for
high tariff, but the greatest mistake be
thinks has been made in electing county
Commissioners, who build extravagsnt
bridges and spend 600 in building new
iaii which hepredicis viii be only ornament
Al. and we inferred entirely useless. Mr.
Walker recited number Of other mistakes
which he thinks farmers make and while
the Institute seemed pleased that be had the
courage 10 speak his convictions il was eEI-