The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-02-15
Thursdays Work.

the days Oh the Kerry Dancing.
Thursdays Work.
From Fridays Daily.
The session Of the Farmers 1nSti-
tute opened yesterday morning with a
song entitled "Let Me Hear Thy
Voice Again." by w. G. Jones.
ID. l.. Carpenter, of Seneca, read a
paper on "Wind Breaks and Screens, y
which was quite interesting. He urged
upon all farmers the necessity of pro-
lection from the cold blasts Of winter
and stated that the wind break was an
essential article TO use. "a house
should be protected on the north and
west sides, at least, by wind breaks.
The best trees to use are theevergreen,
hemlock, ivy, red cedar, Scotch pine,
white pine etc. The last part of
April is the best time to plant trees"
Elmer Baldwin, of Farm Ridge,
said: "The wind break is necessary
to the comfort of a farm house. The
white pine, which is found in Northern
Illinois principally, is perfectly hard
ened and more valuable than any other
tree when used as "A wind break" The
question was opened for discussion
and number in the audience made
interesting remarks.
Jackson r. Shaver stated the arti-
fidae makes a very good wind break.
VIM. II. Lewis has planted the white
pine several times, but the trees were
destroyed by small insect.
Hon. Elmer Baldwin then read a
paper on Orchards and Their De-
struction." He said: "a knowledge
of the cause of the great destruction
of orchards in the last few years will
enable us to get remedy and stop
the destruction in the future. | have
never known of a severe killing of APP
pie trees except when the winter was
preceded by Il dry summer or wet fall
Eight years ago there was heavy
crop Of cherries, but the next winter
many died, as the summer was dry.
The only remedy is to prevent the alb
normal summers rest in the germ.
The only practical way to do this is to
have through cultivation. The best
as SIT taken M az ift the p BARS IeYsss
growth depends on the care we take of
the plant during the wiuter. ] grated
some trees a few feet above the ground
and in the following spring found that
part of the tree for two feet above the
ground was dead. At a convention of
fruit growers held in Minneapolis last
year resolution was passed which
stated in substance that root grating
was preferable to top grating"
ID. l.. Carpenter-l have come to the
conclusion that there is no difference
between root and top grating.
Chairman Lewis then read a paper
on "IIighways in the Country" He
said: "The Importance of good high
ways is evident to the country as well
as the city people. 1t is important to
the merchant, the grain man, the rail
pany, the banker, etc. They all want
steady flow of business from the
first to the last of each year good
| roads are essential. A road can be
swamp take the water out. We farm
ers uIake bitches at the foot Of a hill
and catch the water rs it comes down
and hold it there. Is there any sense
| in that? The more room for wagon
| the better. The best soil to use in
building road is found on the sur
| face, but we bury that and take up a
surface underneath. Farmers are
great fools simply because they don't
think. They use four rods of road in
stead of two rods; they must pay tax
es just the same. There are 10000
acres Of land used as roads in La Sale
county. worth $4,000 Farmers are
held responsible for lack of good
roads. Statesmen are now beginning
to take hold If this question. There
is no reason why the banker, broker,
merchant, etc. should rot pay taxes
on these roads, and simply because
they are benefited by having good
roads.
Why not devise scheme in this
State by which State roads should be
built throughout the State? You
farmers will say, however, "Oh. the
tax is so great" This is all bOsh, how
ever, as YOU have paid enough useless
taxes in the last % years to make IA
boulevard Of every road in the county.
In the past - years $2,3li. oj0.43 has
been expended on roads in La Sale
county alone. This is equivalent to
50, III. 90 on each mile Of road. There
are 90 miles of road in the town of OF
tawa (outside Of the city limits, and
the town has paid during the past six
years Sl4l, 76l. %, or 5000 per mile.
Enough has been expended to make
road every foot of which will be con-
structed of granite. There is con-
tractor in this audience who will
gravel the roads for 5000 mile. The
farmers allow themselves to be taxed.
but get no return for their money.
Would it not be a sensible thing TO
commence work this spring and make
all roads good throughout the county:
Forty years ago this county was will
derness. Look at il now. All these
buildings, etc, cost millions and mill
ions of money, and the men who did
the work were Obliged to borrow the
money to do it.
Suppose there is a good school at
some central point. Now if we had
good roads | think | could run a
school wagon through the country,