Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-01-09
A PAPER ON COUNTRY ROADS.

C. H. Everett, of Rock county. was
introduced as the first speaker; subject,
= Clover" He regarded clover as the
most valuable farm crop, one which
enriches the land and at the same time
yields a direct profit. He would SOW
clover seed with all small grain, and
would never SOW more than six quarts
per acre; he recommended the use of
land plaster in connection with clover,
and detailed his methods of curing
clover, and the use of hay-caps. He
| thought clover should be cut when the
blossom is full, from the 18th to the
| goth of June. Mr.. Everetts talk
called forth a number of questions
from Mr.. Keegan, DR.. Vivian, Mr..
Spensley and others, in regard TO the
proper amount of land plaster for an
acre of clover Mr.. Everett replied
that he considered from rs to 100
pounds sufficient. w. H. Cole, of
Waterloo, who is one of the institute
force stated that he regarded land
plaster of no benefit whatever on corn
| and wheat land and but little benefit
to potatoes.
| "OUR DOMESTIC ANIMALS"
Mrs. w. S. Ross was called upon
and very interesting paper on "Our
Domestic Animals She evinced a
good knowledge of her subject, and
pointed out the advancement that has
| been made in this section in the i'm
provement of hogs, sheep, cattle and
| horses, until the scrub animal is now
almost thing of the past. AT the
close of the reading of the paper, Mr.
| Cole arose and remarked that if very
| many of the ladies of Wisconsin
watched matters in the stock line as
closely as the lady who had just
| spoken the farmer who had a scrub
or poor animal Of any kind would
be sure to 20 and hide it when he saw
them coming.
| "SHALL BUILD \ SHOP"
This important query was considered
by Thomas Convey, successful
farmer and dairyman of Ridgeway
who has been an institute worker fol-
several winters. He believed in silos
| Good results could be obtained b,
feeding ensilage. In many portions
of the state through which he ha(
travelled farmers no longer thought o
feeding fodder. Farmers who thought
that a silo would cost but a mere tridt
were mistaken. From his own expe
rience in the matter, he estimated the
cost of a silO lSx1S feet, and 20 feet
high-with a capacity of 100 tons OF
ensilage at $500 for material ant
m achinery, exclusive of the labor il
construction. He believed cows would
give more milk when fed enSilage
but would not advise feeding it alone
Mr.. Knight thought that better results
could be obtained at less cost by feed
ing corn fodder and bran.
CORN Culture"
| Mr.. Wylie took up the subject O
Corn Culture" He had made new
departure in his methods of planting
and cultivating corn, and secured bet
tern returns than in the old way; h,
plants in drills, not in check rows
plants about a bushel of seed on ST
acres, and works with high-surfact
cultivator; had demonstrated that b!
the new methods as much corn coulC
be raised upon six acres as upon eigh
acres in the old way; his average yielt
is so bushels per acre.
"wHAT KNOW OF PRACTICAL FARM
ING"
At the evening session Thomas J
Van Matre delivered an admirable ad
dress on What | know of Practica
farming" He was justly proud o
his occupation; he now tills the SAM
farm upon which he was born; had NJ
desire to leave it, and wound not ex
change farming for any other business
spoke of the true dignity of the oc
cupation; farmers must educate, ant
deal intelligently with all matters con
nected with farming; he spoke agains
extravaganza in every form, anC
| pleaded for farmers to make farm
life comfortable and pleasant by sur
rounding it with innocent sports, and
by making the farm home attractiv,
and beautiful His words indicated 6
keen appreciation of his theme, were
delivered in very pleasing manner
and were well received by the large
audience present.
a CENSUS PROBLEM"
Rev. NJ. Chase read very able
and timely paper upon question
which is forcing itself upon thoughtful
people; he dwelt upon the fact that
great numbers of people in this
and other lands are shifting their
abode from the country to the over
crowed cities until philanthropists
are perplexed with the problems which
confront the world in consequence of
the fact. However, the reverend gen
tleman took no pessimistic or despon-
dent view of the situation. He had
faith to believe that as for the last
decade the rush to the crowded cities
had been unprecedently great, there
would come corresponding reaction,
and the people would turn again to
the country life, where they live freer
healthier and more independent. While
he realized and spoke of the wicked
ness of modern cities, he did not over
look their good works as shown in
great religious and charitable move
mapts which they sustained. thnuuht