The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-01-07
The Farmers, Institute.
FICA,

The Farmers Institute, held at 4 ent, E n Mon
day and Tuesday oflast week. was very success
full. Although the attendance was not large the
nrst forenoon, the program printed was closely
followed. After instrumental music by Miss {
Grace Keller. and prayer, W. W. Patton present
ed the address of welcome. in which heeaid.t'
the Farmers Institute should be a scho. aat
has done much good in this line. and is ii. 1t
of doing much more. Education is capable
for the farmer as for any other cle an necessary
that is said about farming no. .sss. Very much
of discomfort Discomfort .tadays is in the line
plete content is not de- is all right, for COM
not right. 1nStaad 4lrable. but grumbling is
sigate the -.nbiec of the latter we should inves-
eRls]~~ wv .e and find way out of our diff
p. ,,s..o. dat we need most is more diversified
Anu ue education" The isolated. uneducated
IAN" 4 is prey to human sharks. We must also
All W the market values. In behalf of the people
of Kent. ne extended hearty welcome to the
Institute.
President Haymaker. in his response. said that
the people of Kent had always given the Farmers
Institute hearty welcome and he expected to
see many of them pregent at itssessions. Week
pect to make it school. The future prospects
are bright for the farmer.s We have much to en-
courage US.
W. Il. Likens. on the Outlook of Agriculture
to the outlook. Compared with the past, our
improved machinery and the work cf the exDer-
iment stations show the bright side The chronic
grumbling of the farmer, and the fact that so
many of our boys and girls are leaving us and
drifting to the cities, gives a gloomy look, We
have put upon the market inferior products
which have brought inferior prices. The London
Jew money power has very gloomy outlook to
those who have made it study. After destroy
ing the wheat market it caused the destruction
of the buffalo upon our western plains. and urged
Americans to start cattle ranches. Cattle declin-
ed in price, Farmers quit raising them as they
could not afford to, and their farms dsteri-
ating in consequence of ir. Large numbers of
the.ranchmen failed financially. and their ranches
went into the hands of the London Jews. at low
prices. When they get control of all of them
prices will be better. but they will reap the BEN
eft.
After the noon recess Geo. B. Green read a
paper upon the Winter Care of Sheep North of
40 degrees latitude. closed but well ventilated
barns are needed. The stables should be cleaned
at least three times during the winter. Fatten-
log sheep may be confined to the barn or small
yard. but breeding ewes must have exercise. All
must have a supply of good water, and should be
fed regularly. He described self feeding grain
box for fattening sheep. which had usually
proved success.
In answer to some questions Mr.. Likens said
that he did not think it was over production that
had caused low prices. but over cussedness on
the part of few who wished to gormandize on
the profits" There is a great gulf between the
producer and consumer. which has never been
bridged. He has seen old apple trees revived by
plowing shallow and applying manure plentifully
He then read paper on adulterations. Thesub-
ject of adulterations demands our serious atten-
tion, We scarcely eat meal without eating
adulterated food Everything nowadays is adul-
terated. from the milk that feeds The mother
less babe to the last drop of cordial that soohes
the lips of the diving patriarch" The consumer
is somewhat to blame. as he demands the cheap
article. Yet buy the best we can. cannot en-
tirely avoid the adulterated product. Farmers
should see that the laws against adulterated
goods are enforced and then raise more on the
farm of what they consume.
At the evening session Mr.. Likens gave an ad
dress upon the Importance of Farmers Organ
izations. and Mrs. Geo. Ewell read paper upon
Woman's Work on the Farm;
On Tuesday morning w. j. Green, of the Ohio
Experiment Station gave an address upon Potato
Culture Experiments made at the Station show
that the larger the cutting of seed potato the
earlier the crop and the larger the yield Also.
that they cannot recommend the use of CONNER
cial fertilizers upon potatoes. from financial
standpoint. Better to grow good crop of clover
to plow under.
Chas. H. Sapp. Master iof Ravenna Grange
read a .paper entitled " Some Opinions Enter
tanned by Farmers. +" in which he endeayored to
show that the opinion SO generally entertained OF
hard times and great depression among farmers
is greatly exaggerated. and that the condition of
American farmers was never better. either phys
ically, educationally, socially financially that
it is at present
Afternoon session-The following officers were
elected for the ensuing year: Pres, Geo. W.
Dean Vice Pres, c. R. DooIittle; Sec'y. w. W.
Patton Treas, c. L. Bartlett.
An interesting discussion followed upon the
Silo. F. r. Colt opened the talk among other
things said. '' the Silo has come to stay with rae
because of the large amount of feed that can be
produced upon acre and the cheapness of
handling and curing the product" He caution
ed against trying to build cheap silo. He rec
commended concrete for this section where small
stones were so plenty.
=. Prof. Green endeaVored TO read paper upop
''The Fruit Garden" but Gu account of the many
questions which were fired at him. did not make
much headway in reading. but gave much valua-
BILE information to those growing small fruits.
Mr.. lLikens talked a little while upon The
Dangers which threaten Farmers" and mention
ed these: l. We have too much pc nicious lit
eraturs. 2. We do not think enough, 3. The
dislike the boys and girls have for the farm, We
have made farm life too much drudgery. and
theyoung folks flee from it. 4. Intemperance
5. The constant strain of mind and body to keep
pace with the fashions.
The program frequently varied by music,
both vocal and instrum entail and an occasional
recitation. It was upon the whole most sue
cessful institute.