River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-12-29
The Farmers Institute.

The person who conceived the idea
of a Farmers Institute for the ingath-
ering of the many diverse ideas rela-
tive to the great farimg interests Of
our state deserves much commenda-
ton for the inception ui This now well
established idea. More perhaps than
in any other profession, work had
been to very large extent empirical.
Each farmer has done what seemed
right in his own eyes, with little ref
erence to the experience of others
except when some great success has
brought attention to new scheme.
Ii is true agricultural papers have
been published for many years en-
bodying results of experiments, many
of them of great value but more the
mere speeulations of experimentalists
who rush into print without proper
details or established results. But to
bring these thoughts and ideas to the
very door of the farming community,
to invite those too modest TO appear
in print to give in familiar way their
own experience, to compare this with
others in their own vicinity, this is
the work of the Farmers Institute.
The session held the past week at
this place was full of good things, and
among the very best were the papers
by our own citizens.
Mr.. McKerrow, the leader of the
Institute, is the right man in the right
place. Possessing an easy manner,
good discipline and always ready to
bring out point or stop discussion
when the hour was complete, he made
the gathering one of interest from
beginning to end.
While considerable disappointment
was felt that Prof. Henry, one of the
leaders in this state in the agricultural
profession was absent, still the inter-
est was good and his place we'll sup
piled. ALI of the papers and discus
sions were eminently practical.
On Thursday the principal subjects
were the keeping up and maintaining
the fertility of the farm. For this pur-
pose the general opinion seemed to be
that clover is the cheapest and best
manure the farmer can apply, but that
to produce The most complete results
stable fertilizers should be freely used.
Articles by home talent were read
in the afternoon, the first being Joys
and Sorrows of the Average Farmer"
by Mrs. Getchell, and the second, "A
Few Figures on This Years Grain
Crop" by Harvey o. Powell. Mr..
Powell showed that he has carefully
accustomed himself to care for the
details of farm and to know just
what the proceeds of his work are.
The article was well received and at
tracted much attention. In the even
ing an Educational Session was held,
in which Prof. Clark, Prof. Brier,
Pof. Love and Prof. Ewing gave good
addresses on educational subjects. The
exercises were interspersed with fine
pieces of music.
Fridays sessions were opened by
brief but well prepared article by
Thos. Foster on How to Make the
Farm Pay" This. the writer demon.
strated, could only be done by careful
culture and the free use of fertilizers.
Following this was short address by
Allen z. Weld upon How to Build
Good County Road" This evoked
quite a little discussion and a con.
siderable degree of interest. The
afternoon was principally taken up in
the discussion of milk testing and with
a practical illustration with Babcock
Milk Tester, after which the Institute
adjourned.