Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1892-02-11
THE FARMERS INSTITUTE.
A Great Gathering on Thursday and
Friday.
INTERESTING TOPICS ABLY DISCUSSED
Many Things Pertaining to Successful
Farming Talked over-A Meet
ing Both Profitable and
Pleasurable.

The Eleventh Annual Farmers Insti
tute was as successful as any that pre-
ceded it. Not only was as much interest
taken in the papers and discussions, but
with institutes in nearly every town neal
by, to contend with, in attendance ano
merit it exceeded them all.
The first session was opened with pray
er by Rev. Dr. Alexander. followed by
the opening address by President Nickel
yey. Mr.. McKelvey referred to the un
usually prosperous year enjoyed by farm
ers. He expressed the view that the time
for agricultural migration westward has
about expired and that the farmer OF
the twentieth century will need divide
mp his farm to provide for his sons. He
made plea for better farming, and pre-
dicted that the time is near at hand when
the farm work will be carried on not by
horse power or steam. but by electricity
lin fact his view of the farmers future
was qnite Utopian in itscharacter.
The Present Situation of the Farmer
was the subject of a thoroughly prepared
paper by Mr.. d. C. Bundy, of Barnesville.
From his standpoint he thought the stu
alton of the farmer was better than it was,
but still is capable of some improvement.
He thought while many of the things
demanded by farmers were Impractical
Bile, that good would come out of the ag-
itation in leading up by discussion and
debate to what is for the best interests
of the farmer. He thought free mail de-
livery would be benefit, but yet imprac-
ticable, and in its stead advocated penny
postage. His paper showed thorough
appreciation of the needs of the farmer.
in the discussion of Mr.. Bundy's paper
John Watson, r. e. Hogue, Nathan
Nichols, and. J. F. Young took part.
AFTERNOON.
At the afternoon session "The Outlook
for the Farmer Mr. r. E. Giffenthought
was promising. He deprecated the fan
ciful financial schemes advocated in some
parts of our country, and believed that
while some might do some good at the
first, that the final evil effect would more
than overbalance the good. He thought
that we needed to endeavor to keep our
manufacturing widely diversified in or
der to furnish a home market without
the cost of transportation. His paper
indicated deep study on the subject in
hand, and claimed the closest attention.
The Rural Home was the subject of an
oration by Miss Maggie McCraeken. She
described some typical homes, and then
gave her view of the ideal country home.
A home could not be complete without
love and piety.
Prof. w. J. Green, of the Ohio Expert
ment Station, next talked on spraying
Orchards and Gardens as Protection
Against Injury from Fungi and Insects"
As the subject indicates he advocated
spraying and gave his experience with
that method of treating the fungus. He
exhibited specimens of apples from
sprayed and unsprayed trees as an argu
ment in favor of his plan. He said it
would be necessary to keep up the spray
ing each year. a great many questions
in regard to it were asked by different
persons, showing the deep interest in the
subject.
EVENING SESSION.
Immediately following the music with
which the evening session opened, pa
per entitled "The Farmers Boy" was
read by Mrs. o. II. Lucas. Mrs. Lucas
thought the boy should be taught to look
on farming as an intelligent occupation.
The trouble is the boy is made a slave.
No inducement is offered him to take an
interest in farm life. She asked for
to superior farming. When boy learns
that farming is not life of drudgery,
but one of intellectual advancement he
will take to the farm. Free mail delivery
would do much to'draw the farm closer
to the busy thinking world.
Dr. Balph addressed the audience on
"Observations on Farming and Fruit
Growing in California" To be fully ap-
preciated DIR. Balph's talk needed to be
heard. He described the soil, the eli.
mate and the products of Middle and
Southern California. He exploded the
prevalent idea that everything grows
spontaneously in that cline. There ev-
erything requires irrigation and great
expense and the most persistent atten
tion and cultivation. He exhibited speci-
mems of the fruits, grains and vegetables
furnished him by the Chamber of Com
merce of Los Angeles. But as an instance
of the great returns from farming, an or
ange grove will sometimes yield S1CCo
per acre from single crop.
Miss Matte Alther recited "The
Brides of Enderby" in clear, pleasant
voice, and won the plaudits of the audi
ence.
General s. II. Hurst, of Chillicothe,
was the principal speaker of the evening,
on the topic Education of Farmers"
Under the old civilization, said he, all the
power and the good, and all the social
pleasures of life were for the few. The
few moulded the thought, and the mil
lions followed as cattle. In America
new civilization was planted and new
opportunity given with all the experience
of the past, that the millions might be
lifted up. Farmers do brainwork, and
need to do more 5rainwork, and that is
the education they need. lie contrasted
the style of the farming of forty years
ago and now, in humorous manner,
which was heartily appreciated. General
Hurst is forcible and pleasant speaker,
and the audience regretted that more
time was not given him.
Friday Morning.
The second days session was opened
with prayer by Rev. J. X. GifTen, and