The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1892-02-26
FARMERS INSTITUTE.

The farmers institute, under the auspices
of Corvallis grange, No. 242, opened at the
court house Friday evening at 7:30. The
meeting was called to order by Prof. French.
Hon. G. E. Moore was chosen president and
Prof. French appointed secretary.
The opening address by Hon. John Bur-
nett was an able production, being an ad
dress of welcome and history of agriculture
dating back to the time of Adam. He
showed that nations prosperity depended
upon its agriculture.
'sWhy we are Patrons,'' presented by
Prof. French, was treated in an able man.
ner. He gave history of the grange from
its organization, showing that the grange
was formed to meet the demands of the
farming class, that the great object of the
grange is the intellectual, social and moral
improvement of all.
Future Outlook for American Agricul-
ture' was discussed by James A Cauthorn.
He thinks there is no danger of over pro.
duction or decrease in prices of farm pro.
ducts.
Several quartets were furnished by
Messrs. Berchtold, Clark, Fulton and EN-
NETT durins the evening, which were highly
appreciated.
FEBRUARY 10, lOA. NJ.
''Farm Drainage" by G. D. Thompson.
was the first paper. He called attention to
the fact of so much needed draining in the
Willamette valley; recommended tile drain
age. A lengthy discussion followed, in
which some doubted if our heavy soils could
be drained as in the east, but it was generally
conceded that we'll constructed tile drains
would drain any soil.
"Oregon Vegetable Garden" by HI. T.
French, is published in another column.
Adjournment for dinner was next in or
der. A great many repaired to the grange
hall where the good sisters had provided
an elaborate dinner of such eatables as only
granger sisters are capable of preparing.
Needless to say, this was the most enjoy
able portion of the meeting.
After noon Hon. M. F. Starr read a
paper on "Public Roads" He reviewed
| the formation of the roads from the early
days when there Was but little transporta.
tiOn and few roads. He also referred to
our present system of road work where
men sit in the shade aud talk ont their
road tax and our roads not improving.
Farmers in more remote districts have no
other means of travelling or transportin g
hair ua
should be collected the same as other tax,
and road overseers appointed and laborers
hired to do the work. He would classify
the roads thus: lst, as to the quality of
roads needed; 2nd. according to topography
of the country through which the roads
run with the system of road building
adapted to that country. Lengthy discus
sion followed regarding poor tools, defect
of laws, manner and time of working.
Progressive Farming" c. HI. Schmidt
More depends on the man than OH the soil
Two hundred million men are engaged i'll
agriculture, while only a small per cent. are
engaged in progressive agriculture. We
ship away too much fertility, remove and
soil. We need more farmers Institutes
Wisconsin holds ninety -one Institutes this
year. Praise to the men who originated
those Institutes The dairy cow is one of
greatest sources of income in this country,
and should be in the Willamette valley, as
it is we'll adapted to dairying the entire
year. We need pure milk, since disease
and death are the result of the impure.
Mr.. Schmidt then operated upon some fresh
milk with the Delavel Baby cream separa-
tor, IN few moments remuvihg the cream
from the milk. Some question arose as to
whether the cream was all removed, after
which the SKINNED milk was taken to the
college and analyzed, showing only the
minutest trace of cream remaining
"Gophers aud Moles," by Prof. F L.
Washburn. He exhibited number of
gopher and mole traps, one from O. Dickin
son, of Salem. A gopher gun, by which
gopher shoots himself, and trap FROM st.
Paul, Marion county, are most highly
recommended. Moles are not vegetarians,
as many suppose. It was e experience of
several present that field mice did much of
the work attributed to moles.
EVENING SESSION, 1870 P. NJ.
Essay, Law" by Mrs. A. r. Shipley.
Ordered printed.