Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1893-02-16
THE FARMERS In SESSION.
The First Session OF the Audubon
County Farmers Institute
Both Lively and
Successful.

Nuuilty EdIultlS lnSlllule COnNelleu
yesterday at 10 am. The first morning
session was u lively one. 1t demon
stated, too that they had secured very
able assistance in the person of Capt.
II. T. Speer, of Cedar Falls. He has the
knowledge of an experienced man, well
read, and with good ability for impart-
ing the information.
Mayor Hanna welcomed the farmers
to Audubon in neat speech, congratu-
lating them upon their desires to ad-
vance TO the front rank Of agriculture
in this scientific century, and the sue
cassful efforts in this county, Pres.
Edwards responded happily, speaking
OF the interests between town and
country as identical. Following this
was an intelligent discussion of the
value of corn.Sodder for feeding. Sposr
read from statistics which showed it to
contain one.third the nutrition of hay.
Speer is not in favor of ensilege. G. A.
w. Colee in travelling through Sharon
and Oakileld townships had seen enSi-
lege used by the Danish people, who, he
sad make money where Americans can.
not, John Loyelace thought the heat
of the siloh destroyed the nutrition,
proved 1t by Speer, and as parting
thrust ut Colee, said he thought the
American quite as progressive as any
others. Prof, Wilcutt and j. G. +.
Wicker were not present to fulhl the
program.
In the afternoon Lee lludler opened
the session with speech ON "The Farm
full of good suggestions of
practical value.
Capt. Speer's paper ON Corn How
to Grow it Most Proiitably" was one of
the most important and valuable pro
ductions of the session. lie thinks il
possible to produce u hundred bushels
per acre, by rotation of crops, for the
of the land, care in the
selection of seed, planting the eth or
18th of April in ordinary seasons, and
good tending. Iewould make shallow
and believes in striving to
improve preferred varieties of corn, the
same as breeds of stock. His speech
oil cited much discussion and question.
ing, deep interest and practical suggcs.
lions from ut least dozen members.
Capt, Speor paid high compliment to
Jhe soil of Western Iowa as the best III
Lhe world for corn production. A mum
Der of gentlemen approved of shallow
with the exception Of Mr..
Tyler, who had had the most satisfac-
tory results when blowing to the beam.
The cut worm came In for n great deal
Of discussion, with the conclusion that
The only way to get rid Of the pest is to
10 fall blowing as early as the middle
Of August.
Mr.. S. A. Graham on "rho Best Meth
I'd of Improving Our Highway" took
very conservative ground. Recognizing
The necessity of improvement, he re.
minded the institute that Audubon
county has not the material for road
bed which other parts of the state and
other states have. lie discouraged the
suggested plan of making sec.
ton line highways perfect at public
expense because the people are already
Too much burdened with taxation. lie
said, however, that public discussion of
the question is comparatively new and
If his paper elected discussion its OBJ.
ject would be fulfilled. Certainly, then,
Mr.. Graham was rejoiced In the discus
sion which followed, Mr.. 9. Smith, of
Oakileld, had much experience as q road
and had found it almost i'm
possible to get full days work from
those engaged. VIM. Humphrey, of
Leroy, corroborated this opinion and
thought the tax should be paid in cash
and work contracted. Mr.. j. o. Cotton
said that this feature was already a law
and had been abandoned in several
counties where adopted. Mr.. Taggart
thought that the contracting system
might prove as unsatisfactory as the
existing manner of bridging and
thought that conscientious work on the
part of those working the roads would
be the best remedy of the evil. There
were number Of speeches which in
dicted the general public on the charge
Of Sinking when at work on the roads,
and withal there were many confessions.
Final consideration of the question
went over to Thursday for the purpose
Of getting the majority opinion of the
members.
"How to Make Cows Most Profitable"
was intelligently handled by w. Il. Cot
ton. He did not favor a general pur-
pose cow,-oxcellent In nothing, but
preferred distinct beef or milk breeds
as the most profitable. lie followed
with practical suggestions on feeding
Mr.. Fest talked on the Centrifugal
Creamery System, proving it to be the
best and returning the greatest profit to
The farmer.
The evening session was attended by
very few, nearly all of the farmers 60.
ng home in the afternoon. Mr.. Coquil-
ette gave comprehensive and inter.
,sting review of the weather service
and its practical workings. Prof. Re
pass followed with suggestions Oh the
country school, fayoring the township
district plan, but believed
t to be unpopular. He also favored dis
in wages in payment of the
good and bad teacher. Messrs. Tyler,
Connrardy and others added
and criticism. Mr.. Keith said
that when he was director down in
Mahaska county, the superintendent
came to visit the school and asked the
directors to visit with him. Once inside
The building, the superintendent called
On the most intelligent director to speak
irst, following in order of merit, and
Mr.. Keith said that by this standard he
was called last, when he held himself
M to the punils as an awful example.