The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-01-26
FARMERS In CONVOCATION
The Marion County Institute Hold q
Tw0-Days' Annual Meeting.
President Billingsley Makes an Address-Mr.
Harris Speaks PrOftably of tie Dairying
Business-Mrs. wsugh's Timely Appeal

The Marion County Farmers Institute
held its first days session yesterday, at the
State-house, aud was fairly-well attended
by farmers and their wives. and others in
terested in agricultural pursuits. President
j. j. w. Billingsley delivered the opening
address, which was aptly responded to by
w. w. Stevens, of Salem. The read
ing and discussion of essays was
at once begun. Prof. w. A. Bell. of this
city. furnished the opening paper on the
value of Farmers Institutes.r He said
that the success gained by the farmer who
attends the institutes over tho one who
does not attend. but stays at home and
Prowls over crop failures, is the most con-
vincing argument that can be advanced In
favor OF the society. 1t is a noticeable
fact. he said, that the Patrons of
Husbandry who are likely to be most
benefited by these meetings are the very
people who remain away. He was much
gratIfed to see. he said. that the meetings
of the Marion county institute were in
creasing In number each month. In the
discussion which followed this paper it
was thought the good seeds sown in these
meetings was not entirely lost, for those
who were present carried away the valu-
able information CLEANED to their neigh
bors. lie was also the opinion of
q number of the speakers that the
institutes would be more generally at
tended were they held outside of the city.
there being comparatively fewer farmers
in the immediate vicinity of Indianapolis
Prof. Il. j. McAvoy pointed out in q bright
paper the sort of literature the farmers
family would be most benefited by read
ing and he named list OF suitable
periodicals. The institute here adjourned
for dinner.
In the afternoon G. B. Harris, of Goshen,
talked on the subject of dairying. He is
one OF the instructors IN the Purdue expert
mens station. ana read q paper of much
value. showing the large profits in
this branch of agricultural industry. The
discussion was lea by Charles Richards. of
Rowland.
DR.. E. H. Collins. of Carmel re nd paper
on the fertility and composition of farm
soils. He showed how even clay soils could
fertility In clay. he said, but the trouble
Is to reach it. The cultivator must open
It's pores by thorough drainage. DR.. Collins
advocated the heavy use of clover as a
position of the theme. Mr. S. E. Rauh, of
this city. led in the discussion.
Mrs Julia ID. Waugh. of Crawfordsvllle.
contributed carefully prepared and inter;
Farmer" Mrs. Waugh paid high tribute
to the Indiana farmer, and said that at no
time in the history of the State has the
farmer occupied his present prOminen
She drew picture of an ideal farm. well
kept as to fence rows, we'll stocked and
we'll titled. 1t embraces 16O acres, four
hfths under cultivation. The usual variety
of cereals Is grown. In distant field is q
windmill, without which the farmer
thinks his place q failure. Many fences
lanes. A strong and well-built barn,
painted the familiar red, with many
windows occupies spot in full view of the
road Graveled drives and hedges lead to
q weil-planned interior. where sleek horses
MUNICH q goodly portion. Against this
ideal. which. she said. Is sometimes real
lied, the writer drew n picture of the typ
ical farm in which the irregularities
of life remain to make existence hard
and unattractIve. She was particularly
OF such farm, where an overwOrked wom-
an tolls and bridges without time for men,
tai or social entertainments, and with no
money for the exercise of taste in dress.
because the butter sales 20 to buy grocer
les In trade Her appeal was for q time
when farmers daughter would not be
known by her dress. The essayist is
daughter of Mr.. Davidson, of the State
Board of Agriculture. She was loudly ap-
plauded at the close of her paper.
A paper on Milk. Butter and Cows" was
read bv Prof. G. S. Plumb, of the Purdue
experiment. station. The speaker first
pointed out the qualities of a good milch
cow without reference to breed. Jersey
and Guernsey cows. he said. give richer
milk than HOlsteins or Ayrshires, because
the per cent. of fat in the milk is greater
with the former than with the latter. The
Jersey will exceed 342 per cent fat in milk,
while others fall below it. The aver
age Indiana cow will yield ninety
pounds of butter year, but the
dairyman should never be satisfied
with less than three hundred pounds Der
cow per year. He should keep q record of
the yield of his stock in milk and bu tier
All animals not producing at least three
hundred pounds should be weeded out.
The institute will meet at o'clock this
morning.