The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-12-12

DEL COW STALL.
ana quality of farm products and conse-
| quehtiy IN appreciation in values of land
Inc results are tangible and measurable
py standards that all can appreciate It
must oe Sald, however, at the very outset,
that many of the results of institute work
are eltner intangible or only beginning to
crystalize in form to be appreciated bv
the people in general. To the close stu
ueht and observer these results are not
Tess valuable because less tangible In
ueeo' II can be truly said that some of the
most beneficial results of the work are
not TO be measured by the dollars and
cents standard, but show rather in the
changed attitude of many farmers towards
education and science, in higher estimate
Oh the Importance and dignity of agri-
culture ana IN a better appreciation of the
privileges and possibilities of farm life
IL is yet too early to measure adeoua tely
tne Dement'S of institute work. If no fur
'hel appropriations for this good work were
niaue the forces that have been set in mo-
ton through this agency would produca in
creaslng good with the flight of years, be-
cause there are hundreds and thousands of
farmers whose eyes have been opened to
the causes of failure and the conditions of
success, whose hopes and ambitions have
Deen aroused and whose methods have been
improved by institute work, that will go on
shaflng and diffusing the benefits of the
work throughout their lives
Without attempting to enumerat e the good
results or farmers institutes, the writer
VIII merely attempt to set forth certain re-
suits which are generally acknowledged to
be the legitimate outgrowth of the insti-
tute work.
INCREASED INTELLIGENCE
Inc farmers institute is primarily an ed
ucator-a bureau of informal ton on subjects
, of every day practical value to farmers
1t is a kind of university extension applied
to agriculture. Prof. w. A. Henry of
wisconsin, says, with reference to the in
stltute work in that state: ut gathers to-
gether all the great agricultural forces of
the state into harmony, and carries more
information and distributes it better than
was ever before possible j. Van Matre
or Wisconsin, says: Farmers institutes
AFFORD us maximum amount of knowl-
edge at minimum cost" The informa ton
that has been diffused everywhere through
out this and adjoining states through the
medium of farmers institutes has been of
the most intensely practical character Men
who have demonstrated their ability to in
struct by the successes achieved on their
own farms have set forth in clear and for
chile manner at the institutes the methods
they have employed and the secrets of their
success.
President Smart has said that in recent
years farmers are making more progress in
general intelligence and improvements in
methods as the result of increased intelli-
gence, than any other class of people, and
he believes that the Institute work has
been very largely instrumental in the at
| tainment of this desirable end
METHODS IMPROVED.
AS a natural result of increased intelli-
gence, improvement in methods follows
One of the most striking results of the in
stitute work is seen in the improved meth
DDS of handling corn fodder in this state
1t Isl true that a very large per cent is
practically allowed to go to waste by stand
ing in the field as in I'VE olden times,'' but
as a result of the institute work the area
of corn fodder that has been harvested and
properly cured for winter feeding has been
| greatly increased since the advent of farm
| ers' institutes The following quotation
| from ex-Gov. Hoard, of Wisconsin, is right
| in point here. Speaking in 1883 he said: ITO
the very best Of my knowledge we planted
in Wisconsin last spring $4,000 acres more
fodder corn than we did the year before.
What led to that result? The agitation that
we had for two years upon this question
| in institutes. What was it worth? Two hum
| dred thousand tons of food added to the
| supporting power of this state for it's live
| stock, which l suppose is worth at least
| 100000, and yet there are farmers in this
| state holding cent so close to their eyes
! that they could swear conscentiously,
| There is no moon beyond it," They will
say that the little appropriation of $4,000
| to carry on this work of enlightenment and
| stimulus toward the development of the ma
| terial interests of our state is being wasted
| and thrown away. Never before in my life
! have l felt the magnificence Of this COM
| monwealth roll in upon me, and the char
| acter of it, and the pride of it, as l have in
| the past three years. l believe today, my
| friends, that Wisconsins future is 100 fold
| better for these influences than it ever
| has been before.
For fear that I may make it too low I
| shall not venture to estimate in dollars and
cents the benefits to Indiana of improved
| methods inaugurated by farmers insti-
! tutes. A large majority of the intelligent
| progressive farmers of Indiana will agree
| with me, however, that if Wisconsin can
| be SO benefited by farmers institutes, our
| own fair state, than which there is no bet
| ter in the Union, may be likewise bene-
| fitted.
SUCCESS ENHANCED.
| Producers of improved breeds of live
| stock and improved seeds and fruits, with
| in and also without the state, have felt
| the impetus of the movement for better
| things on the farm and about the home
| which is most striking outcome of the
| institute work. The benefits have not
| however, been limited to individuals
| Whole communities have realized the ben
| efits of intelligent, concerted effort in the
| growing and marketing of their products
The fear expressed by many timid farmers
| that the growing extensively of any crop
| by a whole neighborhood would ruin the
| market has proven a mere will O. the wisp
| as the increased amount and improved
| quality of the product has either brought
| purchasers to the very door or secured
| quicker and cheaper transportation to the
| more distant markets.
A striking illustration of increased sue
| cess resulting from a farmers institute
| was related to the writer by Mr. W. H.
| Morrison, late superintendent of institutes
| in Wisconsin. He stated that in a GER
| tain locality in Wisconsin a merchant who
lost money annually on the poor butter
that he was compelled to buy from his
patrons requested that a dairy institute be