Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-02-01
FARMERS INSTITUTE.
A Large Attendance and Very Profit
able Sessions


January 30th. "How to save and apply
Manure" was the first paper by Mr.
Goodrich. 1t was ably handled and
thoroughly discussed by the farmers.
A. F. Noyes followed him on the sub
ject Of "Tillage'' L. H. Read of OH
city ably presented the advantages OF
Commercial Fertilizers" which closed
the forenoon session.
| AFTERNOON SESSION
R. A. Havenor read a paper on Sheep
| Husbandry in which he recommended
the keeping of the best mutton breeds
only, as the outlook for wool growers
was rather gloomy. He presented
pictures of good and bad sheep which
were very striking illustrations of what
CAR be done by good breeding.
L. NJ. Nash spoke on the subject OF
''Proftable Beefgrowing in Wisconsin, >
He was of the opinion that it would
require the best of breeding and
selection to make it profitable in
dustry.
A. Selle read a very interesting paper
on Swine Husbandrv, after which A. F.
Moves gave talk on Corn Culture.
There was much discussion on botlr
| of these subjects and the farmers
seemed largely interested IN them.
AT THE OPERA HOUSE.
The evening session was called 10
order in the Opera House at 7:30, and
| in fifteen minutes time not an available
seat was to be found in the building
The speakers were called before an
audience Of standing room only" the
spectators being packed to the very
doors, and many were i'll the gallery.
The first speaker. Mr.. c. P. Goodrich,
presented i'll a very pleasing and
| forcible manner the value of the Shorl
Course in Agriculture at the state
University to every farmers boy.
Among other things, he said that the
farmer need not be afraid his son would
leave the farm if he educated him
| there. This course is the very step
that would keep the boys on the farm.
These remarks were followed by a
pretty little duet surg by Ruby
st. Amour and Master Lacy Horton.
The little folks did we'll before so large
an audience.
A very interesting talk was then
yiven by j. A. Gaynor on the Cultiva-
lion of Plants, followed by a High
school chorus of IS voices.
Horticultural Homes" was the
subject briefly treated by B. S. Hoxie,
| who earnestly urged the people to
beautify their homes and yards with
bowers, shade trees and nice lawns.
Our cities could profitably follow the
advice of his remarks in many of our
homes.
A Farmers Cantata," novel and
pleasing, closed the program. 1t was a
very profitable and. successful day for
he farmers in our vicinity and for the
institute.
WEDNESDAY.
Wednesday forenoon was devoted to
Dairying and much good advice was
given which, if followed out by our
farmers, should make noticeable
Improvement in the butter made in
this vicinity. Several samples of milk
were tested in the Babcock tester, the
three highest as follows:
H. H. Compton~..........4.6p per cent Butter fat.
@ D,,++ e.
T. J. Cooper. per cent Butter fat.
Rhodell Crossheld, of Fl. Atkinson,
spoke about the "Care and Feed of
Dairy Cows" He keeps 25 COWS, 10
or II young cattle and horses on 60
acres of land. He does not pasture his
COWS but cuts green feed for them all
summer, and winters them on corn
ensilage and clover hay. 1t costs him
about $3.50 for bran shorts and oil meal.
Mr.. Crossfeld sold over $17OO worth of
butter the past year.
C. P. Goodrich gave very interesting
talk on "Butter Making on the Farm. "
He is one of the leading butter makers
IN the state and his advice is the result
of experience and well worth needing.
His son had charge of the but, er
making tests at the Worlds Fair the
past summer.
IN THE AFTERNOON
M. 7. Allen, Of Waupaca, discussed
the preparation of Seed and Planting
Potatoes" and Fred Fisher, of Sher-
dan, spoke on ''Cultivating ana
Harvesting Potatoes They handled
the subjects as if they had worked at
them and knew how they should be
done. They recommended thorough
separation aud constant and clean
culture. Mr.. Fisher said that he often
cultivated up to the last week in
August to keep all weeds killed out.
Many have an idea that no cultivation
can be done after the tubers have
as it always pays to cultivate and keep
the top of the soil fine and free of
weeds. Do not cultivate deep, all that
is needed is to stir the top soil
W. D. Barnes, of New London, spoke
on 'Small Fruit Culture advising
every farmer to grow at least enough
fruit for his own use.
3. S. Hoxie, of Evansville gave a
very interesting talk on the same
| subject and also mentioned the fine
display of apples that this State had at
| tho Wor11'c Eair