Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1894-01-12
IT'S WORK COMPLETED
The State Farmers Institute
Concluded an Interesting
Session Here Last -
Evening"

Yesterdays session of the
State Farmers Institute was
opened with a talk on the retention
OF moisture in the soil, by Supt.
Gregg. He explained how this could
be done and applied it to the grow
ing Of trees and to the various kinds
OF field crops. He favored the free
mulching of trees with straw.
Prof. Shaw then follow with an
address on fertilizing land for pota-
toes. He favored growing clover
and keeping live stock to furnish the
requisite fertility. The clover
brought plant food and it also helped
to retain moisture in the soil and
not only that which came down
from above but also that which as
cended from below. If there was a
difficulty in growing the clover ON
old soils it probably arose from lack
OF moisture which also indicated a
lack of vegetable matter in the soil.
w. l.. Carlyle then proceeded to
test several samples of milk furnished
by farmers who were present. He
gave explanations while the test
ing was going on. He mentioned
among other things that to get
fair test the cow should be MIXED
clean in the morning and evening
and a sample taken from both milk
ings. The two samples should be
mixed. If the first milk drawn were
used it would be under the average
and if. the last milk drawn were
taken it would be above the average.
A sample taken at night would
probably differz from ono taken in
the morning, hence it was necessary
to get the two and mix them. He
also gave full explanations in regard
to the feeding OF the dairy COWS.
Prof. Shaw then answered ques-
lions in regard to the growing ofpo-
tatoes. Generally speaking he IA
vored deep planting. He favored me-
dunn sized seeds planted whole and
preferred large piece OF cut tuber
to a small one. The field should be
thoroughly narrowed, at intervals
of three or four days, for q week or
two after planting the crop. He ia
vored shallow cultivation and said
that killing potatoes was frequently
detrimental to the crop. The only
killing required was what would be
sufficient to prevent the points OF the
potatoes from appearing above the
ground.
In the afternoon DR.. J. G. Curryer
gave an address on how to know a
good horse when you see him. In
examining a horse you should al
ways begin at his foot. Without
good feet a horse is of little value, no
matter what his other good points
are. After the foot, the pasterns
come next in Importance. They
should have q good spring The
evils arising from ill-shaped pasterns
were pointed out in detail. In the
superstructure, he regarded the
heartgirth as very important. Good
muscling was. also important, and
he showed how it varied in different
classes OF horses. He was called
second time to the pla tform by the
audience and he gave many valuable
pointers on the defects OF the struc-
ture. These he thought should first
be sought for. He showed sketches
of various kinds of horses and tlwelt
upon the points in general, which he
considered Of most Importance.
w. L. Carlyle then churned two
gallons Of cream in the presence Of
/ the people. He explained the ripen-
ing OF the cream and the use OF the
starter and why this was deemed a
necessity. He also showed the ne
cessity of straining the cream.
Churning sweet cream required a
long time to get all the butter and
it was doubtful If it can be got
without churning very long time.
After churning was completed the
butter was shown in the churn, in
the granular condition.. 1t was
then taken from the chapn and
weighed, when an ounce TO the
pound Of the finest salt TINT could
be bought was sprInkled over the
butter, which, was then worked on
the Lever Butter Worker. It was
then put up in pound prints and
wrapped up in parchment paper for
market.
Mr.. Carlyle answered many ones
tons on all phases Of the work ais he
proceeded Many ladies' were pres
ent who took very great iaferest In
every phase Of the work.
Mr.. CariyIe's address and practica
Information closed the work 81 the
institute here The attendance
throughout was MOI nearly as large
rs should have been but all thpseI
present tonk d great interest In the
proceedlngs and obtained mnch ase-
fnl infornia tipil an every branch ufI
farming md stock raising