Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-01-04
FARMERS INSTITUTE.
Large and Enthusiastic Many
Valuable Hints and Suggeruons
from Men of Experience.

The farmers institute WHICH was
held at Ithaca last week, wednesday,
to Friday Inclusive, was one of the best
attended and most Instructive meetings
of the kind ever held in the county.
The Wednesday morning session was
mostly taken up with opening eXer-
cises, and the discussion of notes and
queries. ID. l.. Sharer. W. j, Pendell,
Sllas Moody, Geo. Coleman and |. y.
Cowdry discussed various matters. in
Gliding; How to destroy ground moles;
Has farming paid; Feeding wheat to
hogs; What is the most useful crop |
financially and otherwise. 1t was gen
orally agreed that their farming paid. /
Quite a large number thought corn the
best crop; others, potatoes.
Rev Geo. Klleen gave some inter-
esting "reminiscences.
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.
In the afternoon session discussion
was continued on various topics. III
was quite generally agreed that corn
stalks would do Tor occasional feed for
horses, but was not suitable for regu-
lar diet. |. y. Cowdry, Parks Allen
and w. j. Pendell thought % cent
corn could not be fed with profit to
hogs.
The best slope for ditch was then
discussed. VIM. Ching thought u
slope to foot depth about right.
Others thought to l better.
Ransom Allen and Parks Allen
thought carrots good feed for mich
COWS. w. Ching preferred potatoes.
b .Carus preferred sugar beets; but
raised turnips for that use because they
easier raised.
RIB. Carus was called upon to dis
cuss the subject of Management OF
sheep and preparation of wool for the
market" and gave some valuable IN
? formation on that subject.
Roman Fylcr then gave paper on
MIXED farming and small farms.
DIVERS flied farming is best but wheat
no longer pays" The subject was dis
. cussed by Geo. Long, Fred Kelly. Burt
; Gee. +. r. Allen and others.
EVENING SESSION.
The query box was first in order
again, and quite a spirited discussion
= ensued by Messrs Carus, Cowdry, Parks
= Allen. Pendeh, j. Allen, X. p. Peet, W
f. Winton and others on the 'mos'
profitable crop"
Silas Moody then read paper on
2 the Successful farmer" in which. he
i. maintained that he must be shrewd, in
o dustrious, watchful, one who listens t'
his wife. and one who educates hi
children not only in the knowledge o
1t the world, but in pride for their call
e ing.
= Charles Vandeventer then discussed
the value of farmers clubs. 1t wa
also discussed by others, Il. b. Caru
stating in their favor that they starve'
Ie LAWYERS out--had had no law suit II
II his neighborhood for five years.
THURSDAY FORENOON.
lie The forenoon session was taken u
is with replies To- queries, most of whic
10 +. b. Terry of Ohio was called on t
answer. His talk was on the value {
'' clover and rotation of crops, potatoe
l. and manures. He preferred clover ha
r. for feed TO all kinds of stock. Glove
~ hav has pound for pound as much nj
triment as oats. He fed horses on
-" with out grain, and kept them in goo
- condition.
III AFTERNOON.
+. b. Terry took up his subject "Tf
Ut desirability of farming as compared
,ir other industries His talk was OF
general nature and covered almo
IN every branch of the subject, but his tai
~ on potato culture and clover drew OF
'n the greatest amount of enthusiasm al
CT inquiries. He preferred level cultur
he deep cultivation at first; but very sha
he sow after the tops are few inches o.
y, of the ground. Surface should be sti
~ red after every shower. so as to allo
'nt no crust to form on the soil. Clover
in is the best fertilizer. He bought
l. farm regarded as worthless-wou
ot not raise weeds-and after thirte'
years of cultivation was awarded {
premium by the state board of agricl
the ture for the best results from farm
rly 60 acres or above.
Mr.. Terry's talks were highly apr
old cated, as he is a practical farm
knows a thing or two" and how