The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-01-02
PaauEas coNyrNrIoE.
Sixth knlaal Session Of the Somerset coun-
ty Farmers Institats.

her of the State Board of Agriculture,
called the Sixth Annual Session of the
Somerset county Farmers Institue To-
order. The s,nali a;ien.iaace at the open
ing session was entirely due 10 the heavy
snow storm OF the preceding night, and
the consequent impossible condition of
the public roads. The mercury, too, was
hugging the zero mark and deferred
,nany persons from near by points from
ventnring out doors.
| An organization was effected by elect
ing the following officers: President,
Hon. O. 7. Shaver; Vice President. L.
NJ. Lambert; Secretaries, NJ. s. Dickey
and \. J. Sembower.
| Hon. Joel \. Herr. of Clinton county,
/ and Mr.. - McWilliams, of Juniata
county. both members OF the State Board
of Agriculture, were introduced and
made short addresses.
/ Senator Critchfield announced that Mr..
| Scissor, OF Laolawana county, whose
name appeared upon the program for
several addresses. had been unavoidably
/ detained and would not be present. lie
also excused ,he soioists who had been eE-
gagged 70 be here, bat who found at the
last minute thai it would be impossible
for them 10 keep their engagements.
spring Flowing vs.. Fall Flowing"
was the subject OF discussion opened by
Valentine Hay, Esq, of Somerset. 8ir.
Hay said that billy land and thin soil
should be turned up in the spring, and
under opposite conditions he would ad-
wise that plowing be delayed until fall.
( Flowing for corn, he said, should always
! be done in the spring. Mr.. Herr was the
next speaker and said that he thought
AR. Hay had covered the ground very
eifcc.IGily. Senator Critchfield. also. IA
vored spring plowing. Messrs. SemGow-
er, Dickey, and several other farmers
spoke ia favor OF Gsll plowing and the
views Of the latter gentlemen seemed %
be coincided in by majority OF the
farmers present.
Aiter a number Of queries, affecting
agriculture, had been responded to
motion to adjourn was carried.
THURSDAY >FTERNooN SESSION
Thursday afternoon session was opened
by piano solo 10y Mir. Druckingmiiler,
of Johnstown, followed 10y sacred music.
i number OF farmers, some accompsn-
iei by their wives and daughters, had az
rived on the midday trains, and swelled
the attendance at this session To a good
size.
BEST Food for Mich Cows" was first
taken up and discussed. The consensus
Of opinion appeared to be that good clover
hay makes the best rough feed, and that
the best grain ration should consist Of
tgo-thirds bulk wheat bran and one
third oats or barley chopped.
l.. l.. Beachy, in response 10 query,
said that the bes. time - SOW clover seed
Is between March Is and May lst.
Hon. ). \. Herr, said, in reply to cue
ry How Can Garget bc Cared ia Cows
that the application of hot woolen rags
was the bs,i thing ne knew of. The same
speaker advises III eases OF scours or re
Taxation ia calves taken from their moth
ers that they be ied on skim milk heat
cd to a temperature Of - degrees.
The feature Of the session was au az
dress by Mr.. Herr on agricultural Edu
cation" The speaker proved to De q most
pleasing and logical taiker, and his re
marks oliytcd the closet attention upon
the part OF the audience. lie said that
mo man is too well informed to be a suc-
c5ssful farmer and that no field is more
inviting or more profitable than farming
The prime requisites OF the successful
farmer are knowledge and enthusiasm
and he may attain greatness and honor,
and bestOw blessings upon his fellow
men. IL is healihful pursuit for both
old and young and farmers boys should
DE educated TO stici, 10 it
Another interesting talk ~ this session
was given by Mr.. jeremiah S.eyanus, o.
Elk Lick, on Bee Culture" Mr.. Ste
vanus, thinks the cultivation of bees can
be made very profitable by those who
understand the habits OF the busy little
insects and give them the attention thcy
deserve.
\ long and heated argument was pro
voised by the following query, referred to
Senator Critchaeid, and Diseased 10y
Massrs. Senbower, Steyangs, Lambert,
am others. 'C..n Farmers Expoo. Equal
Representation without Organization, and
cIn we expect legislation rs favorable 10
Us - a class - others ENJOY without repre-
sealation according 10 oar namericil
strength? ?''
\ general discussion followed on 'Con
and Corn Fodder The argument ap-
pea-ej To favor si!age.
THURSDAY EvESISG SESSION.
Every seat in the court room was o.
copied when the evening session was call |
e1 to order by Chairman shaver.
Miss Mamie Sauner, ofSomerset, favor
e1 the audience with a vocal selection.
Sac was enthusiastically applauded.
Hon. VIM. Nesbit, of Northlm oeriand
colnty. was then introduced by Senator
Critchield. Mr.. Neshit = highly edu-
ei.ed farmer, has Travelled extensively, |
and i looked upon as one OF the leading
chemists OF Pennsylvania. He took
soils for his subject and spoke ut great
length upon The composition of soils and
the decomposition of the minerals con-
tanned in them. The impression the
speaker endelvorei 10 convey - his aud
ience was that the farmer must be in.eili-
gem anu SiIIiouo Al ne u 20 llfill Strce>S-
fully; he must be able to anslyze the soil
he i engaged in working in order 10 de-
terminc just what it requires 20 make it
more productive aud which crop IL Is best
adapted to producing. lie would have
chemistry os the soil taught in the pGbiic /
schools, in order to accomplish this end. |
The speaker deplorei the fact that 50 |
many young farmers Of The eastern states I
are taking Horace Greeiey's advice and |
going west, where, in = majority OF in 1
stances, they take up or bly lands that /
are unprodac.ive or At best wiii only pro- I
d ice limited crops under the most fayorI-
bic circumstances. wheTcls Lands are - /
be had in Maryland, the Niryinias, Ten /
ncesee, 1.-The Caroiinas which are among /
the most fertile in the United States, anI I
are to-day NJ: much better than barren 1
waste. The speaker referred to a number !
o. points in the South visited by him 1
where the soil produces certain high /
priced crops without ever having had 4
pound OF fertilizer scattered on il, because /
the chemical conditions Of the soil are .
such tha. ii is constantly being enriched /
an ! can never become poor.
Mr. McWiiIiams gave humorous reci- I
tatiDn before adjournment.
FRIDAY MORNING SESSION.