The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-03-20

DULUTH. Mimi, March 1.-THE last in
stltute of the season was held in Duluth
on the 18th and 18th inst. There was some
hestancy on the part of those who mapped
out the work of the institute as to whether
1t should be taken to Duluth, owing to the
TACT that there is little of what may be
termed farm settlement around that city.
But the result has more than justified the
conclusion to hold an institute in Duluth.
At the opening hour, namely IL a. M,
superintendent Gregg introduced G. I.
Powell, OF New York, as one having large
experience in market gardening, and was
therefore well qualified to speak on the
subject. Mr.. Powell commenced by saying
that in his judgment there were excellent
chances for market gardening in the neigh
borhood Here were two cities, the popu-
latlon OF which numbers nearly 600, and
in each the demand could not but be great
Tor such products as furnished by the
garden. Perishable articles more espe-
cially, would require to be grown not very
lar away from the place of consumption.
Mr. Powell then dwelt particularly upon
the cultivation of strawberries. The straw
berry, he said is the first fruit Of the
son. Everybody wants them, as the sys-
tenn Graves for them at that season of the
year. The Strawberries may we'll be pre-
ceded by crop of potatoes. The land
should then be top dressed with composted
fertilizers and it would generally pay to
use commercial fertilizers in addition. The
aim should be to raise large crops, and
therefore it is important to thoroughly en-
rich the ground. He would speak of grow
ing them by what is termed the matted
row system. They should be put in rows
three and half or even four feet apart
and the plants should be Is inches apart
in the rows. In planting burrows might
De made, and the plants put in these, and
the earth then drawn up firmly around the
roots.
CAREFUL CULTIVATION
should be given. The runners which root
the first season furnish the best plants
Young plants should never be selected
from plants which had borne a full crop
as they were lacking in vigor. They could
De planted in the fall if pains were taken
to properly root them in the summer.
number of little pots or even paper boxes
should be secured. These should be placed
IN the ground, just under the bud that was
ABOUT to send roots down into the earth.
These plants could then be transplanted in
the early autumn without danger. He
dWet upon he Importance of mixing the
staminate and pistilate varieties in plant
ing. The following varieties, namely, War
held, Crescent and Captain Jack could be
placed in alternate rows. The staminate
varieties have both pistis and stamens
but the pistilate varieties, notwithstand-
ing, fruit most abundantly when planted
along with staminate kinds. They should
be covered in the winter with few inches
OF straw or coarse manure or evergreen
poughs. In the spring, if the mulch con-
sisted OF straw or coarse manure it could
be drawn from the rows and left to cover
the ground between the rows 1t is not
profitable, perhaps to require the vines to
produce more than one seasons crop before
the patch is broken up. To accomplish this
therefore, it would be necessary to have
new vines coming on every year.
Mrs. Ida b. TilSOn came next with an adj
dress on feeding fowls She laid down sew
eral principles to go by in doing this work.
The first of these was that no dry meal
should be fed, for as soon as the hens cot
access to water the meal would swell I'M
duly in the stomach and in many in
stances cause death. The second principle
was to
FEED VEGETABLES FREELY
more especially in the winter season, for in
the summer the hens could get this very
largely for themselves or at least they
could get the equivalent of vegetables. The
third was that they should be fed raw
meat. She often hung it up in the hen
house, and let the chickens pick at 1t at
will. The fourth principle was that meal
should only be moistened enough to cause
it to assume the character of a crumbling
mass. 1t would be injurious to feed 1t wet
The fifth was to observe great regularity in
feeding. When gravel is not abundantly
supplied the food will not be sufficiently
ground in the stomach and therefore it be-
comes effete matter in the system. Sharp
gravel is better than that worn by the
weather Broken crockery might be
pounded up and given to them She liked
to use some salt in buildings; one teaspoon
full to quart. She also fed charcoal This
she preferred to pound every third day. as
if prepared long ahead. it would lose it's
strength. Food should be fed warm more
especially in the winter season. Puddings
may consist of equal parts by bulk or bran.
shorts and corn meal. Various other in
gradients may be used Brahmas or buff
cochns, well feathered by nature would
probably do we'll for this cold climate.
Further south, she would recommend
Plymouth Rocks, Leghorns and Wyandots
DR.. j. c. Curryer then gave an accept
able address on the education of horses
He commenced by saying that very fire.
quently the members of the institute corps
were taken for ministers He had difficulty
sometimes in making people believe differ
emily; but he was accustomed to reply to
such remarks by saying that if they were
followed to their respective homes, it would
be found that they were pretty closely
identified with agriculture. He had some
misgivings as to whether the institute
should be brought TO Duluth, but the spIen-
did audience which was before him more
than justified the action Of the committee
In those large cities they were abundantly
supplied with electric cars and some might
be ready to ask what further use there was
for horses, but he could assure them that
the time would never come when horses
would not be wanted The great matter
now is to breed good ones, and then to
handle them SO that they will accomplish
the end for which they were kept 1t is
law which the lower animals recognize
that the stronger rule the weaker, or to put
it differently, that might makes right;
hence, in educating horses, should try
to convince the young animals that we are
stronger than they. BY taking the colt
shortly after birth and placing one hand
hind the hams, can hold him still at
pleasure or lift him off the ground, and
thus convince him that we are stronger
than he is. Our next aim should be to
SECURE HIS CONFIDENCE.
We can do this by taking little sugar and
rubbing it against his lips, and then by
a short time, they will be glad to came to
us when they see coming. He then told
how to break them to lead to the halter.
A copy of Farmers Institute Annual No
was then given to each person present
This attractive annual is undoubtedly the
best of the series that has yet been issued.
The illustrations in it are first -class, and
what Is of more Importance, the matter in
it is of an exceedingly practical charac-
ter, insomuch that it cannot fail to be of
great use to the farmers who are so fortu-
nate to obtain it.
In the afternoon Mrs. Ida E. Tison gave
an address shelter for poultry. She
outlined a plan on which houses might be
cheaply constructed. She dwelt upon the
advantages of having a scratching shed in
connection with the main poultry house.
She favored filling the loft with hay or