St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-27
OTTER TAIL COUNTY FARMERS IN
SPECT THE STATE EXPERI-
MENTAL STATION
AS GUESTS OF JAMES ]. HILL.
SPENT SEVEN HOURS In GOING
FROM ONE DEPARTMENT TO
ANOTHER.
In the Work Now BeiDc Dopa nv
the State to Make Practical
Farmers.

The delegation of Otter Tail county
farmers, nearly 100 strong, the guests
OF j. j. Hill, arrived in the city YES
terday morning little after o'clock.
The two cars placed at their disposal
by the Great Northern Railroad COM
pany We're attached to Train No. 2 at
Fergus Falls Wednesday night. Break
last was served at the Merchants, and
at $3.50 the party boarded special cars
and were taken TO the agricultural
school of the University of Minnesota.
When the excursion was first dis
cussed, only about thirty farmers in
tended coming, but after their attention
was called by Elmer Adams, editor of
the Fergus Falls Journal, to the i'm
mense benefit such a visit would be to
them, the number swelled rapidly until
the delegation numbered nearly 100
farmers
1t was very intelligent gathering.
and composed of men in every stage
of farm wealth; farmers who had seen
little else than farm work for quar-
ter of a century. One farmer said he
had not been in st. PauI for twenty
years, and another one went through
st. Paul twenty-three years ago, and
had never seen the city since until
yesterday, when he came as an Otter
Tail county delegate.
Very few of the farmers were aware
what was in store for them. Some were
not familiar with the latest appli
anceS in the way of machinery and
other economical advantages which go
to make the farming business more
profitable. They never saw a farm
on a scientific basis, where every
thing was accounted for in the small
est detail They did not expect to see
those magnificent buildings, those large
and spacious barns, the little sheep
ranch, the fully equipped blacksmith
and carpenter shops, the veterinary
hospital, green house, dairy house,
abattoir and a score of other places.
Each one had his particular hobby, and
when it was reached on the pro-
gramme, fingered while to make a
more critical inspection.
Col William M. Iiggett, of st. An
thony Park, member of the board of
regents and chairman Of the agricul-
tural committee, had the affair in
charge. w. w. Pendergast, superin-
tendent of public instruction, was
there as the proud father Of the school.
the school with seventeen students. To-
day it has nearly $50, % of whom grad
uate this term. Elmer Adams, who
was personally acquainted with many
of the farmers present, assisted in
showing them about.
At $3.50 the party proceeded to visit
the different departments and build
ings. The first place visited was the
department of entomology, where the
in nd "a tc
cruing to the students were fully dis
cussed. From here the party went to
the department of horticulture.
AT 10 o'clock they listened to a short
address by Prof. Hayes on "Agricult-
ure." Mr.. Hayes said there were $50
acres used by the department of agri-
culture, over 100 Of which are under
cultivation, another 100 used for past
ure, and so acres in buildings, groves,
forestry and gardens. A sub-experi-
ment farm of $50 acres has lately been
purchased for agricultural and horti-
cultural purposes. Another farm will
soon be purchased in the northeastern
part of the state of about half Sec
ton, and still another farm in the
southeastern part of the state. In Mr..
Hayes division a number Of lines of
experiment are carried on. Certain
fields are laid out in plots and treated
as farms. Here live stock is used to
aid in the process Of farming, to keep
out weeds, fertiliZe the soil, etc.
Experiments as to how to raise
grasses are carried on, also the taking
of grains that are successfully raised
in Minnesota, and making them better
by crossing. In one instance, two BUSH
els of wheat have been raised from one
kernel since 1892. New kinds of tim
othy are still in their experimental
stage; one that is good for meadows,
and another that stools out under the
ground better. The students, when
entering this department, are given a
course of lectures. some object work,
and a little practical work in soil till
age.
In the carpenter shop about twenty
boys were at work. They are taught
how to sharpen tools, how to file saws,
and make wood pieces and put them
together. Prof. c.. r. Aldrich is in
charge Of this work.
In the poultry house, which is mod
entering this department, are given
hundred or more chickens Of different
breeds and particularly fine specimens.
An incubator in one end Of the build
ing attracted much attention.
The party then went to Assembly
hall, where Col. Liggett delivered an
address of welcome, and introduced
DR.. Brewster, principal of the school.
Dr. Brewster said: TT is one of the
pleasantest days in our history to
meet you, such a body of intelligent
farmers from one of the greatest coun-
ties in Minnesota. This is the largest
delegation Of farmers, directly, that
ever visited us. We have been visit
ed by farmers and delegations of the
legislature containing many farmers,
but never before have such a large
delegation Of farmers visited this
farming school. We ask you to look
the institution over, inside and out
side, and gather all the information you
can, and we invite you to give us any
information you may have and any
suggestions as to any lines of work
that we are doing, or changes that we
may make. Ten years ago we were
doing practically nothing in the line
of agricultural education in this state.
Not because the university did not
wish to, but because it did not know
how to do so. Today, however, we
have one OF the finest institutions of it's
kind in America"
Elmer Adams, the next speaker,
graduated from the state university
twelve years ago. At that time the
agricultural college consisted of one
building, and the year he was there
but one student graduated. Since then
it has grown to immense proportions.
A vocal selection by the college
quartette, entitled Farmer John,"
was sung in a very creditable manner,
and generously applauded.
A number Of the farmers were asked
to give short talks. Benjamin Burton.
of Oak Valley, who drove fifty miles
to get aboard the excursion, and one
of the early settlers in Minnesota, was
much surprised at the growth of the
Twin Cities, and the general advance
ment he observed all about him. When
he arrived at the farm, everything