The herald., 1897-09-04
SCHOOL FOR FARMERS
MOVES ONWARD INTO VENTURA
COUNTY
A Well Attended and Interesting Ses-
sion Held at Nordhoff-Wide
Range Of Discussion

| special correspondence 10 L ne 11erdiu.
NORDHOFF, Sept 2.-Nearly one
hundred eager. bright people gathered
at the assembly hall on Monday. After
music and invocation, Rev. ]. B. Sinclair
gave a warm welcome. 1--WE need what
you bring us. You do us good, and not to
give you a most hearty welcome would
be to stand in our own light" Prof
Wickson in his response said: The
greatest pleasure in our work comes
from the hearty welcome and evident
appreciation which our efforts receive
everywhere"
Joseph Hobart, who is a successful
fruit grower, read practical and enter
tanning paper on deciduous fruits. He
spoke a good word for the birds. They
were our good friends. Aprcots' did
well. The Royal was the best variety.
Of the apples, he preferred the Rhode
Island Greening The Bartlett led in
pears, and in almonds it was wise to Sc
cure varieties that started late so as to
avoid frost It had been reported in the
eastern papers that the Spitzenberg was
a leading market apple in California Mr..
Hobart denied this and Prof. Wickson
concurred. Prof Wickson gave AS
trakhan, Erovenstein and SINNERS
seedlings as good varieties north. Mr..
H. ]. Dennison thought we'll of them
mere. Mr.. Hobart was digging up his
Astrakhans. We need varieties of fruit
that are slow to start in the spring.
Z. S. Thatcher, after speaking of the
value of good roads, said all We needed
at present was to sprinkle our roads, and
this we ought to do at once. ride from
Ventura emphasized this. 1t is delight
full to ride over the sprinkled portion:
quite otherwise to stem the dust as we
neared the Ojai. Arrangements were
made to organize club.
Superintendent George L. Sackett an
sweed the question, How can we i'm
prove our schools?" Only Is per cent of
our children graduate from the grammar
school; only per cent of the grammar
school graduates enter the high school,
and less than per cent of our children
enter the university. This is serious
condition. More of our children should
have fuller common school advantages.
The children of the masses are to rule
us. Can we not change our courses so
so as to make them a felt necessity so the
children will feel and their parents feel
that the fullest course must be taken by
all. The morale of the school IS fixed by
the character of the pupils in large part.
Parents, where are the children before
and after school? What of the night?
| Closer relation between teacher and
parent is very important. Mothers
meetings or better, parents meetings
with the teachers are very helpful. This
is just as important in rural schools as
in the cities. The school grounds, build
ings and entire equipment should be
wholesome and beautiful Then the un-
cons scious influence is sweet and very
valuable. All equipment, including text
books, should be free, else children may
be taken from school because of expense.
We save so per cent in buying and fur
nishing the books. The books should be
purchased for all children, not alone for
those of poor parents. The greatest need
| is good teachers. Primary teachers
should be of the best and paid most
| Trustees should make fitness the only
criterion in engaging teachers, and char
acter fitness should stand highest
| Mothers visit yourselves the school
premises often and see if they are con-
ducive to the best good of your children
ducive to the best good of your children
Lastly, all of you visit your schools
| in every way.
| Mrs. ]. c. Wright in suggestive paper
showed how full the hands of the coun-
| try housewife were, and how very i'm
portant it was to systematic in all the
work Plan and system would help to
give time for the reading and study
which alone could fit the woman to be
mother.
Prof Wickson's address on agricul-
tural education was much enjoyed
There was very large audience in the
evening and the discussions were able
and prompt.
| The attendance and interest grew till
the afternoon and evening of the second
day the hall was filled to repletion. A
| lunch set for $50 under the wondrous
live oaks at noon was very interesting
occasion There was still necessary a
second table.
| Mr.. H. j. Dennison, who produces his
share of the $500, 900, 900 worth of hay pro-
duced in the United States annually,
read paper on haying. He regards bar
ley hay as best Never cut hay except on
bright days. 1t must be cured quickly and
we'll; should not be cut except Just at
maturity; not too green or ripe.
After Prof Cooks address on "Tuber-
culosis' it was asked if tubercular beef
was fit to eat. The government report
says yes The microbes are killed in
| cooking PasteuriZed milk is also safe,
Mr.. McTear's address on "Fertili-
zers" and Prof. Wickson's on Pruning"
were received with marked favor. "Cit-
rus Culture" was presented bT S. M.
Towle, "Apples" by H. ]. Bond. "Olives''
by I. w. Wolfe, all Of Nordhoff. Their pa
pers were of local interest. Forest Pres
ervation" by Mr.. Curtiss of Pomona was
thoroughly discussed. The people are