The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1897-01-29
SPECIALISTS.
ShiaWaSSee County Farmers
Learn How to Become So.
Old Style All Around Tilling of
the Soil Does Not Pay.
"Be an Expert i'm Some Line" Is the
Only Way to Be Successful.

The annual institute of the farmers of
Shiawassee county, under the direction and
with the assistance of the State Board of
Agriculture and the men sent out by 1t, was
held last week Thursday and Friday at
Laingsburg, and, in the matter of papers,
discussions and questions, was the most
practical and helpful one yet conducted.
The attendance was small on account of the
miserable weather, but every session had
much OF interest for those present.
President Il. II. Warren called the insti-
tu'e to order and Rev. Rowe offered prayer
Hon II. II. Pulver gave a short but en-
thusiastic welcoming talk and X. M. Kel-
logg, of Three Rivers, who was conductor
of the institute, responded. Mr.. Kellogg
took immediate charge and called upon r
NJ Shawver, of Ohio, for his talk on "Clo-
vers, Mauures, and Fertilizers" He said
that while in general it was not the inten-
tion of farmers to get what they could out
of the sol! and then abandon 1t, leavin <
nothing for future generations. yet by con
slant wear the lack of those element neces-
sary to keep up the fertility of the soil, was
a natural result. When the forests were
first cleared the decayed matter, leaves and
bark, furnished rich soil, but these ele'
ments were gradually used up, and while
the use of manures would help for period,
they were not always sufficient, and II
e.,oIi,, hooon,oo paoocsorv IN t,,rp updar rya
buckwheat and other crops, but clover wa;
the most useful in every way. Entrappine
as does the clover plant, the nitrogen of The
air. it could be turned under and add to the
mechanical and actual fertility of the soil
The red clover Is the best of the many
kinds of this plant in all the properties
making good hay and good seed. Alske il
good for pasture and seed. For the sol'
purpose of turning under, the English
clover is superior; the Crimson works flint
but is not successful on all ground. Alfaf;
is good but needs the exact soil. Florida
barren lands have been made fertile by en-
riching with clover. Barnyard manures ar,
of immense value and should be CAREFUL,
used. DO not let it stand in piles ant
steam; nitrogen and ammonia brought dowI
by rain or snow for others benefit, are al
lowed to escape by the careless farmer; !
should not be hauled and piled in heaps OF
the land, but, If possible kept covered unit
it can be spread on the ground; the liquit
and solid manures should, if possible, b,
saved together; horse and cattle manure
should be mixed, making most perfec
combination-hot and cold; the shed shOulc
be built so that cattle can run under, and il
the heat of summer come from pasture ant
be protected from flies. Commercial ferti
lizers are costly but necessary sometimes il
gardening; but they must contain all ele
ments to be of any value. The kind o
crops to grow is vital question:; flax ha
been grown until land is absolutely worth
less, the plant and flower both being rich
| i'm the south cotton is raised until the lam
must be abandoned for years. A ton of ha
takes away SIS. AS worth of fertilizers; thu
when ton of hay is sold for $40 or $l2, tn
land is actually robbed; clover takes ava
an immense amount of fertility; corn also
a rich plant The best plan is to rails
and feed stock, thus giving back to the Ian
part of the fertility in manures; lambs q
fair price turn back practically all fertilizer
used; fruits and vegetables take but littl
and bring good price; cheese at $500 ton
| ,,xiI NJ IN will oil
profitable, as the fertilizers are not take
from the land, butter at S40O ton, takin
but 4S cents worth of fertility.
The discussion led by G. r. WOodl
brought out many points of interest.
DIR. Barclay sang The Ship of Love" il
a very acceptable manner.
II. M. Kellogg, one of the most success:
full strawberry and small fruit men c
Michigan, told what plants, what element
and what treatment brought best result:
First, love of the business; the same syster
peryades plant and animal life; un!es
healthy could not re. produce healthy plant
nor good fruit; the same life principle pr
walls as in the human and plant life; 81
plants so inches apart both ways, cut off a
runners; let every plant have light and a
= never overlap; there are about 100 diffe
ent kinds of berries; for family of six, s.
100 warfelds, so Cyclones, 80 Haviand
so Greenvilles, so Enhances, few Bra
dywine or iovett and dozen or two Mite