The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-03-05

IhlS selection was or the hrSt OrQer.
Mr.. Richardson, who represents the
Northeastern Farmer, gave ''The Star
Spangled Banner" on the photograph,
and also gave photographic concert
at the close of the meeting. Miss
Woloben gave an exceedingly inter
esting reading of some selections from
Bill Nye. The event of the evening,
however, was the impersonatiOn OF
the Lime Kiln Club, by number of
young people. The performance was
beyond praise. The leading character
represented member of congress
from the South. He was evidently a
born actor.
At the forenoon session on Tuesday,
Mr.. Cults gave an address on the
growing of small fruits, such as rasp-
berries, blackberries, currants and
gooseberries. He dwelt upon the i'm
portance of laying down raspberrles
and blackberries in the winter season.
1t required little more labor to
lay down blackberries than raspber-
ries. One or two spadefuls of earth
would have to be taken away from the
side of the blackberry bush toward
which it was to be bent. 1t might on
some soil be necessary to sink in a
spade on the other side of the bush
while it was being bent. A small
amount of litter is then placed on the
bush, and earth is put on the litter
A final covering of fresh farmyard
manure is then given.
Mr.. Carlyle discussed the question
of providing shelter for cattle in
winter. 1t is not necessary to go to
much expense in making such shelter,
but it should be warm, and great care
should be taken to ventilate the
stable. He also dwelt upon the bad
results arising from the too common
practice of wetting teats Of the cow
during the milking time. The much
better plan is to wipe off the udder
with damp cloth and then to milk
without wetting the hands.
Theo. Louis gave an address on the
question of hog cholera. He said that
while it would be well for the legis-
lature and board of health to do every
thing in their power to stamp out the
disease, their effort would GER
tainly be vain unless the farmers did
everything that they possibly could
to ward off the disease. Much could
be done by keeping the pigs vigorous
through judlcious breeding and suit
able feeding. Mr.. Louis answered
many questions bearing on the sub
jecU under discussion.
Prof. Shaw spoke on the question of
the School of Agriculture. He told
about the excellent work it is doing
for the farmers sons. The leaders in
this country before long would COM
prise many of the graduates of that
school. 1t had been objected that
young men who graduated there do
not usually go back to the farm. This
objection is not we'll founded. At
least ninety per cent of those who
have graduated from this school are
now engaged in active farming. There
is no charge for tuition. The'charges
for board and other expenses are
made on the cooperative plan. The
present winter it amounted to S2.65
per week, which included bedroom,
study and expenses of the laundry.
Twice the number of students are
now found in the regular classes OF
this institution that attend any other
similar school in the United States.
Persons who cannot take the regular
course have the privilege of going for
one winter or even for shorter time,
and they are admitted on the same
terms as the regular students. They
may select their own subjects, as for
instance, live stock, dairy husbandry,
practical agriculture or horticulture,
or they can take number of these
simultaneously.
The school for farmers girls openes
in April and C ntinues six weeks. 1t
is attended chiefly by young ladies
from the farms of the state. They
are instructed in home dairying, which
includes butter-making and cheese
making as done on the farm, ;and also
in cooking and sewing. They receive
lectures in some of the branches of
horticulture and also in hygiene.
At the afternoon session, w. l..
Carlyle talked on the subject of dairy
cattle. He laid great stress upon the
wise choice of males. He condemned
the practlce of selling animals of this
class while yet in the meridian of
vigor. A really good sire should never
be said so long as he is useful. He
also advocated the breaking of heifers
to milk at a comparatively early age.
Heifers should drop their calves when
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