Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1898-12-14
FARMERS INSTITUTE.
Continued from first page

Hon. j. s. Trigg then delivered the
principle address Of the evening, his
subject being "Dirt." He paid tri-
butte of appreciation for the treatment
he had received from the people of
Hesper, noted for their good condition
of morals, brightness and intelligence.
Said that the audience was composed
of two kinds of people, men, trying to
get all the dirt they could, and the
women trying to get rid of il. Then
analysed "dirt," explaining the uses
of its different properties. The proper
ties Ofthe dirt largely determines the
intelligence, wealth and growth of the
people. Iowa is the most uniformly
fertile tract of land i'm the world for its
size, magnificent heritage; and the
object of these Farmers Institutes is
to handle this gift so as to make the
best use of it. When land becomes
sterile nations decay. Personal clean
illness determines the measure Of civil
zation of the people. We can't make
bright, happy, Intelligent, respecting
men and women from dirty ones. As
nation we wear more clean clothes
than any other people, and battle Oft
ener, which is the cause of our civiliza-
ton. New land produces a large crop,
just as old soil not properly taken care
of will not respond. Iowa soil should
not be depleted. The ideal soil-to get
it, would dig shovel of dirt right in
this place. 1t must have the proper
admiXture of sand or clay and humus.
We are passing through marked
change in agriculture. Twenty years
ago we dropped wheat and now diver
sified farming is the rule. With Il
beautiful reference to man himself re-
turning to dust, from which he came,
Mr.. Trigg closed splendid address,
and the evening meeting adjourned.
THURSDAY MORNING.
AT the opening of the morning ses-
sion G. B. Pike moved the reelection
OF the present officers, which was car
ried by reclamation. Then the topic
Raising Swine for Profit" was opened
by J. G. McMillen, who said that he
advised farmers to wean the young
pigs and not to cook feed for hogs, but
to warm it I'm the winter; to feed sweet
and not sour food and feed lots of bar
ley; to feed three times day in sum
mer and twice q day in winter. Give
salt, ashes, lime and plenty of grass to
prevent cholera, and keep them free
from constipation. A lively discussion
followed by NJ. ]. Nicholson, j. S.
Trigg, A. jacobson, G. b. Pike and
others, the prevalent idea being that
cholera could neither be prevented nor
cured.
"Beet Production and Dairying' was
taken up by John Wingate who be-
lieved in commencing with the calf
and feed all it can eat, but do not
crowd. Corn and oats ground together
make good feed for young stock. There
Is no trouble in selling all the registered
stock one can raise. Warm water for
cattle in winter; feed on grass in sum
mer. Glover hay and corn assimilates
food and makes digestion better. He
would rather feed three year-olds than
younger, rs they have larger frame
and take on fat faster. A. jacobson
and j. l.. Cameron also joined i'm the
discussion.
"a Quarter Section. How Can it be
EARNED to Make the Most of it?" G..
A. Hiatt advised the farmer to give the
boy his due; said that five minutes
spent in praising boy for job well
done was worth more than two hours
talking politics with a neighbor. If
you depend more largely on one crop
than another let it be corn, as it pays
more on the average. Have plenty of
clover and oats and some timothy keep
stock enough of some kind to feed
nearly all raised on the farm, and look
carefully after the garden and fruit for
the table. J. G. McMillen proposed
having ten acres about the house for
yards, one acre for pigs. Divide the
rest of the farm into four sections and
fence pig tight. Have one in pasture,
one planted with seed or oats, and
change the next year to pasture. Put
the other half into corn and cut it for
stock. Have about five cows with the
increase, and rs to $50 hogs; feed what
is raised on the farm. l.. l.. Iverson
advised having smaller farms and Civ
ing them more attention. John Win
gate said that diversified farming on
quarter section was the only sure way
of success. Divide into four parts;
beautify farm and buildings, sow oats
and wheat together as 1t makes better
feed for cattle. This latter suggestion
brought out an interesting discussion.
p. J. Tabor said man could pay the
debt on the farm from fat steers, max
ing other products pay the running ex-
penses. Lay plans for three years with
allowance for variations of seasons and
circumstances.
"Best Method of Retaining and I'M
nroyinp the Fertility of the soil ~ I