The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1898-02-04
The Two Conventions.

were successful and full of instruction.
Many useful facts were given out in the
various lectures, papers and discussions
of the sessions. Doubtless enough was
learned to show the value and import
ance of having these gatherings at least
once a year if not oftener. Like the be-
ginnings of all new movements. the work
of building up a successful farmers in
stitute is slow. 1t seems to be difficult
to arouse the farmers to any enthusiasm
and interest in them. and the work de-
wolves upon the few. The poultry peo-
pie, on the contrary. take hold with a
will, and the interest and attendance at
their exhibition showed the results of
their efforts.
THE FARMERS CONVENE.
The opening session of the Farmers
convention was held in the opera house
on Wednesday afternoon, and the entire
meeting was taken up in the discussion
of the best methods of raising corn and
wheat in Southwestern Nebraska. In
this discussion there was a wide range of
opinion and practice among the farmers.
quite a number of whom took an active
part in the discussion. Deep and shall
low blowing, surface cultivation, sub
soiling and surface packing, and various
methods of conserving the moisture were
reported, together with the various ex-
periences and results attained. The ses-
sion was lively and stirred up quite an
interest, which is always the result when
the practical work-a-day farmers come
together and talk these matters over
among themselves. The evening session
was turned over to the poultry people,
who made good use of the time as fol-
lows:
THE POULTRY PEOPLES SESSION.
On Wednesday evening the Poultry
people were in charge of the meeting,
and there was a fair attendance at the
opera house on that occasion. Mrs. Nell
lie Hawks delivered the principal adj
dress of the evening, on the subject of
poultry raising, in which she showed the
possibilities of money-making in that
line by the housewife, dwelling upon the
fact that the wife could thus be quite fin
ancia1ly independent. The address was
full of good advice and interest. Mrs.
William Byfeld. of Red Willow, read a
paper on the raising of ducks. which was
we'll received, and was one of the most
interesting features of the session. Sec
rotary J. S. LeHew then gave a historical
sketch of the association, its organiza-
ton, aims and purposes. Secretary Dear.
ing, of the Nebraska commission of the
Omaha exposition. described the state
building at the exposition grounds, and
explained how the exhibits would be ar
ranged at the great fair. This closed the
regular program of the evening. The
music by the public school choir was a
pleasing feature of the evening.
THURSDAYS SESSIONS.
Increased attendance and better inter-
est marked the sessions of Thursday. In
the morning the convention selected
Messrs. Bolles, Parsons, Ewing, Somers,
i Quick, and Hasty, as a committee to for
mulate a plan for organizing this sena-
torial district into an association for the
purpose of making a district exhibit at
Omaha, and the rest of the session was
taken by them in their deliberations.
Grain and corn raising was generally
discussed in the opening of the afternoon
session. DR.. Peters spoke on Animal
Diseases; w. A. Poynter, of the Omaha
exposition. The Southwestern Nebraska
Exposition Commission was then formed
as follows for the purpose of carrying
out the idea of making a district exhibit
at Omaha next summer during the expo
sition: President, Stephen Bolles; Sec
rotary, c. F. Babcock, McCook; Vice
Presidents, J.. A. Robinson, Danbury; C..
S. Jones, Trenton; D. S. Hasty, Arapa-
hoe; Mr.. Downer, Arapahoe; L. Morse,
Benkelman; James Burke, Imperial; L.
M. Graham, Stockville; G. M. Potter,
Hayes Center; and these with the COM
missioners of the counties of the 2eth
senatorial district compose the commits
sion.
At the evening session E. F. Stephens
of the Crete Nurseries spoke on Horti-
culture and Forestry. Supt. VIM. Val
entine of the McCook public schools de-
livered an address on the Education of
the Farmer Boy. And DIR. Peters made
a brief plea for the agricultural college of
the state university. Music by the school
choir.
CLOSED LAST NIGHT.
| The chicken show closed last night,
and it remains to be said that their first
annual exhibition exceeded all expecta-
tons of the members and was a reve-
1ation to the public, in the number of
birds shown, the number of breeds ex-
hibited, and the high excellence of the
birds in the contest.
FARM EOR RENT