The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-02-11

| gave an interesting talk upon the subject
of Shetland ponies. The ponies came
originally from the Shetland Islands,
north of Scotland. The country is bleak
and barren, with not much vegetation.
The Shetland ponies have been there
since 80 A. d., or at least it is said so.
Previous to S3S the land was held by pi-
rates. Then the king of Norway took it
and held it until 1887, when it went to
Scotland's king, and is now considered a
part of Scotland. The speaker said he
had been there and found the people
very hospitable but plain. They use peat
for fuel. They have some cattle and
sheep, The ponies will eat anything that
almost any animal will eat. The people,
the most intelligent, know very little
abort America The horses are invaria-
bly, kind, will average from 80 to AZ inch
es in size; not considered first-class if
over AZ inches. You can reach salt water
on this island in any direction, it is said,
by walking straight ahead two miles.
The ponies seem to reach greater height
on coming to this country. The average
pony is about 400 pounds in weight.
There is more profit in raising ponies
than cows. If farmers knew this they
would go into the business of raising
Shetland ponies. They are especially
| suited for the amusement of children
are very apt to learn tricks and never get
| vicious.
The president of the agricultural col.
lege, Prof. J. L. Snyder, gave the large
audience brief trip to the college at
Lansing by the means of views and in
| teresting talk.
The college was established forty years
ago. In 1862 congress took up the SUBJ
ject of aiding agricultural colleges. Mich
igan got 100000 acres of land from the
United States and received $50, 900 year
for the support of the college. The state
only gives about $4,000, There is
woman's course in this college in which
it is aimed to make good women and fit
them for the duties of life. Music is free.
The speaker would put in a workshop
and kitchen in the basement of the
Owosso high school.
| Stereopticon views of the agricultural
college and the surroundings were then
given and, aided by the interesting re-
marks of the president, were much en-
joyed by the audience.
The male choir then rendered "The
North Wind" with good effect, and with
the sweet notes of "Annie Laurie" the
audience was 10th to part.
HYGIENE OF FARM LIFE.
| The eminent specialist, DR.. V. G
Vaughn, of Ann Arbor, was we'll received
| by the large audience, and lost no time
in wading into his subject. He said he
was born and raised on tobacco farm,
where tobacco was raised.
| The farm house.-In France the coun.
try people cluster together in their dwell
ling places. In America the houses are
isolated. If you are building, choose
high, dry ground, sloping in many direc.
tions, if possible. Make the cellar as big
as possible. 1t should be deep enough
and used for many purposes The cellar
should be dry and clean. The Germans
say, "Molds in the cellars breeds shrouds
in the chambers" Do not leave decayed
vegetable matter in the cellars, this
poisonous germs are induced. The cellar
should be aired occasionally.
The family should live on the sunny
side of the house. Sunlight is just as me-
cessary for the growth of little boys and
girls as of plants. The people living in
the house all the time should have the
best part of it. Heavy draperies should
not be found in the house. Carpets are
better if only partially covering the floor
so that they may be easily removed and
cleaned. Wall paper was at one time
dangerous but the arsenic poison used in
its make up is now lacking. A fire place
is good thing to have.
In water turks the great danger. The
loss each year from disease induced by
impure water is very large. Typhoid fe
yer would not exist if our water was good
Typhoid fever in this part of the country
is worse than in New York City, where
more care is taken in the use of water. A
cistern should be built so as to both per-
NIT the water running out and in. The
excavation should be one foot greater
than you want the circumference. Have
a good cement bottom. Don't put it un
der the house; put it outside where yor
can get at it and keep it clean. This will
give good water to drink and no fear neet
be had Of getting typhoid fever.
In digging well be careful of the loca
ton. Don't locate it in the barnyard, ne
matter how deep down you may go into
the ground. The water is apt to get con
taminated by outside means. Wash ma
terial should be stored in cesspool away
from the house, dug deep into the grount
and loosely stoned in, with open top