The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-02-10
Shiawassee Farmers En-
jOyed one at Vernon
This Week.
Mr.. G. B. Charles, Of Bangor, a
Popular Conductor.
interesting Papers Read to Apprecia-
tive Audiences.

Permitting the full Report, Part ia
Held until Next Week.
Vernon, Feb. Especial The annual
State Farmers Institute was opened at
1890 o'clock this morning in the opera
house, with an attendance of perhaps
one hundred, many of whom were ladies.
Many interested are constantly coming in
and at the afternoon session the hall will
undoubtedly be crowded.
P. B. Reynolds, president, of Maple
River, called the meeting to order and
Rev. @. e. Benson, of Vernon, opened
with prayer Mr.. Reynolds, in few
pleasant remarks, introduced G. B. Charles,
who will conduct the institute. Mr..
Charles lives in the ''peach belt," Van
Buren, county. He spoke in part as fol-
lows: "Ladies and Gentlemen of Shia-
wassee: We are gathered here today for
mutual help. The State Beard OF Agri-
culture has decided that an institute
which brings the farmers together to ex-
change ideas and experiences is beneficial
| to them in their work. We know that
it is beneficial, for we get new ideas in the
management of our farms. The weather
lie almost perfect,-in fact it has been fine
for the four weeks | have been on this
side of the state,-and there is no reason
why we shouldn't make this the finest
| institute ever held in Shiawassee.
| L. 20
about anything which interests you
We are here, as have said, for mutual
Improvement, and we want everyone
who attends to find pleasure and profit
in the meetings"
Mr.. A. b. Cook, secretary of the insti-
tute, called attention TO the badges which
have been prepared for members OF the
institute society. The membership fee
is twenty five cents year, and on receipt
of this sum, two badges are furnished, a
yellow one for the men and white one
for the ladies. Mr.. Cook urged all those
who are not members to join, AMI help
bear the expenses incidental to the insti-
tute.
The first paper was "The Outlook for
Live Stock Husbandry" by Floyd Owen,
of Vernon:
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:
The subject assigned me by the COM
mittee is broad one 1.-The outlook for
live stock husbandry." Webster defines
husbandry as the business of a farmer;
and one of the branches of farming is the
raising, managing, and fattening of live
stock. and SO would include horses, cattle,
sheep and swine. The subject OF stock
keeping is mentioned many times in the
Bible, and seems to have been made a
speciality in those times, and Noah might
be considered the chief of all specialists in
that line. The few ideas L have to pre-
sent here today will be (partially at least)
in accord with my own line of farming
| Not that think that have the best and
only method of farming, but that l have
not the means or the inclination necessa-
ry to make specially farming success.
l believe that it would be good idea
1
to commence raising horses. Horses
have been plentiful and consequently
cheap for a number of years, an breed
ers have devoted their energies to other
lines and good colt is now rarely seen.
The work horses, of my neigbborhood at
least, are now getting old and will soon
have to be replaced. This winter have
heard of number changing hands, and
at fair prices. think that as the spring
work comes there will be more changes
and at advancing prices Of course you
will understand that | am speaking of
farm horses, as they are the only kind
that know anything about; and in adj
vising my farmer friends to commence
raising horses, strongly advise them to
raise good ones, not alone as to size or
shape but well bred, and think the re
suit will be profitable.
In regard to cattle. The market reports
show us that good cattle are bringing
good prices-the best for years; but nine
out of ten farmers haven't got them, and
l am one of the nine. There are few
farmers and breeders who have had the
courage of their convictions and have
kept out of the dairy craze and have i'm,
proved their cattle, and now have stock
to breed from that will do them credit
and fill their pocketbooks, as there is 'ur-
to be good demand for breeding stock
and good prices will be obtained. Prob
ably by the time other farmers, who like
myself have a yard full of cattle resem-
bling Joseph's coat, get their cattle bred
up to the old standard, these prices will
not prevail, but we will have the satisfac.
ton OF having something that is good and
that we can feel proud of.
i am no condemning the dairy breeds
they have their place and in that place
they are all right, but this is net dairy
county and probably never will be, 30
l wouldn't advise our farmers to invest