The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-08-22
THR RID SPRINGS FARMERS IN.
STITUTE.
Swain Co., N. Q.

Prof M. Johnson Describes the Meet.
ing
Correspondence of The Progressive Farmer.
From remarks frequently made by
those who fail to attend farmers insti
tutes, it appears that there exists q
great deal OF misconception in regard
to the functions and purposes Of these
meetings as held by the Commissioner
of Agriculture and such assistants as
he may select. Thinking that perhaps
q short sketch Of the topics discussed
aud the manner in which they were
handled by the speakers at one insti
tute might be of some service in placing
these meetings before the non attend
ing farmers of North Carolina in their
true relation to farming, this article is
contributed to one Of the very best az
ricultural and stock papers of the
country.
As announced by posters distributed
freely throughout the surrounding
country, a Farmers Institute, a school
Of farmers, for farmers, in which they
were expected to ask and answer ques
tons in regard TO any and every phase
Of their business and to relate methods
and means by which they had avoided
failure and attained at least a fair de,
gree Of success, was called to order at
Red Springs, Robson county, at 10 80
a. ~, Wednesday, August 2l,-nd
continued through three days with
good attendance. Much interest was
shown by those present. Many ques
tions we're asked of the speakers either
while discussing their topics or after
ward. Some subjects as presented
called forth lively debates which re
suited in many points Of value being
brought out by the farmers Of Robson
and ad j1ining counties.
The institute was opened by an ad.
dress of welcome by Hon. j L. Nc
Lean, Chairman Of Committee of Ar,
rangements. This was followed by an
address on the State Department of
Agriculture and it's advantages to the
farmers, by Commissioner 8. L. Pat
terson, in which he made clear the
reasons for having such a department
and enlarged upon the character and
purposes of The work carried on by
the several officers Of this branch Of
the State government.
The rest Of the first days session vas
devoted to such practical questions as
we're found in the qlery box.
Ga the second day, Prof. W. T.
Massey, in a manner peculiar to Massey
and belonging to no other, entertained
and instructed the people with the
subject of Forage Crops and Stock
Feeding for Eastern North Carolina"
Among the good things which Prof.
Massey emphasized were the facts:
1st, That every rational system OF
agriculture calls or the keeping Of do
nestle animals on the farm to perform
the lab Or thereof and to convert the
rough and coarse folders which are
al waysfound about the farm into meat,
milk or other animal products for hui
mar g ption and TO return the
indigestibIe parts to the soil to enable
il to produce good crops in the future
2 That North Carolina is abundantly
blessed by nature in the large variety
of grasses and, other forage plants
which grow so luxuriantly throughout
our State.
8 That by giving these crops a place
in our farm rotation, we could grow
our own meat and dairy supplies and
at the same time keep up u presenS
yield of the staple crops.
4. That the silo ia the cheapest and