The San Francisco call., 1899-04-16
Taught Farmers How
to Use Water.
THE INSTITUTE IN SESSION
NEED OF EDUCATING THE YOUNG
FARMERS.
Professor Fowler Explains the Pur-
pose of the University Agri-
cultural Experimental
Stations.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call

OdkldIQ -OIllCe- san FRANCISCO 0dlI,
99S Broadway, April Is.
The second annual Farmers Institute
held under the auspices of the University
of California agricultural department.
met in FOrd's Hall at Niles this afternoon
and continued during the evening. The
attendance was larger than last year
while the interest manifested was en-
couraging to the speakers in the fullest
extent
Henry Tyson, a well-known orchardist,
presided and welcomed the professors of
the university in a. short but appropriate
speech. He referred to the present splen-
dld outlook and gave the credit for it to
the Divine Beng who so epportunely sent
the needed rain.
Professor D. T. Fowler responded. He
said in part:
The local pride for all. that a locality
produces IS an encouraging sign But the
absence of the young men and young
women from this meeting is to be regret
TED. how to interest them, the coming
farmers, is problem. Our work is to in
still into them love for and of the work
ana an appreciation of the farm and the
result OF agriculture. The value of these
I institutes is the opportunity TO uplift the
young men and young women. They must
appreciate what agriculture means; its
advancement and building up of the fam
NY nome. The farmer of yesterday did
not go about his work as the farmer of to-
day does. Science had not come to him.
but the farmer is slower to take advan-
Jage OF the inventions pf the day than
any other set of men.
The great problem of to-day is expan-
slon-the expansion of trade We must
keep in touch with all TO get this if we
are to get the best for the farmer
The California farmer above all others
should be the first to grasp this Our To-
! cation, with the great markets being
/ opened in the islands of the Pacific,
makes a peculiarly favorable agricultural
condition. There is no place on the
! earth that can grow such a diversity of
! crops as California We have had the
/ blessings of a dry year. The poor man
! that has suffered may not like that term
great blessing. 1t has broken down
! some set ideas that will result in a
/ great change here. 1t has developed an
/ tnestfmable lesson in the preparation to
place water when and where needed.
These institutes are uplifting. They are
! growing in interest We don't know ev-
/ erything. Neither do you, but by these
! papers, discussions and questions, both
| sides learn from the other.
Hon Hon John L; Beard spoke upon the
great deal more before l planted a grape
/ vine than l do now after fifteen years
! experience. 1t is hard to determine the
| kind Of grapes TO grow, but one thing
! has been proven beyond doubt-what has
proven TO be the best in other countries
are not the best for this The best | have
are those 1 took because they were COM
mon.
Professor H. f. Jaffa followed upon
Orchard Fertilization" He exhibited a
/
ton OF European soils. BY comparing the
average Californian soil with this table
he showed the fertilizers most need
ed in this State to be phosphoric acid and
nitrogen. This, he said, had been proven.
| He also exhibited an elaborate table
! showing the amount of soil INGREDIENTS
Withdrawn by various crops, and the
! amount that could be returned by using
! the waste as fertilizer.
! Mrs. F. O. Bunting read a very inter
esting article on Relation Of Gamers
! and Driers to Fruit-growers,' in which
! she urged cooperation toRheck the ten
dency of Gamers, driers dhd commission
merchants to get the advantage of the
/ grower Considerable sarcasm was in
troduced and cordially received by the au-
dience.
Professor c. II. Shinn closed the after
noon session with a talk on EXPERIMENT
tai Stations" Miss Evelyn Bunting and
Miss Helen Crane furnished music be-
tween the various papers.
At to-night's session papers were read
by Professor D. T. Fowler, DR.. Emerson,
F. c. Burr Jr., Professor w. =. .Jaffa,
Mrs. Mary Allen and Professor Meade.