The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-12
ART OF WITHDRAWING
TAUGHT FARMERS WIVES
New and Unique Course in the
Agricultural Department Of
Purdue University.
WORK OF FIRST CLASS

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
LAFAYETTE, Ind, Dec. 10.-Because of
the fact that little no attention is paid 10
theartof butter-making in this section of the
country, Purdue University has inaugurated
course in this line. and the first period
of instruction of farmers wives has just
ended. This period lasted nine days and
farmers wives from all over the State
were students, listening TO the lectures OF
the professors and watching the demonstra-
tons with an earnestness that was only
Outrivaled by the work of the women in
the laboratory where butter is made and
shipped TO pay the expenses OF the product.
The novel class in butter-making is an
idea that sprang from the mind of Prof.
II. Z. Van Norman, associate professor of
dairying at Purdue and secretary-treasurer
OF the Indiana State Dairy Association,
which is now holding it's annual sessions at
Plymouth. Professor Van Norman has
frequently given special instruc ion, but
not until this year has the question of
general instruction in butter-making, out
side of the regular ''Shorthorn" course,
been taken up at the university. The mat
ter was proposed to the faculty and much
stress laid upon the fact that Indiana was
behind other States In the matter of ade-
quate handling and manufacture of dairy
butter. Then followed the Inauguration of
the butter-making course at Purdue and
the issuance of invitations to farmers
wives throughout the country.
The first course of nine days has just been
concluded. 1t was attended by seven peo-
matrons of the State. The seventh was
John o. Leary, of Montmorenci. After nine
GAYS of study they have returned to their
the science department of Purdue, has
given daily lectures to the class, and Pro-
fessor Van Norman and Professor Slater
and directing the laboratory work. OF
course. the regular work of hundreds of
students was not interfered with
The following is the list Of students who
took the first instruction in butter max
ing: Mrs. w. II. Gunse, Logansport; Mrs.
NJ. B. Schenk, Lebanon; Mrs. B. d. Conner.
Miss Mary Rose Justice, Logansport; Miss
Margaret c. Wood. Charlottesville.
Milk and cream are purchased from farm
ers in this county and the proceeds of the
sale Of butter goes toward the payment
Of the milk bill. The creamery department
turns out 200 pounds of butter daily, and
IL is placed on the local market and ship
ped to Chicago and indianapolis. The but
ter is not sold for profit, and the money
that is left after the milk bill is paid Is
used in purchasing additional equipment
butter-making course. Much of the milk
Is wasted in experimenting, so there Is
naruIy an opportunity TO make money.
The short course in agriculture opens
on the first of January, and from ali over
the State will come farmers and farmers
sons by the hundreds to take the course
in agriculture. In April another course
for the instruction of matrons will be given,
and then will follow butter-making courses
with more regularity.
President Stone of Purdue is of the opin-
ion that the short course in butter-making
for the benefit of outsiders is good thing
1t is novel, attractive cheap and beneficial.
There is no other university in the United
States In the agricultural instruction bust
ness that devotes as much time TO out
siders as does Purdue. Next year 1t is ex-
pected that half a dozen courses will be
offered to the publc-without cost-and
when the scherne becomes generally known
throughout the State Indiana's reputation
for butter-making will be excelled by none
IN the country.