The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1904-06-09
AFTERNOON SESSION.
A Fair Attendance and Many interesting
Topics Discussed by Bush, Terry ant
TToi~ Eo1I

"A Fair Attendance and Many Interest ting
Topics Discussed by Bush, Terry and
! Fairfield.
When the institute opened for the
afternoon session there was very
fair attendance considering the
weather. Many who were present in
the morning got their farm institute
manual and went home. This book
was eagerly sought for as there is not
a farmer who does not appreciate the
value Of the same in more ways than
one. The books were also distributed
at the close Of the afternoon session
and everyone got a copy. At the
opening of the afternoon session Mr..
Bush spoke briefly on the work of the
State Horticultural society and ex-
planned the work of the society and
the publications of the same. There
did not seem to be much interest man
Tested in this branch of agriculture,
though the topic suggested several
questions that elected some very in
teresting remarks by Mr.. Bush and
also Mr.. Terry who took part in the
discussion. Asked as to whether it
was advisable to set out apple trees
in the fall Mr.. Bush said that it was
not good thing to do in this north
ern cline as the weather was apt to
be too severe on the young trees
which would die before spring. Spring
was the time to set out young trees.
Trees should always be allowed to get
we'll rooted and it was better not to try
to make them bear the first year.
With strawberries the removal of the
blossoms increased the vigOr of the
plants and made them bear better
when they started to bear. A question
was asked as to what was the best
way to get rid Of wild rose bushes
and Mr.. Terry stated that a good
plan was to pillow them under about
the middle Of August as at this time
Of the year they are given a big back
set. A V-shaped steel point was
used On the cultivator and the roots
could be cut out pretty we'll in this
manner. The ground should be we'll
narrowed in the fall and then worked
in the spring. In this way the bushes
and growth Of this character could in
time be subdued.
Terry Speaks Methods of Conserving
the Fertility Of the Soil-Some Dry-Weath-
er Sugg estions.
Mr.. Terry took up the question of
conserving the fertility of the soil and
how to manage in dry weather. He
said that the land might be rich but
without rain nothing would grow. He
looked out of the window at the
drenching rain and remarked that it
did not look as if the farmer would
be troubled with dry weather right off.
He said that it was necessary to I'M
derstand how to grow crops without
rain. There was no such thing as
plant food, as the name was a mis-
homer. Plants lived off of moisture
or natures soup. He told of the won
derful process of nature by which
plant life was maintained by the alb
sorption of moisture or water through
the plant and into it's roots and how
the water passes up into the leaves OF
the plants and into the air as distilled
water. On hot day in looking over
a dense field of clover the escaping
moisture could be noticed leaving the
tops Of the plants. Land deficient in
humus or the decayed vegetable mat.
ter was not in any condition to hold
moisture and the rains would run of
of the land or soak through and leave
| the land as dry as ever. Land with
plenty of humus is always in shape tc
hold the water, and soil enriched with
clover sod or manure was capable o.
withstanding a long drouth. A
sponge weighing half an ounce would