Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-03-09
THE FARMERS INSTITUTE
AT CASTALIA WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL
Attendance Good and Much Interest Taken
Outside Speakers Fail to be
Present.

One of the best farmers institutes
ever held in the county in point of
interest taken in the discussions con-
vened at Castalia on Friday afternoon
and held through Saturday. The one
disappointing feature of the institute
was the fact that J. S. Trigg, the
Farm, Orchard and Garden editor,
was expected to be present, but was
taken sick and they were unable to
secure any one to take his place.
However. the farmers adjacent to
Castalia were on hand. and there
were many prolonged and instructive
discussions on matters of interest to
farmers, by lnen who knew what they
were talking about.
The institute opened Friday after
noon with few remarks by President
w. N. Drake, after which the first
topic SIS the present system of road
work satisfactory" was taken up.
The subject was ably treated by Geo.
Allen, M. j. Nicholson. Henry Thorn
ton and Fred Williams, all of whom
spoke in favor of the present system.
Then followed a heated discussion,
led by Jno. Harvey, and for some lit
| tie time the subject was handled
without gloves. Finally. the follow
ing resolution was prepared by COM
mittee consisting of Geo. Allen, NJ.
j. Nicholson and Fred Williams, and
later it was adopted and voted to be
sent to Senator Lyons and Representa-
tive jacobson.
RESOLUTION.
"Be it Resolved, by the people of
Winnesheik county, assembled in
Farmers Institute at Castalia, March
4th and 5th, 1904,
That we believe it will be to the
best interests of the Taxpayers of this
county if the law governing the levy
ing of taxes and the expenditure of
the same for highway purposes be not
changed for a period of at least five
years, or until there shall have been
made thorough test of the efficiency
of the law.
That copies of this resolution be
sent to our state Senator and state Re-
preventative, now attending the ses-
sions of the state legislature at Des
Moines. -
"The value of the government bull
letin to the farmer" was the topic
next presented by A. W. Harvey and
A. ". Smith, both of whom spoke of
the great service it is doing the
farmer, and the value of keeping a
collection of the bulletins for refer
ence, as they would be a sort of en-
cyclopedia of information.
"How to build silo and does it
pay" brought out some ably presented
thoughts from Frod Williams and E.
Appleton, the former reading splen-
did paper which we hope to secure for
publication, as it contained much
valuable information on this subject.
The Friday evening meeting was
marred in the disappointment of not
having prominent speaker as ex-
peoted to occupy the main part Of the
evenings program. However, there
was some good music, splendid ad-
dress by Rev. J. o. Ross of Castalia,
and a good talk on dairying by A. E.
Anderson of Oelwein, who happened
in Castalia and was called upon.
Saturday mornings session opened
with the topic "How to select and
care for seed corn" Henry George.
winner of the first prize in the ten ear
exhibit, Sd section, northern division
at the late contest at Ames, gave some
splendid experience on this subject,
as did also ". n. Drake, winner of
second prize in the single exhibit,
and W. B. Riggs, a prominent Castalia
farmer. They were followed by a
long and interesting discussion, which
brought out some valuable information
for all present.
"Corn culture and the right number
of stalks to the hill' was presented
by H. l.. Meyer and O. E. Bucknam,
both of whom gave the institute their
valuable experience in this matter,
and they were followed by an ex-
tended informal discussion.
1.-The best way to care for the corn
crop" was taken up by Henry Thorn
ton. who gave some good ideas, and
saI ha ha
hour.
Saturday afternoon the institute
passed resolution recommending
that House File No. 80, making an
appropriation for an experiment
station at Ames, pass the legislature
Then w. A. Anderson read splendid
paper on "What fruit for farmers. -
which we will publish in full this