The San Francisco call., 1904-10-27
FARMERS HEAR AND DISCUSS PAPERS
OF IMPORT To THEM AND THE STATE
Considers Agricultural Education,
Organization and Research.

BERKELEY, Oct. 26.-The Farmers
Institute to-day listened to addresses
dealing with problems Of peculiar inter-
est 10 farmers by men prominent in the
agricultural work Of the State. Some
OF the speakers were men connected
with the university, others were plain
farmers, while still others represented
professions not always looked upon as
connected with agriculture.
The auspicious opening Of the three
days institute in the Greek Theater
yesterday proved TO be but the begin
ming Of a well attended and unusually
successful gathering, the three sessions
to-day being replete with valuable
features, enjoyed 10 the full apparently
by an audience that taxed the capacity
Of Hearst Hall.
Professor Elmer Z. Brown presided at
the morning session, Professor L. j.
WicksOn in the afternoon and Professor
W A Setchell al night The general
topics discussed at the three sessions
were Agricultural Education" "Agrt-
cultural Organization" and "Agricul-
lural Research.
President Wheeler spoke first at the
morning session, his subject being Re
cent Developments in Agricultural Ed
ucatiOn-" He reviewed at length the
progress made in recent years in farm
life. dealing with both the material and
social features of the life. He declared
that men who are, most closely related
20 the agricultural interests Of the
country are swiftly learning their true
place and Importance in the economy
of the nation Master Of all trades is
the farmer" said the speaker. The
civilization Of the world is built upon
the soil, and upon its intelligent hand
ling depends the well being of the peo-
ple-au Of the people"
Professor z. ". Hilgard, dean Of the
College Of Agriculture, delivered an ad-
dress that excited apparently more in
1erest than any Of the other able and
Weighty papers read during the insti-
tute. His topic was The Evolution Of
Modern Agriculture" Beginning with
the earliest days, when most primitive
methods were used by the husbandman,
and waste and inefhciency character
lied Of necessity the operations of all
men who TILED the soil and attempted
10 feed themselves and the world, Pro-
fessOr Hilgard traced the progress made
by farmers of Europe, Asia and this
country, giving his hearers vivid con-
cepuOn of the changes in methods and
results that have occurred with the
passage Of the years.
All the possibilities Of soil cultiva-
ton are not known" he announced,
any more than are all the possibilities
in any other field of human endeayor,
but so tremendous are the strides that
have been taken by farmers, especially
during the last decade, that the present
time may be accepted as fit moment
for congratulation over triumphs
achieved"
Professor Hilgard urged upon all
who listened and upon those who
might hear through others Of his re-
marks the Importance and necessity Of
attention TO detail The same atten-
ton paid TO the culture Of land as is
given TO the care and control Of cor
porations would always result said
The speaker, in greater corresponding
dividends for the investor"
Judge Peter ]. Shields Of Sacra-
mento held the attention of the insti-
tUte while he read a paper on The
Material, Social and Educational Value
Of Instruction IN Agriculture" The
university received from Judge Shields
a compliment for the great work it
has done and is now performing for
the States horticultural and agricul-
tural interests. He declared the uni
versity was the best investment the
State ever made. citing, as instances
of the work done for the farmers and
other sections Of the public. the dis
c0very and application of new reme-
dies for pests, new methods Of tilling
and fertilizing, new methods of cul-
ture and new conveniences OF all sorts.
The institute adjourned at IL o'clock
10 witness the maneuvers Of the uni
versity cadets, who gave drill on the
campus for the entertainment Of the
attendants at the institute.
According to A. r. Sprague, presi-
dent OF the California Fruit Exchange
at Sacramento, whose paper was the
first one read at the afternoon session,
the fruit industry of California is thor
Oughly demOraliZed, so far as the sale
Of the product is concerned. Mr..
Sprague is now in Chicago, and his
paper was read by Secretary Clark.
Conditions are deplorable in Chi
cago," declared Mr.. Sprague, $50 far
as the prune and raisin growers in
terests are concerned. Dealers op-
crate TO demoralize prices, alleging
that the instability of the price scale
in the past has caused them to lose
much money, and so they handle
prunes and raisins from California
only when the demand is urgent for
them, and they cut and slash rates
when they have to secure the fruit, so
that the man in California can ex-
pect nothing from them but continued
Generalization Of the industry"
Mr.. Sprague's topic was THE Es-
sentials Of Agricultural Organiza-
ton" He referred to the failure of
prune growers and raisin growers or
ganizations, and said that unless the
1Tuit Interests were too much discour-
aged TO think OF making another at
tempt ne would suggest the forma-
ton Of a company with sufficient can
ital TO pay for the growers product.
with an agreement, TO handle such
product for five years. the product to
be paid for at the market rate when
the contract was made, with 80 per
ca..t Of the rrot1ts made d1,r-i.,c- ~