Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-03-14
INTERESTING DISCUSSIONS FEA,
TuRE OF SECOND SESSION
THIS MORNING.
SCIENCE ON THE FARM
"The Maintenance Of the Fertility OF
the Soil" Subject Of Address by
Ralph Hofmann Of HedrIck-Henry
Wallace Speaks.

Excellent addresses, spirited and
interested discussions in which many
participated, characterized the second
meeting of the Wapello County Farm.
ers and Stockmen's institute held this
morning at the Market street theatre
There was large attendance and one
Of the features indicative Of the inter.
est taken in the meeting was the many
questions asked Of the speakers by
those present.
The first number on the program
was an address by John R. Hanna, of
Fairfield, on the subject, THE Beauties
of Farm Life" He gave an entertain.
ing talk and was listened to with the
closest attention. He was followed by
Ralph Hofmann of Hedrick, who
spoke on "The Maintenance Of the Fer.
tility Of the Soil"
Mr.. Hoffman, said that in this part
of the country the farmers did not
need to depend on commercial fer.
tilizer and never would if they gave
the question proper attention. If the
| soil was not aS rich now as It was
some years ago 1t was because the
farmer had not properly utilized the
means at hand. 1t is just as neces
sary to have the ground In the right
condition as it is to have the right
kind of feed for live stock. He spoke
Of the relative value Of the various
kinds of fertilizers and said that one
of the things most needed to add to the
productiveness Of Iowa farms was the
use Of under drains, which not only
assisted In drainage Of water but
caused better circulation of air, al
lowing the plant life to draw many
necessary elements from the atmos-
phere. He also recommended the use
of deep root plants such as clover and
alfalfa In closing he said that the
best results would be obtained by good
management in details, knowledge and
application. joined by intelligent
thought.
The discussion of the paper was led
by William LaFollette Of Blakesburg.
He said that nothing was ever de-
stroyed IN nature and that as the ele-
ments remained the key to fertility
! was TO be found in the combination OF
! those elements. He told Of expert
ments made by himself in making lime
a part of the feed Of certain live stock
and the use Of lime on certain ground,
which gave most satisfactory results.
He said that on many farms the lime
was being taken from the soil and was
not replaced. He spoke of the advan-
tages of under drainage and certain
plant crops in maintaining the fertility
of the soil.
Rotation Of Crops.
Frank Mast stated that the question
was how to raise the largest crop at
the least cost without permanent in
jury to the land On most farms, be
said, the manure products were moi
sufficient to supply fertilizer for the
whole farm and that the farmer must
depend on the rotation Of crops. The
corn crop, especially should be in
creased, he said. and that clover was
one of the most valuable plant crops
for fertilizer
The discussion closed with talks by
T. J. Reinier and Henry Wallace.
The Ottumwa male quartet rendered
a selection and was enthusiastically
encored. The quartet then led the
singing of 'The Song of Iowa." the
audience standing.
The program for the morning closed
with an instructive address by Joseph
Henderson of Blakesburg, on "The Sc
lection and Care of Seed Corn"