Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-03-10
FARMERS INSTITUTE.
The Secretary's Interesting Report Of
Both the. Cresco and Chester
Sessions. -.

SSSSiVNOs
The farmers institute convened in :,
he court house hall according to pro-
,ram, on Feb. 18th. Was called to or
Ter by the president at 1870 p. m.
The exercises began with an organ
voluntary by Miss Myrtle Walker, fol-
owed by duet by Misses Martha
Becker and Grace Hardy.
An instructive paper was read by
Mrs. Laura Ficken on GLOW to I'm
prove the Farm Home" matter
which receives too little attention
among farmers, as rule; it being often
hard to tell where the barn yards end
and the house yards begin.
Mrs. Kate Livingston, in her paper
on Woman as farmer, cited many in
stances in which women have succeed
ed in this as in other vocations. She
her ideas by the nse of APP
pictures.
Miss Irma Becker in her recitation
convinced the audience that the farm
girl may be a good elocutionist.
Miss Mae Ashley gave violin selec-
ton which was we'll appreciated.
The poultry subject was discussed by
Edwin Church, Will Tillson, Mrs.
Livingston, M. B. Doolittle and S. A.
Converse. A great deal of interest
was manifested in this subject. In
cubators, brooders, poultry houses, feed,
breeds, ETC., were discussed very fully.
Mites and hen lice seemed to be the
great menace to the poultry business.
The following suggestions were offered
as remedies for these evils: Frequent
whitewashing of coops, use of earth
floors, which may be frequently re-
newed, and care in not overcrowding
coops. Mrs. Livingston showed by
statistics that the money derived from
the poultry business in the U. S. ex-
ceeds in value the output OF the cour-
try's gold and silver mines combined.
Next on the program was a recita-
tion by Lowell Johnson, and following
an excellent paper by Mrs. Lille Nor
gan on the "Home.'
Little Mary and Bessie Eaton, stand.
II ing on table in order to be seen, de.
lighted the audience with their song,
Miss Ida Norton read very good
| no nor of, .gtEoup ~ E5,oo<a tba ~ M,
Boy and Girl"
The evening session was opened With
music, quartet composed of G. G.
Burgess, Roe Brown, DIR. Morton,
Fred Mitchell, which was SO we'll re.
ceived that the singers were called
back for second song.
Mrs. Moon gave reading, "The
Forty Acre Farm"
supt, L, E. A. Ling's excellent paper
Is published elsewhere in this issue.
Rev. Eakin gave a stirring and
pointed talk on the public school
question, advocating very strongly the
introduction of manual training into
the schools. Rev. 1Eakin believes in
upholding the dignity of labor, and in
teaching the coming generation to do
likewise.
MARCH l.
The morning session was largely
taken up by discussions Of a general
character.
Mr.. Flynn thought that in as much as
the producer has nothing whatever to
say as to the price of his product, the
fellow at the other end of the line fix
ing that and also again fixing the price
to the consumer, producers should
organize and should try to reach the
consumer direct. Through organiza-
ton, the farmer would be able to hold
his produce until such time as it would
bring reasonable profit.
Senator Lyons gave an interesting
talk, touching on the various measures
that during his eight years member
ship were considered in the legislature,
that were in the interests of the pro-
Queer. 1t was very fair showing.
The afternoon session being called to
order, the meeting proceeded to cleo
ton of officers for the ensuing year.
p. P: Norton was ELECTED president, R.
N. Thomson was elected secretary.
The election Of members of executive
committae being overlooked. The mem
bers of committee for this institute,
Mrs. B. p. Norton and Mrs. Holcomb,
hold over.
81. r. Wright, state dairy commits.
sioner, showed up the dairy interests OF
the state in an able. manner. Mr..
Wright maintained that the man who
milks COWS has just as much produce
to sell from his farm as the man who
does not, and has the butter besides.
He gave convincing argument in
favor of the dairy.
A. E. Bents and G. G. Upton gave
some good pointers on apple tree cnl-
ture. The best varieties for this local
ity, quality and hardness considered,
they agreed were the Duchess for a
summer apple, the Wealthy for a fall
apple, the Northwest Greening for a
winter apple. Five second best varle.
ties named by Bents were-Early fall
apple, Tetofsky and Irish Peach, late
fall; Peerless and Patten Greening for
winter. Mr.. Upton practically endorsed
this list. The criticism was offered
that people set out too many varieties
which are perhaps all right for home
use, but all wrong from commercial