Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-04-05
INSTITUTE IS
SUCCESSFUL
Two Well Attended Meetings Are Held
at the Court House and Instruct
i've Addresses Are Made.
Prof. Elliott, Of the Experiment Sta.
ton, Talks Of creamery--Address.
es by Messrs. WyIie and Pace.

istown last Thursday was quite sue
cessful, both meetings being we'll at
tended, while the keenest interest was
taken in the proceedings. The speak
ers were w. w. Wylie, of Bozeman,
president of the Montana Agricultur-
al association; Prof. w. J. Elliott, OF
the experiment station, and John w.
Pace, of Helena, secretary-treasurer
of the Montana Agricultural associa-
ton, and secretary of the state fair
association.
The meetings were held at the court
house, and while just at this time
of the year it is difficult for farmers
to leave their work, the speakers
found good sized audiences awaiting
them.
Prof. Elliott was the first speaker
in the afternoon, his subject being
Butter and Cheese Making on the
Farm The opening of the creamery
here made Prof. Elliotts adrdess es-
pecially timely, and both in the af
ternOon and evening he devoted most
Of his remarks to matters bearing
on that project, and gave the farmers
much advice that will be of value to
them. He told of experiments made
in feeding at the experiment station,
and showed the value OF skim milk
as food for fattening hogs.
The terms offered farmers by the
butter from milk furnished by them
during April and May, aud 22k cents
pound for other months, he consider
ed very fair. By taking their milk to
the creamery, the farmers would be
saved the trouble of pedling their
butter all over town. they would get
cash for it, and would not have to
cary long accounts. He warned them
that they must be prepared to expect
variations IN the richness of the milk
furnished by them, even when no rea-
son for such variation was apparent.
The fact was that the milk from the
same COW, and from the same herd
as whole. was subject to constant
variations. 1t was utterly impossible
to increase the richness of the milk
by any sort of feeding, yet it was
of milk from each animal by good
and careful feeding, which came to
the same thing in the end. The Bah
cock tester. which would be used at
the creamery, was absolutely acurate,
and they could accept the result of
the tests, knowing that they were
getting exactly what they were en-
titled to, and no more.
Mr. Nylin followed with fiyn talk
on alfalfa as crop, both for feed
and for renewing the soil. He told Of
his own experiences in the Gallatin
valley, and gave much advice to the
starting of an alfalfa field, and answer
ed many questions.
Mr.. Pace was the last speaker in
the afternoon, and he gave a general
talk on livestock, leading up to the
prediction that the time was almost
at hand when the Montana farmers
would feed their own feed, on their
own lands, to their own stock for the
market. He told what was being
done along this line in the Gallatln.
Mr.. Pace also strongly urged the farm
ers to improve their stock. This was
not only good business policy, but it
had good effect all around. The
boys would not be SO ready to leave the
farm if feeding was taken up, provid
ing work at lax season, and if the
farm was made to produce and sup
port better grade of stock, in which
they could take pride.
The Evening Session.
AT the evening session, Prof Elliott
explained in detail the nature of the
Babcock test, making a demonstration
nj Of q;
for that purpose. Each step in The
test was shown in a practical manner
and when it was completed, the little
bottles in which the amount of but
ter fat was clearly revealed, were
passed around among the audience
The tests showed that the sample
ran from 3.8 butter fat to At.
Mr.. Wylie next spoke on the sub
ject of Fruit Growing" He salt
there was no doubt in his mind tina
this industry could be carried on il
the Judith Basin just as successful,
as in the Gallatin. The condition
were practically the same, and n
advised that no time be lost in Sc,
ting out orchards and making start
He then discussed generally the sys
tenn of farming in the Gallatin va
the end of a few years of continuou
grain crops, the soil became poor, an
in order to restore it sumner fallOwin
and alternating had been tried Pc
haps the best results had been oil
tanned from growing clover for tw
years, then blowing the field up an
using it for grain for two years. Nj
Wylie then discussed agriculture
general way, referring to the wor
done at the experiment stations an
the good accomplished by the farm
ers' institutes. He made a plea fc
more widespread interest in the i
stitutes and for closer union anon
the farmers.
Speaking of the farm home, he G
pressed himself as opposed to II
county high schools. They were
good thing for the cities, but bad #
the farms. AS a result of them, Il
farmers were leaving the country 4
long periods and building houses
town, in order that their childr,
might have the benefit of bett
schools. Thus the country schoo
deteriOated. With good count
schools, with the telephone in eve
home, and with the rural free del
cry, the farm home could be ma
a most attractive one.
The country was the chosen abo
of bliss. There health was presel
ed and happiness secured. The
position of the young men to leave t
farm and cOngregate in cities was
ha rapraftad tn overcome il 1