Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-03-14
MEETING OF WAPELLo COUNTY
FARMERS AND sTockMEN
WAS BIG SUCCESS.
Closing Session Held At Market Street
Theatre Saturday Afternoon - SINH
lar Events to be Held Each Year -
Iowa Soil the Best.

zone of the best Institutes I have
attended in Iowa in twenty-five years"
was the expression of Henry Wallace
OF Des Moines, regarding the Farm
ers and Stockmen's institute held at
the Market Street theatre Friday and
Saturday AS result of the splendid
success of the affair and the enthusi-
asm which prevailed an institute for
the farmers and stock growers of
Wapello county is to be held annu-
ally.
The attendance was larger than was
anticipated and was especially graft
flying to the officers of the Corn Belt
Meat Producers association of Wap-
clio county under whose auspices the
affair was first proposed and carried
forward to successful conclusion.
About $50 of the representative farm
ers and stockmen of the county at
tended the three sessions, participated
in the discussions and interchanged
ideas gained from many years expert
ence in tilling the soil and breeding
fine stock.
Interesting Program.
The program was an excellent one,
and besides talks by successful Wap-
clio county farmers included addresses
by Henry Wallace and Joe S. Trigg of
Des Moines. The discussions were on
subjects Of the utmost Importance to
those engaged in farming and made
the institute a most successful and
profitable one The announcement
that similar affair was to be held
each year was received with much en-
thusiasm and already plans for the
event are being considered.
Farming Requires Study.
During an interesting discussion on
Saturday regarding the maintenance of
the fertility of the soil, T. J. Reinier
said that he believed that Iowa land
was worth $40 more per acre than that
of any other state in the union. He
was always proud of Iowa soil he
said, and his statement that farming
was a trade that required more study
and science to get the best results
than any other trade learned by man
was heartily applauded
One of the best fertilizers for the
farm he said. was red clover, ploughed
under at the proper time. He told of
a field of red clover which had been
ploughed under and planted in corn as
late as June 20, the yield being 80
bushels to the acre. Regarding farm
papers he said that they were all right
but that the man who tried to farm
according to the suggestions of the pa
pers and did not use his own judgment
gained by experience was very apt to
have a mighty poor crop.
Book Farming.
Henry Wallace. editor of Wallace's
Farmer, said that the editor OF a farm
paper was simply the expounder OF
the laws of nature, that all he could dc
was to point out the underlying prin
ciples regarding physical conditions OF
the soil ETC., and that to attain success
the farmer must mix brains with what
he read The farm paper published
the results of other mems experiences
He said that there was no such thing
as worn-out soil, that only when the
soil was allowed to get out Of condi
tion were the elements of fertility
locked up. The thing to do was tc
keep the soil in proper condition and
trust to God for rain
The Closing Session.
The closing session was held Sat
urday afternoon and in point of at
tendance and interest was one of the
best of the institute. "The Silent
Partner" was the subject Of an inter
esting paper read by Wm.LaFollette Of
Blakesburg. He said that this was al
age of organization and after referring
to the various organizations said thai
the object of any organization which
wished to be permanent institution
should be how to make human life
better and happier. The trend Of af
fairs in the past ten years,he said, hat
not been for the benefit Of the farmer
The question for us to determine i.
how are we to receive our just share
Of our labor There are two classes
producers and consumers, and their in
terests are mutual. A middle class ha!
come into existence to buy from The
producer and sell to the consumer
and while he is entitled to his JUS
share 1t is not right that he should
by organization. be able to fix the price
to both the consumer and producer
He referred to the Rockwell societies
an organization Of farmers in northern
Iowa, that have successfully combatteC
the line of elevator companies.
Henry Wallace said THAI the farm
ers were the most Independent class
Of men on earth but that they mus
learn to cooperate, work together fo
their mutual interests. In this portion
of Iowa there was no need of Rock
well societies and the most good coult
be accomplished through Meat Pro
ducers' associations or Farmers in
stitutes. The thing to do was to la,
aside differences in politics and reli
gion and organize for their mutual ben
eft.
Orchards for Southeast Iowa.
R. E. Hines of Hedrick gave an in
teresting talk on Orchards for South
east Iowa." referring to some of thu
best kind of trees for this district anc
the profits in raising fruit. No farm
should be without an orchard, he said
Senator S.H. Harper, gave an address,
OF" Primary Election" that was listen
ed to with the closest attention and hi.
statement that the farmers could ge
the kind of a primary election know
~ fbou 1un,,ld r,oIo fha;,