The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1906-08-03
Burton Farmers Club.

i
A large number of guests had been
invited and with one exception every
family belonging to the club responded
to the roll call. After the opening cere-
monies of the club the program was
taken up in due form.
The question Should or should not
members of the legislature ride on r. r..
passes, was given long talk.
| Mr.. Sherman said that. the object of
the company in the giving of passes was
to secure influence for favorable legisla-
ton in their own behalf and that MEM
bers who accepted passes tacitly laid
themselves under obligations to confer
those favors.
| Mr.. Mason's views did not fully coin
| eide with those of Mr.. Sherman. He
said that he had accepted and ridden on
passes. Possibly it was not the best
thing to do but his vote had not been
controlled by accepting those favors.
He knew member of the legislature
who had refused to accept pass but
VIII said that thereafter if pass were
offered him again he should take it.
Mr.. Hammond said he would like to
ride on pass and thought that not all
who accepted them were bought by
them. Mr.. Sprinkle and others con-
demned the system and thought it
should be cut out.
Mr.. Randall was given the subject of
When and how should apple orchards
be trimmed. Hesaid that some prefer
ed fall and others spring for trimming.
He would not trim too high, he would
cut off all dead limbs and cut out the
center of the tree to let in the sunshine.
r. G. Shepard said that in the early
days of the club the question of when
apple orchards should be trimmed was
discussed c. G. Rowell who was then
president of our club and successful
apple grower said that he would trim
apple orchards any or every day in the
year except on Sundays. The late John
Park who was also an extensive apple
grower said in reply that he would trim
trees every day but Saturday.
The religious views Of the two gentle
man were somewhat at variance. Mr..
Park was Second Advent and Mr..
Rowell good old fashioned Methodist.
In the general discussion it was said
that young trees were not trimmed
enough. The tops should be cut back
sufficient to give the roots chance to
grow enough to support the tops; that
the water sprouts should be cut off as
they come out when they could be cut
with pocket knife, and that the prac
tice of trimming from the main body of
the tree and sending large naked limbs
out and up ten or fifteen feet with only
a brush on the end did not make apple
growing very profitable industry and
only expert climbers could gather the
fruit
The patrons of the Dudley creamery
resolved themselves into a grievance
committee and talked and talked and
talked about the variations of the milk
test. Considering the money invested,
the expense of keeping the cows and the
labor of milking and caring for them
they thought they should be given the
full value of their milk which many of
them felt that they were not getting.
Should farmers go out on strike
when their demands are not granted?
The gentlemen said certainly not if the
question meant that farmers should give
up work and sit down in idleness.
Farmers should be given fair price for
their products, and they should work
together for that purpose.
Mr. Peterson was asked if congress
should not make better laws to regu-
late the condition of the meat packing
houses.
He said that he did not know the laws
relative to this business that doubtless
there was much to condemn but he be-
leved that in good time the matter
would be properly and satisfactorily
adjusted
Harvey Peterson who formerly work
ed in some of the Chicago packing
houses told of revolving and unsanitary |
conditions there, of the class of meats |
that were thrown into the canning tank |
that government inspectors never saw. |
He said there was but one house in |
Chicago but would come under this
head.
Mrs. g. G. Potter read paper en-
titled THE Girl on the farm"
She does not consider the girl on the |
farm the object of pity that newspapers
and magazine writers represent her to
be.
She believes that the girl on the farm
can achieve whatever position she may
desire. All occupations are open to her
the same as to the girl in town. Her
for a practical education
is unlimited. She has musical in
strument in her home, teacher provid-
ed for her and is given ample time to
practice. She has papers and maya
zines and all of the literature of the dav