Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-01-18
NEKC0SH
Farmers Take Possession OF Ne.
koosa For One Day.
Farmers Institute Brings Large Number OF
Farmers Into the VILLAGE,

Farmers Institute Brings Large Number OF
Farmers Into the Village.
On Friday Of last week. the farmers
of Wood county, or at least the lower
part of it, took possession of Nekoosa
and held sway in our little city for all
day. Their reign began in the morn
ing and lasted till late at night. and
resulted in their getting acquainted
with the citizens of Nekoosa. to the
great good Of all.
The cause, or rather opportunity
that was given The farmers for hold
ing sway in our village was the fact
that on the day named was held in
Brooks hall the one OF the two far
mers' Institutes that were held in
Wood county this winter. Our hust-
| ling business men made the arrange
mentS early in the summer, and if the
success Of the same can be guaged by
the attendance and enthus asm that
entered into the discussions, hey were
amply repaid, and the farmers of this
section received great good thereby.
The conductors Of the institute were
able to be here for only one day. so
three sessions were held Friday.
The first one was opened by VIC.
Bradley, of Hudson, Wis. He opened
the session by the statement that the
meeting was that of the Wood county
farmers, and not of the conductors,
and that the said farmers should, on
that account, enter into the discus
sions freely, bit or advice that was
well followed. Mr.. Bradley spoke on
Rich Soils: in so doing, he told of the
different rich soils, how some soils
could be made richer, etc. The sub
stance Of his advice, which is the very
best that could be given to any Wood
county farmer, was to STOP SELL
ING RAW PRODUCTS, such as hay,
grain, etc, but to FEED THEN TO
| LIVE STOCK, and sell the meat or
butter or milk and returning, by way
of manure, much richness to the farm,
and making it better. If farmer
hasn't the live stock on his farm, he
should GET THEM AT ONCE. This
is the secret of successful farming in
Wood county, and because of its SIM
plicity, it is too often overlooked
George McKerrow, superintendent
Of the state farmers Institutes spoke
next on what crops to grow. The sub
stance of his talk was that farmers
should study their land and learn just
what products can be best raised
thereon. Where alfalfa can be raised,
he advised its growth. Any dry soil,
with water from five to ten feet down
is tine for this crop, and if it doesn't
come the first year, re-plant it next,
and keep at it. For the average soil
in Wood county, he advised stock rails
ing and then more stock raising. Mr.
McKerrow's address was given in fine
shape, and was to the point, being
therefore instructive.
In the address Of David Imrie, of
Roberts. Wis, on silo and silage, he
named the proper kind of corn and
material to use for Silage and gave to
his audience the secret of success in
the Silo. Six out of every ten silCs
are failures and few knew why. A
Silo that will not allow the air to cir
culate freely through it's sides, and
which is DEEP, is never failure with
proper filling. The whole secret is in
getting the silo deep enough: it can
not be made too much SO. very handi-
ly. The best plan was declared to be
making the silos of smaller diameter
and of greater heighth.
The forenoon was closed by talk n
German on corn growing by q. G.
Vehrs of this county, and by a most
instructive talk on potatoes by M,
Luther, alsoQ Of this county. A very
brisk discussion followed this talk,
which was one of the most instructive
on the list, much to the credit of
Wood county. During the discussion
it was brought out that Mr.. Van Root
Of NekoOSa had raised 800 bushelS of
potatoes on of an acre of ground.
In the afternoon John L. Herbst of
Sparta, the poultry man, gave two
talks on the subject on which he is
recognized to be an authority.
The talks following, being those of
Mr.. McKerrow on sheep, Mr.. Bradley
on dairy cows, Mr.. Harring on clover
crops, and Mr.. Townsend, on mixed
farming, each and every one of them
contained many helpful suggestions,
as brought out by the actual expert
ence of the speakers and of those who
entered into the discussions that fol-
lowed each talk.
The evening session was one in
which most of the participants wee
inhabitants of our village. The vii
lage orchestra and male quartette took
care of the musical part of the program
assisted by Miss Katherine Galligan,
while County Supt, Robert Morris.
with practical talk, Village Supt.
! Nidii WIN vain Ou
sandy soils, ]. e. Rrazeau and Miss
Bessie Richmond with readings and
selections, and Supt. McKerrow with
a talk on farmers made up the rest of
the program.
The NekoOSa institute was declared
by Mr.. Bradley and Mr.. McKerrow as
one of the best they ever attended.
What made it SO, they declared, was
the great freedom with which the far
mers entered into the discussions. the
nature of the questions themselves.
and apparent ability of so many to
answer correctly the queries of their
neighbors. Everyone in attendance
appeared to want to try and make this
the best institute ever held in Wood