Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-06-15
FARMERS INSTITUTES.

institutes and a great many more
who ridicule the work OF the instl
tutes and insist that they with then
long experience on the farm know
more of the actual wor king of 8
farm aud farm life than the insti
tute workers. In some cases there
may be found a very slight dissat-
Isfaction in the way some of the
institutes are conducted but in gen
eral the purpose is only good. To
those of this section who listened to
the teachings of the institute at
Lancaster last winter no one except
he be exceptionally biased in his
views or not willing to learn from
the instruction of experienced per-
sons, could object to the general
trend of the teachings of the work
ers in that excellent corps this year.
Too many farmers go to the inst
tutes with the expectation or OBJ
tanning some knowledge that will
Immediately make them rich. This
is not the idea of the institute at all.
The sole purpose of the institute is
to suggest ideas that men may think
out for themselves, problems that
affect them individually on their
own farms. To lay down fast and
hard rule that would benefit every
man within the hearing of the insti-
tute corps would be folly. The far
mer must do the thinking for him
self. He is told that under certain
conditions feeding beef cattle has
made great profit for one man.
He is told by another speaker that
dairying was more profitable for
Others and third tells him what he
has done raising poultry, sheep or
hogs.
Now, there is too much embodied
in a two days session of a farmers
institute for any one farmer to try
to carry away the load of informa-
ton and suggestions laid before
INN by all the speakers on the plat
form. He must, after listening to
the arguments. questions and an
swers, take position along one Of
the branches discussed and try to
think out in his own mind and in a
practical manner some theory which
ne is fitted to carry out. The know
ledge obtained of the institute re-
garding feeds and feeding, working
of the soil, breeding etc., will
be of great value to him; but if he
hears one speaker say that he has
made a fortune from one line of
farming and another on some other
line, he must not imagine he can do
likewise on all other propositions
that are told him, but he must calm
ly consider from his point of view,
from the assistance he has at hand,
from the nature of the soil he is
rtilling and the line of work he is
best fitted for, then properly map
out his plan and go on with his
work and keep gaining every little
bit of information from books, from
the lips of experienced men and
from his own experience and there
by strive to make a positive success
Of that which he has been able to
make but a partial success thereto
fore. This is an age of specialists.
Men who concentrate their forces
on one particular line Of business or
on one branch of profession attain
greater success than those who en-
deavor to master it ALL If they are
surgeons. their aim is to be the best.
IF they treat the diseases of the eye
or ear, they Will take courses of in
structiOn that will better fit them
for this particular practice; and if a
farmer expects to follow out a plan
and make the most of it he should
stick to it and study that which the
surrounding conditions make him
best fitted for.
Lancaster's farmers institute last
February was great success and
one of the hest held in +ba ctata
Another one can be secured here
next winter if an effort is made.
1t should be attended to at once.