The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1908-01-16
Farmers Institute Held Here Last Week One of the Most
Successful in Years
TALKS WERE MOST INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE
And Much Good is Bound to Result From the Interchange
of Practical Ideas

/
acid from the soil and their nitrogen
from the air, every time one of these
crops is plowcd under, the plant re-
stores to the soil everything 1t has
taken therefrom. After considering all
these things, it seems safe to say that
for hay, pasture and fertiliZing the soil
clover is necessary crop, and while
no set rule can be laid down that will
apply to all farms and all farmers,
if more care is taken in the prepara-
ton of the seed-bed for the clover
seed, the farmer will be paid a hun
dred-fold for the trouble.
Guy Morrison, member of the
stockjudging class at the college,
spoke upon the methods of handling
and finishing sheep. Mr.. Morrison de-
monstrated the practical value which
he has already received from his stu
dies by giving a very nice talk upon
this subject.
The next number was also devoted
to the boys, it being the awarding
of the prizes in the corn growing con-
test by Prof. ]. S. Cole. The following
were winners: Best single ear of corn,
Harry Kennard, Brookings, first
Harry Sanderson, Brookings, second
Ben Schaphorst Brookings, third.
Best ten ears of corn, Ben Schaphorst,
Brookings, first; Harry Sanderson,
Brookings, second; Harry Kennard,
Brookings. third. Largest amount of
corn from two rows, each one rod
long, Harry Kennard, Brookings, first,
% pounds; Harry Sanderson, Brook
ings, second, l. pounds.
In awarding the prizes, Prof. Cole
took occasion to compliment the boys
very highly upon their work in face
of an adverse season and to urge
them not to be dicouraged, but to try
again. Last spring the association
sent ont seed corn for this contest
to - boys who requested it, and the
| fact that nowhere near this number
competed is due to the poor corn sea
son last year, the poorest in fact that
BrOokngs county has ever expert
| enced. 1t was the opinion of the meet
ing that the boys corn contests were
a fine thing and that they should be
continued. With a dry year the com
ing season most excellent results are
| looked for.
The following prizes were given in
these contests: Best ten ears, lst, $40,
2nd S., 3rd, So; Best single ear, 1st,
| So, 2nd, 50; 3rd, S Largest amount
| from two rows, 1st, s., 2nd, So.
The afternoon session was held at
the large college barn, where in the
| fine stock-iudging room Prof J. w.
| Wilson. professor of Animal Iiusban-
| dry. gave a talk regarding farm ami
mails in general, which certainly could
not have been otherwise than benefic
ial to the large audience present. Prof
| Wilson had the different animals
and taking up the horse first, with the
| aid of the score card, he illustrated
the good and bad points of the draft,
saddle and driving types. He then
took up the cattle and by the same
method explained the good and bad
points of the different breeds, both
Of the beef and dairy types, complet-
| ing the lecture with sheep and swine.
Friday morning the sessions were
| rout,paJ at fba npara bpncn tho fret
number on the program being an ad-
dress on Good Roads" by A. E. Cham
berlain, state institute director. In
! illustrating the value Of good roads
to the farmers of BroOkings county,
Mr. Chamberlain used very good
argument. He stated that the great
railway systems of the country are al
ways improving their highways, that
they spend millions Of dollars out of
their profits every year fer this pur-
pose and they surely would not ex-
pend one cent of money unless they
believed that it returned good inter
est on the investment There is twice
the amount of stuff hauled over the
country roads of America that there
is over the railroads, and while the
latter are bending every energy to the
improvement of their highways, the
| farmers of the country are doing
practically nothing. Mr.. Chamberlain
said if it paid the railroads it would
certainly pay the farmers who nave to
do all their driving over these roads
as well as their heavy hauling.
Mr. Chamberlain then introduced H.
T, Washburn. of Goodwin, Deuel. coun-
ty, road builder of the practical sort,
who had lately become a member OF
the institute corps. Mr. Washburn
described in detail his method Of max,
ing and keeping in shape dirt road
and afterward answered questions