The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1908-01-23

history, but not without leaving be-
hind it beneficial results, which viii
not be lost with memory of the meet
ing Itself. AS a whole the institute
was more successful than 1t has ever
been in previous years, although in
some ways ii fell short of the record
made in 1907. Owing to the very
small crop of apples and other fruit
this year the exhibits in that depart
ment OF the institute were proportion
ately small, as was also the number
OF entries in the vegetable displays
but in other departments the number
OF entries would indicate greater
interest than has been manifest be-
fore. Over ninety entries in the corn
contest Is record winch has not
been approached before.
The Closing Session.
Friday afternoon was held the clos
| ing session and the program was
opened with selection by the ladies
quartette from the Iowa Christian
College, composed of Miss Hattie
Naude Sanders, Mrs. c. j. Burton,
Miss Marie Reyscndt and Miss Blanch
Reynolds. The topic for discussion
was What is the Most Profitable
thing to Feed with Corn for a Balanc-
| cd Ration to Hogs2" And it proved
to be one of the most interesting dis
cussions of the institute. Clark Ter
rell was the first and principal speaker
on the subject and after compre-
hensiye review of his experiences and
study of tn proper ration for hogs he
| conducted brief question box, dur
| ing which time a number took occa-
sion to criticise and inquire more
infinitely into his methods of produc-
ing good porkers. A number took
part in the general discussion which
| followed.
Before the adjournment Mr.. @. w.
| Shockley was given an opportunity to
| speak for a few minutes in behalf OF
the Oskaloosa Chautauqua assembly
| 1t was with feeling of much re-
| greet that announcement was received
that the Rose Hill band could not be
| present to give the grand closing
number on the program Friday after.
noon. Ike Reed also declined to ia
yor the audience with a song and all
that could be done under such circum-
| stances was to adjourn. Ike" did
his part, however, in taking charge
oe the auction sale of apples and corn
| Healthy prices prevailed and goodly
sum was realized from the sale. The
corn brought over s47 while the ap
pies netted something over 81, max
ing total of about s55.
| RS
| Particular mention is deserved by
the two little girls who SO thoroughly
pleased the large audience in the
| court room on the morning of Ladies'
Day with their well-rendered piano
| duet Their names are Misses Gall
| Williams and Matte Gorsuch, and
while the great variety of good things
on the program Thursday made per
sonaI mention at that time almost im-
possible with any degree of justice,
yet the appreciation of the efforts OF
| these two little girls was none the
| less. Their ages are but nine and
ten years and their playing was all
| the more remarkable in view of the
| fact that they were not notified OF
their assignment to a place on the
program until two weeks ago, and
neither of them had ever taken a
music lesson in her life until last
| August.
As has been the custom for num-
Der of years the bread in the institute
exhibit was donated to the associated
charities. The suggestion was made
that the canned fruit be donated to the
| Oskaloosa Hospital and such plan
may be adopted next year.
Notes and Aftermath.
While standing in front OF the long
rows of exhibits in the corn room
one afternoon during the Institute.
a gentleman across the table picked
up an ear of corn with an entry card
attached and after remarking about
the extreme looseness of the kernels,
It's mouldy condition and other dis
credltable points he turned to the SUI
Iperintendent OF the display and asked
why IL was that any farmer should
ever bring such an ear as that and
enter it in contest with hopes of
winning premium. The answer was
short, but satisfactory. He don't
know anything about judging good
corn" And yet while this one ex-
hibit seemed almost ridiculous when
placed at the side OF the many cred
table ears of corn, all those who at
tended the first Farmers Institutes
ever held in this county can we'll re-
member the time when many such
specimens were entered each year.
But the farmers have now been edu-
Gated by numerous experiences and
the strenuous efforts which have been
put forth by the State college and
others to instruct the farmers OF
Iowa in the proper selection OF seed
corn until the men are now rarely
found who do not know the first prin-
|ciples of corn judging. The Farmers
Institute has really done more in the
accomplishment OF this end than any
|other effort and yet we heard the re-