Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1908-02-08
THE FARMERS INSTITUTE.
Interesting Points Brought Out at
Last Weeks Meeting.

The farmers institute held here ON
Thursday of last week was in charge
of Q. M. Olson, of Montevideo, and
the speakers were F. B. McLeran, of
Wrenshall, and G. w. Glotfelter, of
Waterville, all of whom are practical
farmers.
The meeting was opened by Mr.. Oh
son with Introductory remarks con-
cerning the institute. He urged at
tention to details of business of farm
ing and a better use of the things at
hand, and less determination to take
up innovations and fads. He urges
the conservative purchasing of live
stock and machinery. He believed in
diversity of crops and live stock upon
every farm.
Mr.. McClaren dwelt upon the "Se-
lection of the Dairy Cow" urging a
thoro test of our common cows-ob-
serving the accepted type of the dairy
coW-but not content until the scale
and Babcock test had revealed the
good ones.
Mr.. Glotfelter insisted that corn was
"king' of our crops that preparation
for the corn crop should begin at least
the year before. He advised the use
of hay land or pasture land previously
manured and fall plowed as ideal for
corn ample cultivation and not too
early planting persistent cultivation
and attention the whole season-selec
ton and attention to the saving and
curing of seed.
In speaking of small fruit, Mr.. Nc
Leran urged especially the strawberry
to some extent on every farm. The
soil should be well prepared for plant
ing and only one year old plants
should be used. For general growing
on. the farm get some hardy, perfect
variety. Strawberries should be
grown preferably in rows four feet
apart, and literally cultivated the first
season. Winter protection is a neces-
sity in this section, and two years crop
ping under usual conditions.
In the afternoon, Mr.. Olson presided
over well-flled question box that
brought out much desirable informa-
ton. Mr.. Glofelter dwelt briefly upon
drainage, its value and need in this
loc9saSy. Mr.. McLeran attributed suc-
J cess with the dairy COW to depend
very much upon her care and feed.
He insisted upon cleanliness and COM
fort in every detail with liberal feeding
of clover hay, grain and roots or en-
silage, warmth in the stable and atten-
ton to ventilation.
j.. Mr.. Glotfelter discussed the value of
clover on farm, as forage crop and
also as soil renovator. He insisted
on the farmer growing clover and ad-
vised sowing it in the drill at the same
time the nurse crop was sown, at the
rate of nine pounds per acre.
Mr.. McLaren briefly discussed apple
growing. He insisted on hardy and
recommended varieties of two and
three year old trees, to be planted on
northern slope where possible. Deep
planting, cultivation and protection
from rabbits are essential to success.
Mr.. Olson closed the meeting with a
few remarks upon the need of atten-
tion to fertility. He deplored the fact
that farmers burned their stubble and
the straw of their farms. He also
urged the immediate use of farm ma
nure. He appealed to the farmers to
SOW better seed of all their grains and
to test the same. He closed with an
appeal to the farmers to cooperate
among themselves and to work in
hearty cooperation with the business
men of the town for the prosperity of
the community. The prosperity of
the one is dependent upon the pros
perity of the other.