The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1909-05-18
fine MEETING
FARMERS CLUB.
Parish Fair Committee Reported Walt.
Ing on Progressive League, But
League Would Soon Act.
FINE PAPER ON PARISH FAIR BY
EDITOR PATIN OF GAZETTE.
Jos. BiIleaud Gave Practical Talk on
Corn Culture and T. e. Darby on
Cotton Culture.
Parish Fairs

0u
The Farmers club met last Satur.
day in regular session at the Indus
trial Institute, President j. A. Roy
presiding, and Secretary Stephens
at his post. The minutes of the
previous meeting were read and
approved. Messrs. P. r. Landry
and f. L. Stephens reported that
the Parish Fair committee still await
ed the action of the Lafayette Pro-
gressive League in the appointment
of conference committee on the
subject. They had received assur-
ance that the League would soon act
and hoped to report some definite
measures next meeting.
DR.. Stephens read a reply from
DR.. S. A. Knapp of the United States
Agricultural Department, in answer
to a request for the establishment
under government supervision OF
a department of agricultural de-
monstration in connection with the
regular Institute course. While not
definite the letter gave assurance
of approval and promise OF sup
port if funds would justify. Letters
from Senator Foster, Congressman
Estopinal and others, promising aid
in the movement were also received.
Mr.. Sidney McFaddin presented an
article in the Texas Farm and Ranch,
by Congressman Sumner, advocat-
ing reduction of tariff on imported
fertilizers in the interest of South
ern planters and especially for cot
ton growers. Mr.. McFaddin ad-
dressed the Club on the issue and
moved the adoption of a resolution
to be framed by the Secretary. ap-
proving Mr.. Summers course in the
matter. Carried President Roy
thought farmers should avoid COM
mercial fertilizers, using barn yard
manure and pea vines instead to
renovate the soil. DR.. Hopkins and
Mr.. Lacy suggested use Of CONNER
cial fertilizers when other means
were limited.
DR.. Stephens read letter in the
Jennings Times by S. L. Cary, ad-
vocating the raising OF feedstuff
and contending that alfalfa and
crimson clover could be grown to
advantage IN that section. Editor
M. Patin of the Gazette then read
the following paper which received
the hearty approval of the club:
Brothers OF the Lafayette Farmers
Club:
appreciate the honor you have
conferred upon me to address you
upon this important subject. Bu.
must say, by way Of preface, that l
hope you did not assign me this sub
ject on the impression that was an
expert on it, for. indeed, what know
about parish fairs is only what gain
ed in four experiments with my
friends in st. Martin Parish, my late
home. l say experiment." advisedly
for each one Of the four fairs we held
In st. Martin were experiments pure
and simple as not one of US was better
qualified at the beginning than you
Of Lafayette now are.
Parish Fairs are intended to replace
the Farmers Institutes. which all Of
you recollect used to be held in differ
emit parishes throughout the state un-
der the auspices of the Board Of Agri-
culture and immigration. These In
stitutes we're costly to maintain en-
failing the expenses Of high-salaried
lecturers, railroad and carriage fare.
AAll rent, advertising. etc.; and though
certainly useful In nature to the farm
ing and stock raising industries of the
state, it was found impracticable to
get the attendance o fthe very class
OF citizens which the influence of
these institutes was intended to reach.
Just at the time when the Department
ofEicials had become completely dis
couraged by their non-attended Farm
ers' Institutes, their attention was
called to the success which Col. Chas.
Schuler was having with annual par
ish fairs In Bienville.
Col. Schuler now our Commissioner
of Agriculture and immigration, had
taken an active part in these Farmers
Institutes, and his experiences in that
work had shown him that while the
farmers and stock raisers really de-
aired education in their arts, they
wanted less ''book-talk" and more OBJ
ject teaching. He himself had written