Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-22
COUNTY FARMERS
HOLD INSTITUTE
Gather at Reynolds in Annual
Session and Hear Some
Good Lectures.
ON THE SOIL AND HOME
Are Advised a. to Best Ways to En-
rich Their Lands and Increase
Their Crops.

Rock Island county. in session
rt Reynolds, began yesterday
morning at $3.50 O'Clock with invoca-
ton by Rev. @. r. Thorpe. After the
opening remarks by President J. h.
Parks and an address Of welcome by |
10. v. Petit, o. 8. Fisher Of the Uni |
versity Of Illinois gave an address on |
the subject Of Soil Fertility and Per
nianent Agriculture" Mr.. Fisher said
that by using scientific methods the |
fertility Of the soil would be preserved |
whsre with old fashioned methods It
would be lost, and by giving the
young people q scientific education In
the consolidated or township high
schools they will remain on the farms. !
| INCREASE PRODUCTIVE ABILITY.
After noon q male quartet composed
Of 8. d. Wait, Frank Sherman, K NJ.
Saunders and e. J. Gaunt sang. After
ards o. 8. Fisher spoke on 'Increas-
ing the Productive Capacity Of Illinois
Soils." There are four methods Of in
creasing the productive capacity of the
soil which Mr. Fisher particularly
mentioned. They are: the use of
rock phosphate as fertilizer; the
p,owing under Of cornstalks and
clover and the cultivation Of alfalfa
\ Most farmers rake up the corn
stalks and burn them which, Mr..
Fisher says, robs the soil of great
deal of fertility.
EDUCATION FOR GIRLS.
Mrs. H. M. Dunlap Of Savoy deliv-
cred the next address which was "a
Balanced Ration for Man." This ad-
Gress was, in a way, plea for much
different education for young women
than the average girls education.
The human body needs various
kinds Of food for the various parts of
the body. In order that the body be
kept in a healthy condition, the album
nous, heterogeneous and oily foods
should be used in certain proportions.
Certain minerals and acids are also
very necessary In small quantities.
IGNORANT OF FOOD VALUES.
Mrs. Dunlap said that although the
knowledge OF the different food values
vas so very essential to health, very
few women have that knowledge, and
many diseases are caused by not hav-
ing the proper proportion Of the differ
emit foodstuffs. When improperly pre-
iPared food does not cause sickness, 1t
does cause irritability.
HOUSEHOLD SCIENCE.
Mrs. Dunlap declares that the girls
should be taught household science
dressmaking, and some nursing, SO
they will be able to serve we'll prepar-
ed foods In the propore proportions.
There should be household science
course in the schools instead of SO
many languages and so much higher
mathematics. The girls should have a
training which would fit them for
home-keepers, as the boys are trained
for their life work.
EVENING SESSION BEGINS.
After this address, supper was serv-
ed by the Ladies' Aid society Of the
Methodist church until o'clock, when
the evening session commenced with
music by ladies' quartet, which was
very well received by the audience
The president then appointed a nom.
iaating committee composed of the fol.
lowing members: w. H. Ashdown and
w. H. Groh, Port Byron, and Frank
Bahringer. Taylor Ridge.
TALKS ON SOIL CULTURE.
Professor Roy Sallee of the local
high school gave an interesting talk on
agriculture. He introduced four i'm.
portant factors In the development OF
sol culture and intelligent farming
These were the educational institu
tons open to ambitious farmers and
their families, and are % state and ma
tional experiment stations, ca state
colleges, (3) farmers Institutes, and
~ consolidated and township schools
Each has its own advantages and all
are agencies to benefit those In the
rural districts. Mr.. Sallee especially
emphasized the desirability of CONSOLE
dated schools, which can provide great
er facilities for the youth of the coun
TRY districts than the common schools
now provide, yet eliminate the neces
sity OF the young people leaving theil
homes in order to gain high schoo
education at a critical age In the mora
development of their natures.
BACK TO THE FARM.
Mrs. H. NJ Dunlap of Urbana deliv
lered an instructive and most interest
Ing address on The Conservation o.
the Home" which subject, she said
went hand in hand with The Con
servation Of the Soil" a subject occu
lying the thoughts Of every thinkinl
American citizen, whether living IL
the city or country. Mrs. Dunlap spok,
il fervently interested and concerned
manner, which went convincingly Il
the hearts as well as the minds OF he
hearers. The trend Of her entire ad
dress was a Back to the Farm" cry.
REASONS FOR DIVORCE.
She mentioned the alarming divorc'
rate IN our country, which is 1-S De
cent of the marriages, and quoted gov
eminent statistics which showed tn
chief causes of divorce to be ''Th
Emancipation Of Women" and 9Th