The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-01-13

local shcrt courses usually last but one
week. The work given Is much like
that of the college short course, al
though. of course. there is not as much
equipment to work with. Every stu
dent Is obliged to bring ten ears OF
corn for class work. Stock Is obtain
ed from local breeders. The Iowa Agri-
cultural college last winter sent out
car loaded with some Of the best Of
the college stock and corn to short
courses in that state. The local short
courses are very popular and reach
many farmers who cannot get away
from home for more than few days
at a time.
One of the oldest means for taking
information TO the farmers Is the
farmers institute. This Is exceptional
ly good In that II gives a chance for
a great deal Of discussion among farm
ers. which creates interest and brings
out the methods which have proved
most successful. Usually two or three
speakers from the college are present
to talk at these institutes.
The county fair is another rural In
stitution that is a great educator The
old type of county fairs. that were lit
tie more than racing meets and places
for gamblers, is almost thing of the
past. The modern county fair has Its
full share of amusements, but they are
for the most part clean. A good horse
race is enjoyed by every red bloOded
farmer. A baseball game or a balloon
ascension adds to the enthusiasm. An
opportunity is given to the farmer and
his family to meet their friends from
all parts of the country. The vii
lage and town people mingle with the
farmers on an equal basis, and all get
better acquainted. Many fair associa-
tons have provided groves where pic
mic dinners can be spread
The best part Of the fair, however.
is the educational feature. This is fos-
tered by competition. There are corn
growing contests for the boys and corn
and stock judging contests. Often the
boys who come out ahead In these con-
tests are sent TO the short course at
the college and their expenses paid by
the fair association. The farmers are
eager to see which can produce the
best colt or best steer. A man from
the agricultural college judges the
stock. After he has placed the rib
bons he explains why the prize win
ming animals were given the prefer
ence. The man who gets blue ribbon
goes home encouraged to strive harder
than ever. while his neighbor who Is
placed further down the line grits his
teeth and determines to have some
thing next year that cannot be beaten.
The county fair is Americas most tru-
ly rural institution and Is one of the
In country life.
What the county fair docs for local.
ties the state and district fairs do for a
larger territory. Perfect cattle vie with
each other for the premier honors. and
the massive drafters divide the popu-
lar attention with the high stepping.
fashily moving carriage horses.
Spreading agricultural knowledge by
special train is a new way Of reaching
the farmer that Is just coming into
vogue. The movement began in Iowa
six years ago, when The seed corn
trains were run on all the principal
railroads of the state. A regular
schedule was made. the train stopping
for half an hour at each station. The
cars were filed with farmers. and the
college professors explained the value
Of tested seed corn and told how the
testing could be done. A comparison
Of the average yields of corn In the