Arizona republican., 1912-07-21
City Hall Plaza Thronged All Day by Thousands to View With Surprise the Agricultural Exhibits of the Valley
FIRST FARMERS DAY
 MOST SUCCESSFUL
Interesting Talks on Sub iects Relating to Farm and Rural Life, the Need of Association and Help ful Cooperation

Iul CO-opel dIIoA
 The farmers and their families evned the town yesterday and even that statement is putting it mildly It was the occasion of the first ses- sion of the Maricopa County Farmers Institute. an institution. by the way which has come to stay And right here let it be remarked that this m stitute was all and more than any body had expected It was pleasant surprise even to the promoters ana to say that it was viewed with pleasure and appreciation by the thousands of city people, IS putting it mildly. Throughout the day the plaza and Washington street in front' where the exhibits were exposed, was thronged with people; and when evening finally came there was not a person but felt that a long step forward had been taken by the ln- auguration of the institute. It was 2. splendid exhibition of the possibll- ities of the industry upon which the prosperity of Phoenix and ot the en- tire valley depends.
 There was a display of fruit and melons. of pumpkins and squashes' of radishes. beets and carrots, of cookery and preserves that was enough to throw an epicure into ecstacies. And the display was mo- ticeabIe not only for its variety and extent. though these alone were sui ficient to win golden opinions from everybody; there was the quality of
 TT1I- 1n n all the show was just like an agricul- tural fair on a small scale-and the scale wasn't so awfully small at that
 The exhibits, including the contest for premiums, were. of course, the chief feature But they were not the only feature Beginning at 1:3O a number of speeches were delivered from the handstand. Some of these speeches dealt with topics of gen. eral nature while others were deVot- ed directly to farming and the prob lens with which farmers have to deal The speakers were Governor George w. P Hunt, Mayor Lloyd B. Christy. J. w. Forney. Mrs H. A. Guild. J. A. Higgins. Alvin K. Stabler, p. I. Edson and Mrs. P. I. Edson. The speaking was interspersed with band music.
 Governor Hunts address was brief. He confessed he isn't much of a farmer. at least he isn't working at it now But he said he knew some thing about farms and farmers and he contrasted the condition and mode of life of the farmers of today with those he knew in his youth The governors talk was of a practical kind and he congratulated the farm erg on the spirit of progress they have shown in organizing for their betterment and mutual benefit; and he said he is certain that Maricopa county institute is destined to do a vast amount of good.
 The lives of the farmers are all together different from what they used to be-" the governor said. ''The day of seclusion for the farmers has passed, never to return. There is more of the spirit of fellowship sanc brotherhood than ever there was be- fore and among no class is this spirit more noticeable than among the farmers"
 Mayor Lloyd B. Christy welcomed to the city all those who had come tC witness the exhibits and help make the institute success. He said hC is something of a farmer himself anC always perfectly at home among thc tillers of the soil.
 The first talk on practical farming was deliverey by J. w Forney. II his remarks MT Forney showed tha he has carefully studied his business and it was evident from his remarks that he has studied to good purpose
 One of the most profitable cropi he had ever raised, he said, is swee potatoes, to which he formerly de voted considerable attention while il the Glendale neighborhood It woul' seem if one were to follow Mir. For ney's advice and methods it is quit simple thing to make a surprisin amount of money by the cultivation of the tubers.
 When I was engaged in growin sweet potatoes" MT. Forney sait we didn't get anything like the price the farmer receives now. We sol them by the sack and we received } cents for sack containing 10 pounds of potatoes. But now tn farmer gets two and a falf cents pound or more for his sweet potatoe
 But let me give you an illustra ton of what we used to do. r hay grown forty tons of sweet potatoe on an acre of ground and l regar that as a fair yield. It is a yiel
 
 (Confinupd on Papa 11l