Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1913-01-23
COUNTY INSTITUTE
Held at Ithaca Monday and Tuesday
Of This Week
LARGELY ATTENDED SESSIONS
Resolutions Declare Against County Road SyS.
tem-Many Subjects Discussed

The Roundup Farmers Institute
of Gratiot county was held at Ithaca
last Monday and Tuesday, closing
Tuesday afternoon with the court
room packed until many were stand
ing.
The care of the orchard and beans
as a money crop occupied Monday
forenoon, but the strongest discus
sions of the day proved to be Good
Roads in Michigan, by Townsend A.
Ely, and Breeding and Feeding
Horses OH the Farm, by a. b. Cook.
Mr. Ely showed himself posted on
the good roads proposition and made
many helpful suggestions Mr.. Cook
outlined clearly his experience with
horses in his usual breezy way and
stated his preference for fair-sized
horses, but not the very largest, for
the farm. In the evening the talk
on Teaching Agriculture, by Mr.. M.
A. Cobb of Mt Pleasant, suggested
only teaching the subject in the
eighth grade. Mrs. Dora Stockman
of Lansing greatly interested her
audience in Efficient Farm Homes,
holding that the home life on the
farm really determined much. Not
only the future of our boys and girls,
but the farm problems of today and
tomorrow. She held that no home
was complete unless we cooperate
with the Creator in the rearing of
children. Mr.. F. R. Baylis of the
Y. M. c. A. spoke of the need of
attractions in the farm life as in other
occupations if we would hold the
boys A ten-hour day and a Satur-
day half-holiday would make farming
much more attractive to many very
good boys who otherwise would look
for factory work or city job where
these things are matter of course
Tuesday morning, Silos and Silage,
by Mr.. Cook, with a discussion by
L. c. Hull, answered about every de-
tail that could have been asked for as
to building, filling and using silos
The stave silo was in favor. In his
Points on Corn Culture, Mr.. V. c.
Plummer of Indiana, held that COM
munities, townships or counties could
grow corn best by using a uniform
type. He recommended shallow
blowing and cultivation for corn.
In the business session OF the In
stitute, Mr.. A. ]. Dicken of Ithaca
was reelected president, J. D. Hell
man, vice-president, and Mr.. ]. B.
Mills of Emerson township, secretary
and treasurer. The following COM
mittee on resolutions were appointed:
c. A. Vanderventer, L. Carter and L.
c. Hull Up to the noon hour of
Tuesday the enrolment of members
was AZ, but this number was prac-
tically doubled during the afternoon.
duet by Miss Helen Chambers and
Miss Irene Mccall The Question
Box, in charge of c., A. Vanderven
ter, produced first the question of
uniformity of corn. Cross fertiliza-
ton of poorer grades and develop
ment of hybrids which were infertile
were the chief reasons for seeking
uniformity. An expression was taken
of the audience showing that one
third of the farmers present raised
their own seed corn. A number Of
different methods of selection and
saving were discussed. Nearly every
man suited himself as to method
In the choice of corn for silage,
large corn was preferred. In pre-
pairing ground for oats or wheat
from bean or corn stubble, deep disk
ing or blowing had the preference.
Fitting with cultivator or harrow
only was termed "hog-farming
Barley raising for feed was declared
profitable, but for selling, not always
so. Beardless varieties were not rec
commended. Ground barley fed raw
was valuable as shelled corn Al
falfa received considerable discussion,
but all the facts brought out were
stated in the columns of the Record
last week. The difference in quality
of yellow and white corn was de-
cided in favor Of yellow. Chemical
analyses were quoted. Messrs. Cow
dry and Lake both testified that
though hogs might not be recognized
as chemical experts, they would sort
out Flint from Dent corn and eat it
first whenever given a chance; also
bunch OF hogs that would eat seven
bushels OF Dent corn a day would
eat but FIVE OF Flint, and do just as
we'll on it. Closing the question box
the chairman called Dr. Foust to the
platform and he gave one of his inim-
liable recitations illustrating the first
visit of an Arkansas planter to the
city opera. An enthusiastic encore
brought forth a dialect rendition OF
an Italian organ grinders troubles,
which convulsed the house Mrs.
Percy Allen contributed an exquisite