Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1916-02-25
Farmers Institute a Success.

The farmers institute held on the
10th, 18th and 18th of Feb. was well
attended and the program was all car
ried out, except one or two numbers, in
a creditable manner. The young peo-
pie, especially the young men on the
farm. do not seem to take as much in
terest in the institute as could be wish
ed.
We had in all, four lecturers from
away, Mr.. E. S. Estel, State Dairy
Expert; Prof. R. X, Bliss, Director of
the Agricultural Extension Department
Mr.. S. J. Dodds Of the State Highway
Commission, and Prof. H. H. Gibson of
the Department of Agricultural Educa-
ton Of the Iowa State college at Ames.
They all seemed to be live young men
that were interested in bringing to us
something instructive in their particu-
lar departments.
Mr.. Estel in his afternoon talk dwelt
on the value of saving all the feeding
value of the corn crop by putting it in
silo so as to utilize the full value of
the corn stalks. He also told us that
the protein in the feed was what made
the milk white. In his evening lee
ture his main theme seemed to be
''Not more cows, but better cows, :"
that is, to weed out the poor cows by
the Babcock test. He also emphasized
the need of cleanliness in all dairying
operations.
Prof. Bliss lectured on "Baby Beef
for Profit" and argued that beef could
be produced more profitably from young
cattle than older ones as it takes more
feed to put pound of beef on an older
animal than on calf. He wanted the
farmers not to let the calf get set
back as they must be kept in a thrifty
condition all the time.
Mr.. Dodds, Educational Engineer,
gave us talk on the care of roads and
dwelt at length on the advantage of
having the state highway commission
and competent engineers to direct and
supervise the construction of roads and
culverts. He also stated that the stand
ard grade for road IS 6 per cent
grade and advised that where the road
is from IL to l6per cent grade it should,
if possible, be relocated rather than
graded. There seemed to be a decided
sentiment against the present road law
among those pressit this @ Sion.
Prof. Gibson commenced his talk with.
contrasting the Importance of the boys
and girls of the country with that of
the crops and other farm interests, stat
ing that it was necessary to educate the
boy so he would be better able to sup
port himself and be better citizen.
He also talked on Consolidation of
Schools which brought on some argu-
ment against consolidation.
Mr.. S. A. Converse spoke on THE
Banker and the Farmer" and admitted
that the farmer was competent to man-
age his business without special advice
from the banker. He also said that in
parts Of the country where farming in
terests were the NEST prosperous the
rate of interest on loans was the low
est
DR.. P. G. Button read paper on
Mamits, also led discussion on Joint
Diseases in colts in which J. E. Doo-
little and C. v. johnson joined.
Mayor A. E. Barker made a short
speech of welcome and gave the insti-
tute the freedom of the city," Mr..
Murtha. the president. replied briefly |
to the mayors speech.
Rev. H. M. Normann, pastor of the
Norwegian Lutheran Church, gave
talk on various farm subjects that was
greatly enjoyed by the institute. Mr..
Norman dwelt especially on the ad-
vantages of the country life. There
was such crowd to hear Rev. Nor
mann that the reporter was busy seat
ing the audience and did not get many
notes on his address.
]. E. Doolittle read an article on
Dairying from Wallace's Farmer and
also exhibited some samples of Stage
and compared the different kinds
The talk on Horticulture was lead by
Mr.. Murtha and in his talk he advised
The farmer to plant trees for wind
breaks and shade as we'll as for fruit,
md mentioned how much trees con-
.ributed to the enjoyment of life on the
'arm. A general discussion followed
in by A. E. Bents, Henry
3ents, M. M. Forry. Perry Wanless.
Will Bents aud S. A. Converse. They
alked of different kinds of walnuts and
whether catalpas would grow to any
ize in this latitude.
DR.. w. c. Hess read u paper on