Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1917-03-02
Report of the
Farmers Institute

The Farmers Institute held on the
18th, 18th and 18th of February was
we'll attended and interesting to those
who took advantage of the opportun-
ity to hear what was said. The
weather was good and the only thing
that did not please was that so few
actual farmers attended. The ques-
ton was asked at two different times,
How many of the audience live on
farms?" And resulted in an answer
of twenty-one at one time and thir-
teen in another. If the young farm
ers would turn out and take part, or
even listen to what was said the real
object of Farmers Institutes would
be more fully accomplished.
The institute was opened by the
president making few remarks
bearing on the general purpose and
aim of the meeting.
S. A. Converse then spoke on Rural
Credits and pointed out the benefits
of that system to the farming inter-
ests Of the country. Mr.. Converse
said he thought it would tend to in
duce more men who are now tenants
to buy farms, as by the new system
they could secure long time loans at
low rate of interest. Perry Wan
less started discussion on the points
Oh mt hVy ~ H.
lasted some time.
At the beginning of the afternoon
session Mamie Kakac and Eva Petit
gave us a violin duet and Rev. Will
Kirwin offered prayer.
Ellis Morgan presented, with some
very fitting remarks, gavel made by
the manual training class of the high
school to the Formers Institute,
which was received by the president
who responded briefly.
Mayor Barker in a short speech
welcomed us to the city and the pres
ident answered by stating our friend
ly relations to the town people and
the hope they would continue. Lois
Soltow gave reading 1.-THE Mallet's
Masterpiece" in a very acceptable
manner. The Girls Glee club of the
high school favored us with two
songs. Rev. J. A. Petit gave us a
pleasing lecture on the High Cost Of
Living, and Prof. Johnson of the high
school talked on Soils. He divided
the soils Of Howard county into four
classes and gave an estimate of the
amount of each in the county and the
value of each as regards productive
ness.
In the evening John Patterson sang
solo as the first part of the program.
Rev. H. M. Norman talked on Self
Dependence. He took the ground that
we might all be more self-dependent
in many ways and mentioned keep
ing hens for eggs and new way of
grinding wheat into flour and other
ways that would tend to reduce the
high cost of living
Thursday morning Will Bents read
fine paper on The Home, and ad-
vised adjoining the grounds with
trees and shrubbery. This paper
opened up a discussion on trees and
the best varieties to plant that last
ed until noon.
Thursday afternoon George Mead
sang a solo and Rev. W. A. Bockoven
offered prayer. DR.. w. T. DAILY read
paper on health in which he en-
phasized the need of cleanliness in all
our work and manner of living. Rev.
E. Mcdonald gave us a fine talk on
the benefits derived from staying on
the farm, and the Importance of farm
life, especially in Iowa. After the Rev.
McDonald's lecture the election of Of
ficers for the Farmers Institute was
held and John F. Murtha was chosen
president, Jas. N. Smith treasurer and
c. H. Rice secretary for the ensuing
year.
After recess the high school orches-
ira under the leadership of Helen Ka-
kac, gave us two numbers in a very
creditable style. Prof. c. L. Fitch
not having appeared owing to delay
occasioned by railroad wreck, Cor
don Jeffers, a high school student,
read in a very clear manner, a lect-
ure on Seed Potatoes, by Prof. Sweet,
noted authority on the subject of
potato growing. This lecture was
the means Of starting lively discus
ion about seed potatoes and corn, par
ticipated in by a number of farmers
present.
The first number in the evening was
reading given by Gladys Johnson.
Prof c. L. Fitch having at last arriv-
ed, gave us a good illustrated lecture
on potato growing and gardening. He
told US how to cut seed potatoes, how
to plant them, the kind of soil best