Must Not Mine The Farm

Farmers Should Keep up Fertility of Farm

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THE FAMER'S INSTITUTE

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An Excellent Meeting at Ann Arbor—Speakers Favored Centralizing Country Schools

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A one-day farmer's institute was held yesterday in the court house and though it was not very well attended it was extremely interesting and instructive. N. P. Hull, of Eaton county, an institute worker appointed by the state board of agriculture, was the principal speaker of the morning session. His topics for discussion were "Crops for Mixed Farming," and "Farming for Profit."

Said Mr. Hull, "The farmer has little control over the selling price of his produce at present, but he can carefully watch the market and sell all his produce at the best price obtainable. There are two things that we should aim at, to turn out as many dollars from our farms as posible and increase the fertility of the soil so that it will be intact in all its usefulness for the coming generation. It is wrong, morally wrong, to "mine" a farm, for in so doing we decrease the fertility of our land and make it worthless for our children.

There are two crops that we should always grow, corn and clover and other crops should be grown to the conditions of our farms. It is very important to rotate crops, so that the different minerals may be successively drawn from the soil. Some have deeper roots and these should be made to alternate with those crops whose roots are nearer the surface.

"The average farm in Michigan is producing far less wheat and corn than it ought to, and if the farmer can not so manipulate his soil that he will produce more than the present average he will soon have his nose to the grind-stone."

Mr. Hull believes that every man ought to have a specialty and that the day is here when no one man can master all of the details for the successful growth of every product, that this is a time when only scientific farming can be productive of profitable results.

A general discussion of the topics was the order after Mr. Hull's address, led by Wm. Campbell, who said in part: "There is no profit in farming, if by profit we mean what the world calls profit. If the profit for which we labor on our farms is simply material, it is not of large account, but if we also labor to derive the intellectual benefits possible in farm life we then will get the greatest profit. If a man farms and doesn't like it he will drop to the level of a bummer, dead beat or cheap politician." Mr. Campbell believes that the farm is one of the best places to foster the growth of the intellect. It is also important, according to all the speakers, that men be raised on the farm as well as crops, and in the course of the speeches it seemed to be generally thought that the farmer had a better chance than any other man to develope the highest traits of character. The farmer has more time to think than the busy merchant and it is his own fault if he does not embrace the opportunity. Mr. Andrew Campbell believes that in farming one has a better chance to make a man of himself than in most any other calling.

Mr. Hull was asked what he thought of the commercial fertilizers. "While they tend to make a more luxuriant crop for the time being," he answered, "they in time only destroy the natural productiveness of the soil."

The afternoon session of the institute began at 1:30 with music, followed by a talk by Mr. Hull on Farmers Organizations. The speaker declared his earnest belief in the value of farmers' organizations; they are as essential to the farmer as organization to any other interests. All other industrial lines have their organizations and this in itself indicates the very general other interest. All other industrial lines have their organizations and this in itself indicates the very general belief in their value. Mr. Hull spoke of the things already accomplished through these organizations. They have not accomplished all that they should or all that might reasonably have been expected, but there is nothing of discouragement in all this, for the same thing is true of all human agencies. Among the things these organizations should work for he enumerated postal savings banks, the election of United States senators by direct vote of the people and extension of free rural delivery.

The discussion of this topic was led by Miss Jennie Buell. Among farmer organizations, she, said, there were two that had outstripped all others, the Grange and the farmers' club. The Grange had existed for 35 years. This organization has its beginning in the local organization and extends up through the various grades to the national organization. It numbers in Michigan 35,000 members, 10,000 having joined in the past year. She spoke of the advantages to the farmers generally. It aids in overcoming the isolation and suspicion many times existing among farmers, brings farmers into closer social relations and begets community of feeling and interest and aids in solving many difficulties and dispelling many discouragements.

Mr. Butterfield, the newly elected president of the Rhode Island Agricultural College, was called out at this point. He said he had marveled at the slowness manifested by farmers about joining farmers' organizations. He said he attributed this to the independent manner of life of farmers generally. Nevertheless he believed it was quite as important for farmers to co-operate in the interest of all as for any other class of industrials. 

With the closing of this discussion there was music and recitation, and then Mr. Hull discussed Feeding and Care of Dairy Cows and Crops for for Dairy Farm. He said dairy cows must be selected with much care—none should be kept that did not when well fed and cared for produce a profit. He said a cow must produce 200 pounds of batter before any profit could be realized. They should be fed regularly and carefully cared for—should be fed about all they would eat and variety of food and palatable food. Hay should be cut when it is still green, and corn the same. Cows should be kept in warm barns and given water to drink in winter warmed to about 60 degrees. Stables should be kept clean and mangers carefully swept out twice a day. On a dairy farm one cannot afford to be without a silo.

M. J. Cavanaugh was on the program for a talk on the School Question, but as he was busy in court with a law suit. was unable to be present, and Mr. Butterfield was asked to discuss this topic. He devoted his talk largely to a discussion of the concentration idea in rural school matters. He considered this a need of the present time and thought it would give the farmer boys and gilrs a better chance in an educational way and by uniting the energies of all the schools of a township bring better returns for any given expenditure of money. He told of the workings of the plan in Ohio and the general satisfaction it was giving and the unwillingness of farmes who orginally opposed the concentration plan to return to the isolated district after a trial with concentration.

Prof. Steere led the discussion. He told how the farmers' children had to come to the city to get the education they needed, to arrive after long travel unfit for the work or else to live in the city at a time when they should be under parental guidance. Many farmers move to the city to educate their children and either find work in the streets or in the back kitchen while their wives keep boarders. The farm is the best place for the farmer and his children. But he owes his children an education. The remedy is the centralization of schools, the township unit and transporting the children in wagons to a central school. The farmers themselves would have control of this school district.

N. P. Hall favored centralization. The bringing together of many of the same age was an aid to education and helped to increase the children's interest in their school work.

Robert Campbell was mildly opposed to the centralizing idea.

Ex-Senator Andrew Campbell said there was not the difference between the man in the country and the man in the city there was some years ago, and there would be less. Free rural delivery, telephones, etc., were helping out farm life. Lots of country children were debarred from the education they ought to have because their parents could not afford to send them where they could get it. He favored the township unit school system.

William Campbell opposed the central school system. He was afraid of the evil-minded children who might infect the others.

A vote of thanks was given the Ann Arbor Organ Co. for the use of a piano and attention was called to the County Round-up at Chelsea Feb. 11 and 12.

The institute throughout was interesting and well worth the time of all who attended. It ought to have commanded a much larger attendance.

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Wood Wanted—Bids on 30 cords of green second growth oak and 10 cords black ash or tamarack will be received until Jan. 26, to be delivered to the various schools in the city as directed.

G. J. RAY,

Clerk Board of Education.

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