Webster Farmers Club

To the Editor of The Registee : Sir : - The meeting oí this club last Saturday, at the commodious residenoe of Mr. and Mre. H. T. Phelps, was a very enjoyable one. The threatening sky and chilly wind that prevailed in the morning had no terrora for Webster's good people, and by 11 o'clock, the house was filled with members of the club and invited friends, of which The Registers correspondent was fortúnate to be one. Among those froin other townshipg, I noticed Mr. and Mrs. John Pratt and daughter Della, of Lima; postmaster M. S. Cook and wife, and R. C. Reeves of Dexter village ; Mrs. A. B. Phelps and daughter Clara, Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Phelps, and Dan Lyon, of Scio township ; Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Brockway of Green Oak, Livingston county, and Everett Phelpj of the TJniTersity. President Backus called the club to order at lla. m. The club took up the question of the best way to dispose of "the urplus in the treasury," not the surplus that is puzzling the brains of our statesmen at Washington, but the $20 remaining in the treasury cf the Webster Farmer's club. Several things were needod, suoh as chaira, tables and disbes, but after some discussion, the matter was laid on the table, to be taken up at some future meeting. Then came the distribution of the wagon-load of good things provided for the inner man. In the interim, Miss Olara Phelps favored us with a selection of instrumental music on the piano, wh'ch was. rendered in an artistic manner, and fully merited the applause received. Dinner was then served in bounteous quantities, the quality of which demoostrated, beyond a doubt, that it would be hard to beat the ladies of Webster in their knowledge and practice of the culinary art. Ye scribe did not think he was hungry, but - well - there's no use making excuses now, so 111 aay no more about it. After an hour's social conversation and enjoyment, the president again rapped for order and the program for the afternoon was taken up. Mits Jeesie Williams, who waa down for an essay, was kept at home by sickness, much to the regret of all, since, knowing her capabilities, we feit that a large portion of the anticipated enjoyment of the afternoon was to be denied us. E. C. Reeves was next called, who read a very intereeting paper, entitled, "Do farmers differ from the rest of the world in their general make up?" He asked why it was that we often hear the expression of contempt, "He looks like ftn old farmer." What U the reasoa that our city-bred people, or a great majority of them, consider the farmiog class 'ar below them in the social scale ? "Was it because the necessary routine followed by the farmer blunted his facultiea and darkened bis intelligence ? ■re we not apt to exhaust our bodies at the expense of our minds ?" Mr. Reeves argued that a moderate amount of ont-door labor was bene&cial to both mind and body ; but hard, laborious work in all kinds of weather, weakens the strongest mind as well as body, and he was glad that farmers were beginning to use more brain work, and less muscular exertion, in their farming. It is skill and genius, not brute strength, that accomplishes the quickest and most desirable resulta. "Everything progressive in man leana on what is higher." In this connection he referred to the use of the elements in forwarding the machanical work of man. Electricity, steam, the water-power, force of gravity, were all servants of man. "These arts," said the speaker, "open the great gates of a future promidng to make the world plastic, and to lift human life out of its beggary, to a like ease ana power." The inventions of the age give the farmer more leisure time ; they rob his calling of its hard, sharp corners, and allow him to devote more time to self-culture and the advanoement of his social and financial interest. Geology and chemistry were coming to the aid of the farmer, and under their guidance the earth was yielding greater and more valuable returns than erer before. Mr. Keevea closed by urging the farmers to organizo to defend their interest?, that they might "stand like men in the world's marts," and thereby "become a greater power in the moral world." The paper waa ably written and contained many excellent thoughts. C. M. Starks, "the silvered tongued orator of Webster," in a sarcastic manner picked the paper to pieces, occasioning a good deal of amusement by his remarks. He was answered by Rev. J. E. Butler, in a few happy hits, after which Wm. Latson told us how he raised corn. He first selected a sod field, drawing on the same forty or fifty loads of good manure per acre. He would then plow seven inches deep, harrow it well, follow it with a spring-tooth cultivator, roll, and then plant. Before corn was up would drag to keep down grass. Would cultívate firBt time, once in a row, next time twice in a row, going as close to the rows as possible. Would keep in corn till after harvest. When corn is three-quarters glazed would cut, putting thirty-six hills of "Dent" and thirty of smaller corn in the shock. Let corn dry in pile and draw in. Save seed at first husking, and dry around stove. Prefers "White Dent" corn. Uses hoe, and plants to moist dirt. Isaac Terry thought good seed most important. Plows narrow furrow, using jointer, followg same day with harrow, if wet, and roller il dry. Can't work land too muco. Would not work corn after the brace roots start, as you are liable to cover them up, causing new ones to grow, and detracting that much from the growth of the corn. Cultivates deep last time. Has had best luck with "King Phillips." Mr. Terry then spoke of a novel harneas oil which he had used seventeen years on one harness and it was now the best in the country. The harness does not need washing, as his preparation washed and cleaned at the same time. Thi? wor.derful preservadle was simply - kerosene. To blacken the harness he used a ittle neatsfoot oil and lamp black. A few remarks from various ones closed the exercises, at which point the committee on entertainment announced that the oext meeting would be held at John PrattV, Lima, May 19. As the whole souled hospitality of Mr. and Mrs. John Pratt is well known in this section, the above announcement is sufficient guarantee of a royal good time. Some plf-asant things were said about The Ann Arbor Register, and jour correspondent was made to talk in response. Resolutiotis on the death of Mrs. Effie Martin, (nee Soadin) were then read and adopted, all present arising and standing with bowedheads during the reading. The meeting then arljourned. Here I might properly state that Mr. Phelps is one of Webster' model farmers, and one of the beat known breeders of shorthorn cattle ia the state.