VOL. XXV.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., DEC. 6, 1890.
NO. 49
How to Hold the Ideal Farmera'Institute.
The Farmer-' Institute h_lbecome a recognized institution in most ot the more
enterprising Statos of our country, having
won for itself a place among the Beveral
educating ind_nc_ that are working to
benefit the condition of the farmer; it is
well, therefore, to consider the matter
thoroughly in order that every effort may
be made to the end that each Institute
should coiifer the greatest benefit upon
everyone in attendance. When any institution becomes general it is wise to spare
no pains of thought, study and exertion to
make it as nearly perfect as possible. A
few centa reduction in the price of a tele-
Boope—an instrument rarely used—is of
small moment; in a box of matches—an
article that goes into every house—is of
great importance. If the Institute were
infrequent and influenced but a few, ita
betterment would not be important, but
as it is now common and alloc ta thousands,
all Improvement*-) very important.
To secure the maximum good the Institute should be largely attended by earnest,
enterprising farmera with their wives and
families; each meeting should be made in
the highest degree Interesting and profitable to all in attendance; and the fruits
of the Institute should not only be great
but lasting lu their benefits. It is tho
purposo of tbis paper to suggest methods
whereby this may be accomplished, to describe an idea) Institute, and to suggest
how the influence may be made more
powerful and lasting. Having attended
and taken part in Institutes inx Michigan
for 15 years, in New York for three winters, in Wisconsin for two, and in Ohio for
one, I am not without observation and
shall draw from the methods practiced in
each of these States, as they seem to me
valuable.
To secure a large attendance at a Farmers' Institute, demands that'the local interest be thoroughly aroused prior to the Institute. To affect" this, a live wide-awake
man should visit each locality some weeks
before the Ipstituta is to be held. He
should be enthusisatic In the matter, and
should visit, personally, the editors, the
several clergymen, and the most enterprising business men ofthe place, and in-
te-est each and all of them. He should
also extend to each a very cordial invitation to attend a preliminary meeting, previously provided for, by the leading farmers of the locality and himself, to be held
the same day, when all the needful preparations should be provided for. At this
preliminary meeting, the object of the Institute, the plan of conducting it, .the
methods of securing a large attendance,
suggestions as to making it in the highest
degree, interesting and profitable, are all
explained and discussed. It is explained
that music, a display of fruits, grains and
flowers, a first-class program and a wideawake, experienced president are all highly valuable, especially the last two, in the
make-up of the Farmers' Institute. Therefore committees on music, on exhibits,
and on a program are appointed. In arranging the program, it is suggested that
only two, or, at the most, three papers
should be given for each session. This
permit-, discussion, which is often the
best part of the Institute. It is {suggested
that at least two or three ladies shonld be
engaged to present papers, as this aids in
securing a good attendance of ladies,
which is exceedingly desirable. The man
who attends an Institute without his wife,
only gains a partial benefit. It is also
suggested that the topics be live and practical, and be treated by those of experience; and that the papers be short and
, Buggestive, rather than exhaustive. It ia
well that information regarding reduced
rates on railroads, and" at hotels, when
such courtesies are granted, be announced
. In the programs as inducements to increased attendance.
Of course the music and exhibits will be
mentioned in the printed program. Tt__
Bhould be ready for distribution at least
two or three weeks before the Institute,
should be spread broadcast and copied
into all the papers of the place and neighboring towns. The music not only adds
to the interest and the refining influence
of the meetings, but also to the attendance. The display of fruits, etc., is instructive, and gives a text for discussions
during the brief intermissions. Tbe importance of a good president cannot be
exaggerated. He keeps things lively,
can stop debates that are improper, tedious or rambling, and yet hurt no one's
feelings; iu fact, he is the very life of the
Institute. In these days of the Grange it
is not difficult to secure among the farm-
era a first -class presiding ollicer ln almost
any farming community.—l'rof. A. J.
Cook, in Kural New Yorker.
(To be continued.)
Juet as Expected.
BV DB. C. A. ROMNSON.
"For ways that are dark, and tricks tbat
are valn,"cointnend to me the proprietor of
the average political newspaper, especially
the one that is supported by the '"lluence"
it has with oounty oflicers.
Your readers will remember that I have,
all along, cautioned them not to rest upon
pledges made by conventions and candidates, as no sooner were the votes counted
than we would see a combined etlort on
the part.of "official organs" to practice the
old tactics of going square back on their
word, and log-rolling to prevent the very
legislation their party pledged itself to,
and the sequel of the late election is no
exception to the rule. Already these selfsame "organs" are setting up the howl. I
have before asserted that the Democratic
party secured the Legislature move on account of its unequivocal declaration in favor of a total abolition of the present system of remuneration of officers for services,
than from any other cause; and, as a heretofore consistent Democrat. I think I understand whereof I speak. The plank that
won the democracy the legislature, has
been published before in the Advocate,
but I think it will bear reproducing, since
I wish to show an etlort on the part of
some democratic politician to violate its
provisions.   Here it is:
We favor the total abandonment of the
system of fees and perquisites in the payment of State and county oflicers; and we
demand the enactment of a law by the
next Legislature, fixing fair salaries for all
public officials, the same to go into eflect
as soon as practicable.
Referring to the above plank the Indianapolis Sentinel says:
"The new Legislature will have no more
solemn duty than to redeem this pledge,
both in spirit and in letter." Tu which
statement the Shelby Democrat takes exception, in the following emphatic manner:
"Now the editor of the Sentinel wrote
that plank himself, and he knows that if
the convention had wanted it converted
into a pledge It would have been so written. Why did he not write it: "We pledge
ourselves to the abolition of the fee and
perquisite system, etc?' He knew that
such a plank could not I_ choked down
the convention. Now he "comes but and
takes advantage of his own stratagem and
attempts to ostracise Democrats who refuse to accept his dictum as the voice of
the party and the will of the people."
Do you see the milk in the cocoanut?
The same old tactics exactly. Make a
square unrestricted pledge to the people
for the sole purpose of getting ^their votes
and then going square back on the pledges
after the election.
The promise before the election  Is one
thing; the fulfillment of that promise
after the election is quite another. Before
the election the meaning and intent of
the language of the platform was never
supposed to mean anything else but what
It was. Now that the election is over and
the officers in, we are given to understand that such a thing as a pledge was
never intended. Tbat If it had bten understood to be anything but a finely
worded sentence for the purpose of deceiving the people "it never could hive been
choked down the throat of that convention."
The tirade of the Shelby Democrat
against the Sentinel is over a column In
length, and denounces in every sentence
tbe principles for which tbe tax-paying,
wealth-producing masses in Indiana are
lighting and if the struggle be not a long
and bitter one, it will be because of* the
overwhelming pressure upon the elected
legislators, by the men who earn an honest existence by the sweat of the face.
The light on the fee and salary question
now has just begun, as overy person who
takes any interest in the matter will
surely discover soon. It ceases to be a
political question at all, now. Before the
election it was good enough to make a
great tight for political preferment upon,
by a great party,and upon this plank more
than any other the party won. Now, the
whole effort of all office holders will be
concentrated In one effort; thatof defeating
legislation that looks toward a revision of
the fees and salarios received by extravagant Stato and county officers.
The methods used heretofore by men
who have tried to, and in some instances,
succeeded ln defeating legislation against
high salaries, are too disgusting to have a
name upon the snow-white pages of a political newspaper. Thoy are always personal and appeal to the low, sensual, debased natures of the men who are expected to pass under their influences, and
men who have disgraced the pulpit have
also smirched their characters by working
hand to hand with corrupt Indiana lobbyists.
Let no man sleep on his unloaded gun
for he will surely have to fight the most
unscrupulous emissaries of the devil this
winter.
Tha Farmer vs. Corrupt Laws.
Editor. Indiana Farmer:
I feel like commending the articlo written by Mrs. R. (j. A. M., "What has been
done for the farmer," in your Nov. 8th Issue, and heartily endorse the same, but I
take exceptions to John M. Stahl's comments on the same articlo published Nov.
22d. He says Mrs. R. G. A. M writes, a
strong letter; that she makes a sad picture of the Indiana farmer who Bold corn
last winter for 19 cents a bushel; that "the
farmer who sells corn for that price, has
only himself to blame." Now, if J. M. S.
was a producer of corn, would he put the
price on it, or would he do as the average
farmer of Indiana is compelled to do, sell
at market price?
Perhaps he would feed It to cattle, at
one and one-half to three cents per pound,
in which there could be but little profit to
the producer. As an evidence of the profit
to the farmer, we have his statements that
he bought from Illinois farmers, several
thousand bushels of corn, at from 22 to 23
cents per bushel; fed it to stock cattle
bought that fall at two and one-fourth
cents per pound, for the best, and, when
thoroughly fattened, sold in the Chicago
market for five cents per pound. This
was xery nice as a speculation, Sir. J. M.
S., but not quite so nice for the Illinois
farmer. Your speculation shows 100
per cent profit, while his shows only
about eight per cent. Still, the farmer
who is compelled to sell at these figures, is
to blame, and is a "sore head, works seven
months in the year, loafs and grumbles
the other five."   Explain, if you can, how
the average farmer can raise a calf to one
year old, and sell him for $10, or raiso him
to a two year old, and sell him in Buffalo
at three and one-half cents per pound,
weight, 1150 pound-i, ami get any profit.
While it is true, as Mrs. R. G. A. M.
states "that thesuccessof any business depends upon the manner in which it is
managed," yet it is also true that there are
foundation principles, which underlie all
business transactions. This, in short, is
the present monetary system of our
government, embodied in scarce money
and high rates of intorest. This condition
afleets none more than the laborers and
producers of our country, and this condition Is made so by law. The laborer and
producer have but little representation in"
tho laws that govern them. Among some
of their grievances are the National banks,
the release of their currency from taxation,
also the release of government securities
from taxation. And yet for all this condition of things over which the farmer has
no control^you would ascribe his failures
lo ignorance, thoughtlessness or carelessness; say we should go to work; that there
is a handsome profit in farming—if a man -
will only become Intelligent and thoughtful, and study his business. Better go to -
work on Congress.
Not only study your business, but study
the monoy question, and its ellect. on the
producers of wealth, and tbo evil effects of
our present high rates of interest. That
some farmers are losing, and others
scarcely holding their own, you admit;
and if they would only reform themselves,
you say*- they could make money.
Better reform the monetary laws of the
country by giving us an abundant legal-
tender currency at two por cent interest,
instead ot National bank currency at from
X to 12 per cent,which has beon taking too
much of tho hard earnings of the
farmer.
Let us be intelligent, thinking farmers,
and study thequestion-t that regulato the
pricesof our products, as well as   how   to     s
produco   cheap   corn   and   cheap   meat.
W. S. L.
Fairmount.
Hop Culture.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
I wish to know something of the culture of hops; whether they will pay in
this vicinity, etc. T. T. Pollitt.
Marion Co.
—A soil capable of growing good corn
is good for hops; though wet, or stony
land should be avoided. A location sheltered from prevailing winds is best.
The ground should ba well manured,
and plowed deep. Make It as fine and
mellow as possible. Hops are propagated from runners cut from plants after
the first year's growth. Care must be
taken to secure both male and female
plants, about one male- to eight females.
They should be planted in early spring,
in hills about eight feet apart, and properly stakei. Keep all weeds down, and
keep the ground dry,—and you ought to
succeed.—Ens.
Official Salaries.
Kditors iDdlana Farmer:
Considerable has been said of late concerning the salarios of county officers.
Would you kindly state the amount that
each gets. II*ve taken Farmkr for nearly
15 y_rs, and could not do without It.
Nathan Riley.
Middletown.
—County auditor, . ,200; when Ihepopu-
latlon of his county "exceeds 15,000 he is
allowed the additional sum of ?125. County
treasurer, $800. Recorder is paid through
fees received. Surveyor, sheriff, clerk and
coroner, the same.—Eds.
The laboratory and buildings of the
Chattanooga Medicine Company,Nashville,
Tenn., were destroyed by fire, last week.
Loss.  0,000.