VOL. LVH.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., AUG. 16, 1902.
NO. 33
TELL WHY THE  FARMER AND  HIS  FAMILY
SHOULD ATTEND THE STATE FAIR..
The Farmer Should Keep Abreast of the Times.
1st Premium.- The week of the State
fair should be a time looked forward to by
the farmer and his family with as mnch
pleasure ami enthusiasm as the 4th of July
celebration is anticipated by the young
American. And it would be if more
farmers had tested the benefits ami knew
the advantages to his calling to be derived
from even one day at the fair. In this
remarkable age of advancement whin the
standard along every line is being raised,
one must be up and looking around lest he
find himself at the rear of the procession.
It is not stating it too strongly to say +he
best and most progressive farmers are
those who are frequently seen at the State
fair taking mental notes and observations
at Ihis congress of agricultural products
and live stock—the best of the state. Here
he sees the best breeds of hogs, cattle,
sheep and hores, aud he is sure to find men
who have had experience with each kind
and who will gladly dicuss the merits and
demerits disclosed by their experience. He
sees and learns of new varieties of gram,
hay, stock-feed, etc., and for a single bit
of information or suggestion he may feel
repaid for coming. He sees some new
varieites of vegetables which he had never
I bought of • raising before, or some breed
of poultry, which he may with profit introduce into his community. The agricultural implements afford a good opportunity to see what the latest and best improvements offer toward farm labor, for
to work well one must have good tools;
they are cheaper in the end, and w th
many of these labor saving machines one
may do much of the work aione, or with
less hired help, which is a big item when
help is scarce. The different styles of
fences and gates are worth noting. As
for Mrs. Farmer, she stows away new
ideas as fast as if she were counting eggs
on market day, and the results of her
visit to the fair will be appreciated all
year in delicious pickles, canned fruit and
pastry, and in fancy work to brighten and
give comfort to the home, new quilt patterns, home made rugs, and other articles
too numerous to mention. Many a he-art
is gladdened at Christmas by her gifts patterned after things she saw at the fair.
She even notes the styles so carefully that
Ilu* effect is seen in the winter wardrobe
of the family. She knows what kind of a
washing machine and a churn sin* will
choose next lime, and has Independent
opinions of the live slock. Sin* Ceels repaid for her visil for each of one hundred
and one things. Like sponges, the children absorb hints and gugegstions and practical lesson that older people would not
imagine. The Hue teaching by object lessons is theirs for this brief while. As in
the circus, there is* an education ill he
fair, and the children have a topic* of in-
terest for all winter. The atlas and
geography must be consulted to locate the
counties and towns they have heard of.
They are delighted because they have actually been to the capital and have seen
the state house, which every child in Ihe
still,- should do. Be sure that nothing is
lost in taking the children to the slate
fair. Their ideas of farm life arc inn-cased and broadened beyond measure.
Take the family to the fair. Let them
come home spurred to new interest and enthusiasm. The short vacation after the
summer's  work   is  a  treat  ami  one   that
is   deserved   every   year. After   the   re
turn home the burden of life will be taken
up more easily and all will work together
with more unity of purpose. It may prove
the best possible thing to get Johnny to
slay on the farm, for where his interest
is in that direction will his energies be
bent. He will see what can be accomplished by doing the* best with the best
for the best. He will feel that what
others ean do he can do.     Tin* neighbors
will think there must be something in the
fair, when a farmer persistently attends
and feels repaid for the outlay in tin.e and
money. He is a more influential factor
in* the community when, as a result of his
investigations at the fair, his advice is improved, his grain is better and many new
ideas are found to be practical. His
produce is sought after, his advice consulted. He is upholding the agricultural
standard and helping to make (arming one
of the noblest of vocations. His interest
in everything that advances fanning attests his progress as a farmer. The more
interest he takes in the work the more
educated he becomes in that line, and the
more he knows of his subject the more
pleasure and profit will he reap.
LaTorte Co. B. J   W.
The Fair Cives New Inspirations.
2d Premium.—To a large extent fairs are
for the farmer and by the farmer. One
of the first reasons for the farmer and
his family attending the State fair is the
fact that he and his family have worked
hard all summer and perhaps have gone
little for several months, A recreation is
necessary, and in no better May cau it be
had than by attending the fair. It takes
him away from the monotonous things in
his every day life. As he travels to the
state capital he sees other farms and
other methods of farming and is able to
compare his crops with those of his neighbors. He sees other homes and landscapes
new to him. The trip alone does him an
immense amount of good, and then if ihe
children are permitted to go for the first
time it will be something delightful and to
be remembered for a long time to come.
When the slate capital is reached there
are many sights to see, and among them
might well lie mentioned the office of the
Indiana Farmer. But the object of he
journey is the fair. When once on the
grounds the valuable lessons begin, and to
get the most out of the visit it ought lo lie
done in a systematic way. I think it best
to examine the live stock ill the morning,
whilei I is cool and the pens are not
crowded, and if We have time later in the
day we can see the ribbons tied. One class
should be studied at a time, with the idea
if getting some benefit to lake* away with
u*-. If we are in the live stock business
then we will want lo find out Ihe best
breeds for our purpose. Here we see living pictures—animals thai are made as
nearly perfect as possible. It is simply
charming to me to look over a lot of such
live slock a*; we see at our fairs. 1 loiw
the pens feeling proud of our state's resources in these lines, and with a determination lo do better myself. A lunch at
noon is refreshing, and ill the heat o' die
clay it is pl>asing to take a walk thio'gh
the Boral halls and examine Ihe magnificent fruit and the samples of corn and
wheat and oats and potatoes and all ihe
other products of the farm. It ought to
give the farmer a higher ideal to see what
has been accomplished during the past sea
son. If others can do this why ^cannot
he? There an* many valuable lessons to
learn ill the machinery halls. Here can
be compared the' different makes of  farm
I.*..Is in a.satisfactory way. There are
many other attractions that I* cannot mention but I consider a trip to the Slate* 'air
well worth all Ihe time and  money spent,
giving us a needed vacation and a new
inspiration for our work. J. Ii. R.
Minglewood Farm.
Affords Recreation and Profit.
:;*1 Premium.—The fair whether of the
State or county, is. as it well should be. an
institution of much interest to the "armor
and his family. It awakens au interest
that nothing else can stir and is a sotfee
of pleasure in many ways. It is the duty
of every person to gain all possible knowledge concerning his occupation, and the
object lesson is the easiest method of
learning. The manufacturer visits other
factories and studies all the new machinery
that may help him in his labors; the merchant consults other business men and
studios their methods of business; teachers
assemble at summer schools to learn from
each other: artists meet and compare their
work; and so on through all the trades and
arts. And so should the farmers, the
supporters of humanity, get themselves together, compare their products, learn the
possibilities of all parts of the state under
the different departments of labor, compete
with one another for the highest honors of
their calling, forget for a few days the
drudgery of everyday life, and go home refreshed, enlightened, enthusiastic, and
ready to take up the burdens of another
year. Perhaps the State fair is the best
place for the farmer to learn and clo all
thi*:. and to the woman and children of the
family it is even a greater event than to
the men, for theirs is a more secluded and
monotonous life and they have a greatel
need for recreation. The woman takes
as much interest in the farm affairs as
does the man. for farming is her life as
well as his, and the fair, with all ts departments, is a source of education, pleasure and interest to every member of the
farmer's family. It is the farmer's duty
not only to attend the fair and take his
family, but also to contribute what he * an
to the exhibits. Bach article swells the
display and thus increases the attraction,
as well as causes the contributor to take
a more personal interest in the fair. In
summing up the reasons why the farmer
and his family should attend the fair
let it be said that it conies at a season of
the year when the farmer is over with his
busy work and has time for recreation,
and. what is more, he needs recreation ijf-
ter his hard labors, as does his family. It
is a state institution, principally for the
up building of agriculture and to benefit
the farmer. Here the farmer sees the
products of other farms and compares
them wilh his own. He wonders if he
cannot take a blue ribbon on gome vegetable or tine specimen of Btock next year. He
sees how blood will tell in all farm animals
and decides lo improve his own stock in
the future. He meets other farmers and
discusses with them new methods of (arming, lie sees farm machinery that perhaps he had not thought of using before
lie sees and hears many amusing things
which he can laugh over with the children
through the clays to come. Altogether the
agricultural fair is the farmer's institute
objectively presented. B. .1. M.
Virginia.
c'.ate  of publication.
Topics for discussion in future numbers
of the Farmer are as follows:
No. 337, Aug. 23.—How can you restore
worn-out land to full fertility?
No. 338, Aug. 30.—If a farmer wishes to
change from grain farming to stock farming, how should he proceed?
Uctmuiunj Qcpuxtmmt.
Edited by W. B. Craig, M. D. V. S , 25 Monument
Place, Indianapolis.   Advice by mail, $1.
Premiums of $1, 75 cents and 50 cents
are given for the first, second and third
liest articles for the Experience Depart
ment each week. Manuscript should be
sent direct to the Indiana Farmer Company and should reach us one week before I
1. Ia it cement floor good for sows with yaung
plga in eold weatber?
2. Does the cold floor have any injurious after
e*nv* t on the pigs?
.1. What ls a good devise for keeping pigs out
of the troughs whilst pouring in their feed. Pigs
fed ln a hog house on tight floor. T.  B.
1.   No; though if well littered with straw
and kept that way it might be all right,
l'sually too cold and damp inducing rheumatism.
2. Hy rendering pigs uncomfortable it
would retard their growth. It requires
in.uc feed to overcome the effects of the
cold and as said before predispose pigs to
rheumatism and diseases of the organs of
respiration.
3. That's the nature of the animal.
Don't know of auy practical device, Keep
pigs in lot until slop is in trough then let
them in to it. Tight board floor up off
the ground is the floor for your pigs or anything else for that matter. Allow plenty
of ventilation* from above and avoid
draughts.
postal (slloxiczspaiultnct.
Laporte Co., Aug. S.*—Wheat ami rye yielding
well; com on good ground will bo a nice crop.
but on poor ami low wet ground the eorn is
fields not have one ear of com; apples looking
will;   no peaches. Mrs.   B.   A.   Davis.
Lagrange Co.. August S.—Our rains have ceased;
corn looking well and is growing fast; late
wheat being threshed with a fair yield and fair
quality; oats the beet crop this county has had
for many years with an increased area; hogs
Scarce ami high; fat selling at 7c per cwt.; apples art- the best erop we have had for many years,
with good Quality; grapes plenty and peaches
plenty. R.   M.   S.
Noble Co.. Aug. 8.—Weather little cool with
lot-iil showers the fore part of week; oats mostly
cut and running from 4o to 00 bushels per acre:
wheat riut very good quality and damaged MMtae
by rain; corn doing well with prospeot of big
crop; potatoes good; pasture doing well and priees
food; boga Tii"1!1". eattle 4Q6c; wheat 66c; oats
fee;   potatoes  Wc. M.  J.   u.
Clay Co., Aug. 5.—Weather has been very Warn
the past week; had a good rain this morung;
corn looks well; thrashing going on, wheat yield
poor, and poor quality; oats good, good quality;
good crop of potat.M's; fruit of all kind sc& -ee;
pasture good; stock looks well; hogs high ind
scarce. j.   O.   M.
Wayne Co.. Aug 6.—Weather quite warm; no
rain since StStb; wheat mostly threshed; yield
pretty   good   and   quality   excellent;   prospect   for
corn crop never Itetter; oata good; not much
threshed yet; wheat worth (toe; oats .'{Oc; corn 60c;
fat bogs $7.25 per ewt.; cattle from 3 to 7 cent*
according   to  quality. J.   Q.   W.   B.
THK  FAIRS.
Xenia fair is thought will be one of the most
successful fairs of the season every department
was crowded to its utmost and the exhibitors
in almosl every instance aeemed to be well pleased.
Thursday, their biggest day, it was estimated that
they had between 12,000 nnd 15,000 people on the
inclosuiv. in the eattle barns was found with
Shorthorns: Miller & Moorman, Winchester, Ind.;
.1 II. Hawkins. Xenin. O. Polled Durhams—Wm.
Inssey. Maivsville, O. Jerseys—James R. Orr,
OcdarviUe, Q. I ted Polls—Andrew Bros., Cedarville,
O. Polled Angus—Bradfute & Son, Cedarrllle, O.
In Shorthorna, Miller ft Moorman won five firsts,
two seei.nds. and sweepstakes herd in six shows,
and Hawkins one lirst in two shows. Angus
Bradfnte & Son, eight tirsts and four seconds and
sweepstakes out of nine shows. Hed Polls-—Andrew   Broa.,   eight   firsts,   six seconds  and   swteep-
StaJtee out of 11 shows. Jerseys—Orr, eight tirsts.
three seconds and swepestakes herd out of eight
shows. Mr. M. It. Crinnell Showed some verv
choice Herefords but had no class for them. The
oilier departments we failed to receive the awards,
but tbey were all tilled with a verv respectable
lot   of  HtulT.
Harold J. Mahin, of the Muscatine
Journal, is soon to #o to Washington to
assume a government position. Mr. Mahin
is the oldest newspaper man now in ae-
tive service in the State of Iowa.