FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 89 



altar of self-indulgence and is anxious to see the relation of the kettle to the 

 fire changed. Polly has discovered that in this country there is a direct line 

 from the individual to the state, and her belief is, that as tobacco and drink 

 never enrich or profit the individual, so states must of necessity be impoverished 

 as individuals are in their use. Polly can see that our criminals cost us enor- 

 mously, as witness the expensive trials they must have, the costly houses they 

 must live in, the free rides they get, and the care that must be taken of them ; 

 and after all, tlieir worthlessness to the State. Also as witness the $30,000 

 appropriation for our criminal girls. She considers what homes these crimi- 

 nals that the State must care for swarm forth from, what fathers and mothers 

 they had, and is too shrewd to expect "figs of thistles." She sees that squalid 

 poverty and groveling ignorance are never without their tobacco and strong 

 drink, and that criminals are almost without exception always steeped in both. 

 Polly often ponders the question " Would any traffic be long tolerated by our 

 people that would so deteriorate our farm stock, — the firey young colts, the 

 innocent young cattle, the profitable sheep, or even the choice, fancy poultry, 

 making them such a public charge, and after all so worthless? 



Ladies and gentlemen, these are matters that reach to the very core of every 

 home in the country, and we believe that the caution and carefulness that 

 prompts you to construct laws against Canada thistles, that arouses you to pro- 

 tect with law the fish in our streams,'and the birds and deer in our forests; the 

 kind, thoughtful care that provides that our public doors shall swing the best 

 way so as to avoid trouble in case of fire, will, when properly awakened to the 

 needs of the times, prompt you to lift swiftly the thick griddle of ignorance 

 and indifference that is in the way of our Tcettle and close the chasm that now 

 divorces our gains from their best uses. We will work for the day that shall 

 so educate both Sheldon and Polly, and so arouse their unawakened senses that 

 both shall fully understand and appreciate the needs of their lots and labors, 

 that they shall promptly and cheerfully put the kettle over the fire, and so 

 help on the stability and usefulness of our new homes. " Happy is the people 

 that is in such a case." 



Mr. G, W. Warren then read a paper on 



CULTUKE, COST, AND VALUE OF ROOT CEOPS. 



It appears to me that one of the important questions for us to consider in 

 the future is what crop, for feeding stock, can we raise with profit, and how 

 we shall keep our stock well without a large amount of hay and more cheaply. 

 I shall not attempt to give you any well-written or cultured address, but a few 

 practical thoughts gathered from experience. I believe nothing better and 

 more profitable than roots for winter and spring feeding, especially when fed 

 with good straw and corn-stalks. 



Fitting the Ground. 



Very much depends upon how well and when we prepare the soil. It is much 

 cheaper and easier to fit the ground properly before seeding than after. If not 

 in sod there should be applied a good coat of manure before plowing. Plow 

 deep and in the fall. Soon as the ground is in suitable condition in the spring 

 harrow and cultivate well, working into the surface soil a good top dressing of 

 well rotted manure. Just before sowing give another harrowing and roll or 

 smooth the ground, making the surface fine as possible. I think once plowing 

 better than twice. If sod or manure is plowed under in the fall or early spring 

 it should remain deep in the ground to attract and receive the tap root to the 



