422 Bi'KKAU 01' Farmers' Instititks. 



Iluw shall wo keep the boys ou the farm; and Avliy do girls dislike to 

 marry farmers? I had do ditliculty in fiiidiug a wife. 



Mr. Van Dreser. — I know of one who seemed glad to get me, 

 and they are marrying farmers every day. 



If the boy on the farm will put intelligence and dignity into his 

 work, and make his home such as it should be, there will be no 

 trouble in coaxing a girl to marry him. Years ago when I went 

 into Cobleskill I was jeered at and called a pumpkin-head, clod- 

 hopper, hay-seed and other names of like character; and some 

 boys are greeted that way now, but not many of them. Yester- 

 day I had the privilege of talking with a number of members of 

 the legislature who are farmers, and the number is increasing 

 there every year. But, if a boy has not a taste for farming he 

 ought not to be forced to stay on the farm. Such a boy will find 

 some other occupation more to his liking. Allow him to follow 

 it. There are many boys who are driven from the farm because 

 all their surroundings are made distasteful, and because they are 

 improperly educated. Give the boy who is to stay on the farm, 

 an education to fit him for his calling: then make the home sur- 

 roundings so pleasant that he will not want to go away. I know 

 of no better way to keep the boy, fitted to be a farmer, on the 

 farm. 



Do you advise farmers to plant or sow cow peas? If yes, why? Have 

 jou succeeded in growing them in this State? 



Mr. Cook. — Cow peas do not succeed where I live (Lewis 



county). It is not a pea, but a bean, and is a tender plant. I 



have not seen a man in this State who has succeeded in growing 



them. In New Jersey they are sown and mature perfectly. 



At what season of the year should fence posts be cut? 



Mr. Van Alstyne. — Cut them when the growth ceases; and I 

 would set the large end down. But do not cut the posts when the 

 sap is passing either up or down. 



What price ought a patron to pay for making his butter at a creamery? 

 Mr. Van Alstyne. — I make some butter for my neighbors, tak- 

 ing three cents per pound for doing it. It is the usual price for 



