268 FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 



versal pensions. These wood lands have become to-day fruitful fields, pro- 

 ducing good crops of hay, grain and fruits, and the flocks and herds that 

 graze upon them grow fat from the excellent grasses they produce. 



This village until recently has been known only as a spirited business place 

 sustained by its wood, lumber and farming trade; the territory tributary to 

 it comprising several townships in this county, and reaching out over the 

 line into the northern part of Laporte county, Indiana. We are on very 

 friendly terms with our Indiana friends and like to have them come to our 

 village to do their trading, and the young people find it very convenient to 

 come over here when any of theoa desire to be united in wedlock. Somehow 

 our ministers have a way of doing the thing more satisfactorily than they do 

 on the other side of the line, judging from the number that come. 



While we are outranked by many other villages in the State in population. 

 Three Oaks stands second only in the State — as you approach it from the 

 west. We have, however, the honor of being the first place in the world 

 where the quill of the turkey is brought into successful competition Avith the 

 bones of the whale in furnishing a useful article of commerce, known as 

 featherbone, with the most flattering prospect that the turkey will win the 

 race. 



This new discovery and new industry furnishes a market for a large amount 

 of heretofore waste material, grown by nearly every farmer of the land,, 

 increasing the value of his turkey, furnisliing employment for labor, and 

 increasing the material wealth of the country. 



We are proud to claim this invention as one that originated and has been 

 carried to success by one of our citizens. 



We invite you to visit our factory during your stay with us, and see what 

 is being done with the 75,000 pounds of quills collected here last year. 



Our people are also interested in education and moral and religious instruc- 

 tion. W'e have good schools and six religious societies are represented by as 

 many churches. Our village has no debt, our public buildings are all paid 

 for. The village and the country are improving every year. We have never 

 bred or raised a pauper or criminal in the township since it was organized, to 

 my knowledge. Our people are in comfortable circumstances, neither rich 

 nor poor, but alive to progress and seeking happiness and contentment in this 

 our rural village of Three Oaks, and to this people and to their homes I again 

 bid you a hearty welcome. 



The institute was made enjoyable by the hearty hospitality extended by the 

 citizens which will be long remembered by the visitors. By invitation an 

 examination was made of the featherbone works of Mr. E. K. Warren, in 

 which the ribs of turkey and other quills are turned to good account as a most 

 effective substitute for whalebone for making whips, corsets, etc. 



The closing feature of the Institute was the opening of the 



QUESTION BOX. 



1st. Is clover, timothy or wild hay best for sheep ? 



Prof. Johnson: Clover. 



2nd. What wages can we afford to pay at this season for farm help ? 



Mr. W^m. Chamberlain: An average for the past season would be $16.00. 



3rd. Should sheep in pasture be sheltered in summer ? 



