FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 29 



able to raise corn at six cents per busiiel. We must compete with intelligent farm- 

 ers and must therefore develop ourselves to meet this strong and intelligent com- 

 petition. In the second place, we must always have something to sell. It is 

 true that a farmer sometimes makes a lot of money from the sale of a single crop 

 ©f potatoes or fruit. His neighbors are then liliely to go into the given crop as 

 a specialty, sometimes with success, but more often mixed farming is by far the 

 safest. 



Mixed farming is not only safest; it develops tlie farmer best because bringing 

 into use so many varied faculties and requiring a much broader linowledge than 

 does any one specialty. It moreover brings you into contact with men. 



A wise farmer uses a discriminating judgment, selecting men, tools, seeds, and 

 live stock, getting the best of each, the article best adapted to his business and 

 his situation. A wise farmer manages. One neighbor works hard himself, while 

 his hired men, scattered all over the farm, fool away time. Another neighbor uses 

 his hands less and his head more. He keeps his men together and directs them 

 himself, and accomplishes much more with the same help than his harder working 

 neighbor. 



A visit to a neighboring village revealed the fact that the owner and manager 

 «f the bank was also the owner and manager of a woolen mill, cheese factory, and 

 various other lines of business. By thorough organization he was relieved of de- 

 tails, and the business as a whole was a most emphatic success. Diversification of 

 business develops the organizing and administrative abilities of the man. 



N. B. Bradley: A man that undertakes too many lines of business is liable 

 to fail in all of them and be a curse to the community in which he lives. 



J. J. Lautenschlager: How does Mr. Hinds sow clover seed? 



H. H. Hinds: With the grain drill. 



Q. How do you fit corn stubble for clover? 



H. H. Hinds: Sow oats light— a bushel to a bushel and a half per acre, and 

 with the oats sow four quarts of clover seed. 



N. P. Howell: Why not haul the unhusked corn to the barn to store it? 



P. Voorheis: I tried that, hauling two or three loads In at a time, but it would 

 heat. 



H. H. Hinds: Don't draw your corn to the barn or to big stacks. Leaving in 

 large shocks, well bound, is the best way. 



Mr. Hunter: Is a corn hai"vester practical? 



H. H. Hinds: The world Is waiting for a satisfactory corn binder. 



Mr. Hunter: Corn binders are not yet perfect, but they are fairly satisfactory, 

 leaving bundles in good shape for husking. 



Mr. Gi'een: What variety of corn would you recommend? 



H, H. Hinds: Any kind that fully matures, giving a good ear and stalk. I use 

 a variety called the Minnesota King. 



Mr. Ball: Would you advise farmers to feed their whole crop from the shock? 



H. H. Hinds: No. We want some corn to grind, and therefore part of the crop 

 must be husked. 



H. H. Green: How do you manage in thawing weather when the field is soft 

 and muddy? 



P. Voorheis: There are always some days when you can draw. Then haul in 

 a supply for several days ahead. I have had little trouble on this account or by 

 freezing fast to ground either. I usually pitch the corn on the wagon with a fork. 



THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE SOIL THE FIRST FACTOR IN 

 GREATER AGRICULTURAL PROSPERITY. 



HON. GEO. T. POWELL, GHENT, NEW YORK. 



Farmers have realized that for the past quarter of a century there has 

 been a most serious depression in the value of land, as well as the value 

 of its products. While our soil has been greatly depleted through long 

 years of production, which is destructive in its processes, it is by no 

 means exhausted of its plant food. The Creator has been wiser than t» 

 make it possible for one generation or for many generations, to exhaust 



