614 IO^YA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



"Well, they see how cheap things are in Chicago and in order to get 

 the premiums in unusable furniture, etc., they buy lots of goods that they 

 may need in future years (but never do) and the big firm has caught 

 another sucker. Of course when you need money to pay for the hall in 

 which the farmers' institute is held, or to build the new church the cata- 

 log house will head the list with a large contribution. A state is no more 

 advanced than its people, and as farmers are an important portion of the 

 state, they must be good citizens, and use in a sensible business like man- 

 ner their perogatives as citizens. Because our fathers were members ofi 

 the republican or democratic parties is no good reason why we should fol- 

 low these or any other party through the slime and iniquity wherever they 

 would lead us, as voters our good farmers should consider well before they 

 deposit their ballots. Their children and their neighbor's children are of 

 far greater value than a party name, -and any party in league with the 

 whiskey element either openly or implied, should not receive the vote of the 

 good farmer. We also believe the good farmer will consider his wife as 

 intelligent, and as good a judge of what is best in line of laws for our na- 

 tion's government, as are ignorant negroes, and low grade white men, and 

 he will vote to work to give women the ballot, wherewith to help defend 

 her home and her family. 



A good farmer will believe in good roads and be willing to put forth 

 considerable effort to make and keep roads in good condition. We think 

 he will disagree with our Governor Carroll (who is quoted in late papers 

 as favoring narrow roads), and stand- out for good wide roads with the 

 space not needed for traffic sown in blue grass and all the weeds mowed in 

 June and August of every year. He will also demand good country schools 

 held in good buildings situated in pleasant grounds. Good farmers will 

 not allow noxious weeds to grow and seed on their farms, and v/ill expect 

 the trustees of their township to see that careless neighbors live up to the 

 laws in and for such cases made and provided. 



In choosing the products of his farm we think he will follow mixed 

 farming, with just a little leaning toward some one favorite line of which 

 he will make a specialty. His live stock will be of good quality, and his 

 herds headed by well-bred males. His grain and hay will be fed on the 

 place, and his fertilizer distributed over his farm by means of the manure 

 spreader. If he feeds cattle, or keeps a dairy he will surely raise some al- 

 falfa and have a silo. His house pleasantly situated on a fine lawn, will 

 be convenient and as commodious as his means will allow, there will be a 

 large well lighted living room, with plenty of easy chairs, and solid plain 

 furniture not too good for every day use. Good books on various topics, 

 magazines (that do not advertise liquors and humbugs), will be in evi- 

 dence, also good farm papers, and the county papers will all be found on 

 the table for the entertainment of himself and family. The good farmer 

 will be an active and interested member of some farmers' club, and will 

 be sure to attend with his family the annual session of the Farmers' In- 

 stitute and take part in the discussions, even if sometimes he may find 

 himself on the small side of a big question. Hospitality will be one of the 



