FIFTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VI. 563 



they fail to make an impression upon you, but they are all fresh and new 

 to him. He is perhaps a closer observer than you are, and you will probably 

 learn more of what is actually going on at the fair by sending your bright 

 boy and girl to be eyes for you than you would if you had gone yourself. 

 Give the boys and girls who have done well this summer a chance to see 

 what is going on outside. 



VALUE OF THE INSTITUTE TO THE FARMER, 



Geo. C. White ^ Before the Story County Farmers'' Institute. 



The principal aim in the life of every worthy citizen is to continually bet- 

 ter himself and those with whom he associates. Each class of citizens must 

 find the method by which they can best reach these conditions. For the 

 farmer there is certainly no better way to help himself and his neighbor than 

 by attending and helping along the institute. 



It is not possible for any sensible man to hear such men speak as Holden, 

 Turner, Larsen, Swallwell and many others who have helped fill institute 

 programmes without learning things of real value that will make us better citi- 

 zens and of more value to ourselves and our country. 



A farmer must have knowledge and skill in many lines of work. Life is 

 too short, and the competition of the world too strong, for each man to study 

 out the many different lines for himself. So once a year we hold the insti- 

 tute and have the persons who have spent years in the study of corn, or but- 

 ter manufacture, etc., tell us the results of their study that we must 

 need to know. 



Iowa's corn crop for 1904 is estimated at three hundred million bushels 

 and valued at one hundred million dollars. 



If the knowledge scattered and the enthusiasm awakened has increased 

 the crop one per cent the farmers of this State are one million dollars ahead 

 on this one crop. However, I believe that the increased attention given to 

 better seed and a better stand in the last two years made an increase of 

 nearer live per cent than one per cent on the crop of 1904. 



The time has come when we must increase the production of our farms. 

 The average Story county farm can be made to produce fifty per cent more 

 with very little additional cost of production. I hardly feel like making 

 this statement without telling something about how it may be done. So 

 will say first we must use more clover and feed on the farm both the grain 

 and hay raised. Take care of the manure and spread it over the fields. 

 Change the cloverfields every two years to corn. At least one-third of the 

 farm should be kept in clover and in five years the production of the avert- 

 age Story county farm may be increased fifty per cent. 



A crop of eighty bushels of corn per acre is not grown by accident. 

 Good land in good tilth, good seed, an even stand and correct cultivation 

 are necessary. Everything must be just right. It is a matter of science. 



