recent discoveries. With the application of electricity in many ways, the economic use of the wonderful natural gas, we may expect to see in such districts thus favored large hot-houses, and early vegetables in abundance; spring chickens in the winter, and a Florida climate in our homes.

The saving of fertilizer is of the greatest importance. We notice frequently wagon loads of bones gathered up and shipped out of the State that are needed at home. How to save the waste of the cities is a question for the economist, as the waste by sewage and otherwise around Indianapolis is sufficient to fertilize the land for many miles around; and larger cities in proportion. Timely encouragement in that direction will prevent the sad sight of land turned out as barren in future years as is to be seen in the Eastern and Southern States. Some good hints could be taken from the older States and foreign countries in saving fertilizers by earth closets, which is applicable to country as well as city life. We could add to this almost without limit in showing the importance of care and attention in progressive agriculture, which is the basis of all prosperity.

We feel an unusual interest in visiting this county, that has sent to our museum the largest, best and tallest specimens of corn, and congratulate you on your rich soil.

During my experience in arranging programmes and soliciting lectures, we urge them to be brief and condensed, therefore I will endeavor to take my own medicine and give way to others better prepared to interest you.

J. W. Pierce, secretary of the Miami County Farmers' Institute, gave an account of their success in that county. He said the farmers organized with a membership of 185, and this had been increased to 750-actual membership. They had days for boys and days for girls, and prizes, aggregating $125, were offered for largest and second largest delegations in attendance.

The paper on "The Grange Movement and Its Relation to the Agricultural Classes," by John Tilson, contained many interesting facts and good suggestions. He was aware that the grange is unpopular in Johnson County, because of mismanagement in the past. Through the grange and its influence we have the interState commerce law; the law protecting dairy products; the law creating the Department of Agriculture and the Cabinet officer, and the balance of trade has been held in favor of the United States. The farmers must organize and stay organized. There were eighteen granges at one time in Johnson County-four times as many as should have existed.

Dr. Brown followed with an address on "Diversified Farming," in which he urged that diversity of crops and products is necessary, both as a precaution against failure and because the soil demands it. If one crop misses another will hit. Different crops draw different elements from the soil. He is a believer in diversified farming, that is, the raising of small fruits, vegetables, poultry and fine stock. It relieves the monotony.

Prof. J. T. Hodgbam said that no section of country in the Mississippi Valley was so adapted to diversified farming as is a stretch of fifty miles on either side of Indianapolis. He bewailed the fact that so many people are losing their appetite for the farm and that the tenant system is coming to prevail so largely. He did not believe much in aesthetic farming, nor in "industrial" education.

In the absence of President Smart, of Purdue, Prof. Stockbridge of that Institution gave an address on "Industrial Education." He detailed the objects and workings of that University in its various departments. He said that Indiana is the second State in the Union to make appropriation for the encouragement of Farmers' Institutes. His description of the working of the experiment station was of especial interest.

On Saturday the attendance was much better. After appropriate opening exercises, Mr. John Clore gave a talk on "Corn Culture, from the Seed to the Crib." He thoroughly covered the subject, and threw out many practical suggestions. He favored planting white corn, in check rows, and does not like the "pulling" of corn with the husk on. He places one man to a wagon when gathering. His talk brought out a breezy discussion by A. V. Pendleton, who believes in deep plowing, white corn, deep cultivation the first two plowings, and early planting. He did not thin and puts two and three grains in a hill.

John A. Polk never plows deep, and drills. He relies on fertilizing. C. L. Ditmars prefers white, plows deep, pulverizes and “thins.” Mr. Clore thought he had averaged sixty bushels to the acre in the last ten years. Messrs. Tilson, Pendleton and Ditmars thought this a too high estimate.

W. H. Dungan, in an able paper on "The Fence Problem, and What of It?" said the material for the old "Virginia worm" fence was exhausted and the farmer must look for something else. He advocated the smooth, hard, number 7 wire, as the most practical material.

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C. L. Ditmars said permanency, neatness and economy are the characteristics of a practical fence. He believed that if the rails could be had, the worm fence, at $10 per hundred rails, is the most economical. He, however, favors the woven wire and slat fence. He wants no barbed wire or hedge. John Clore said place "top" end of fence post in ground to prevent rot. R. A. Brown said too much fencing is required under the prevailing custom. The practice is not as good as the theory of the law warrants. One farmer ought not to be compelled to fence another out. J. L. Ray wanted a hedge fence for pastures, and S. W. Dungan favored smooth wire.

A. V. Pendleton, in his discussion of "Some of Our Mistakes of Horticulture," or lack of that culture, declared that the day of hog and hominy was past and that we must eat more fruits and vegetables.

In the afternoon, after a well rendered quartette by Messrs. Roland, Dungan, Roland and Tilson, Mr. J. G. Kingsbury, of Indianapolis, gave a talk on "How to Keep the Boys and Girls on the Farm." Give them a personal interest in all the management and products of the farm.

Prof. S. W. Dungan's paper on "Rural Life and Modern Rural Homes," was one of the most carefully prepared and best papers of the institute. Rural life affords the best opportunities for the development of the mental, moral and social faculties. Consequently rural homes should have the comfort and beauty to assist in developing the highest and best faculties.

Prof. C. H. Hall made a stirring and eloquent plea for education on the farm. Do not talk "money, money, money," as if the earth was made for money, instead of for the development of noble men and women.

Judge Banta always says something good. His address on "The Old Way of Farming," was a characteristic one and full of historic interest. The "old way" had to do with poverty, swamps forests and sickness.

In the evening the court house would not hold nearly all who came to hear Dr. Stott and Mrs. Ewing. Dr. Stott spoke on "Aesthetice on the Farm," and is a thorough believer in the beautiful and good on the farm. He believes in flowers, music, painting, tasteful decorations, modern architecture, best form for stock. On the farm is the best atmosphere, brightest sunshine, prettiest birds of song, most beautiful flowers, trees and meadows; there is earliest rising, and greatest freedom of activity and thought; and all these are the best conditions for the development of the beautiful.

Mrs. Ewing, Professor of Domestic Economy in Purdue. Her paper on "Our Kitchen Interests," was keen with suggestions as to ordinary cookery. She gave a practical talk on bread making and exhibited the dough, and bread made by her from flour obtained here. It was a fitting close to a most successful institute.

MADISON COUNTY INSTITUTE.

The second Farmers' Institute of the Seventh Agricultural District of the State, convened at the court house, Anderson, December 19, 1888. The district is composed of the counties of Hancock, Hamilton, Henry, Madison and Shelby. The first institute was held at Anderson last March, under the joint auspices of the State Board of Agriculture, the Madison County Fair Association and the Madison County Farmers' Club, the last named taking the initative. The present institute was held in pursuance of a resolution which was adopted at the March meeting, that another institute should be held at some date in the early winter. The Farmers' Club and the State Board had the joint management of this insti

tute.

The sessions were held in the Circuit Court room. The attendance was fairly good, but not so large as it should have been.

President Cory, of the Farmers' Club, called it to order at 11 o'clock. He stated briefly the object of the meeting to be the promotion of the interests of the farming community, not as farmers merely, but as citizens and the heads of families. He then called for the election of officers for the permanent organization. On motion Hon. R. M. Lockhart was unanimously chosen president, and Ziba Darlington, secretary.

On taking the chair Mr. Lockhart returned thanks for the honor conferred upon him, and spoke pleasantly of his acquaintance with the people of Madison County last March. He stated that this institute would be the first of a series which would be held throughout the State during the winter, and his confident expectations that great good would be accomplished.

Mr. Granville Cowing, of Delaware County, being on the programme, sent an essay to be read. It was read by Stephen Metcalf, the subject being,

DESIRABLE NEW POTATOES.

For many years I have endeavored to test all very promising new potatoes, and have recently met with a number which promise to be of great value. That the best varieties will finally fail and become worthless I have no doubt; and the only remedy is to produce new and more vigorous sorts, better adapted to changing soil and climate to take their place. Within the last ten years I have twice grown the old Meshannock potato, and although it was planted in good soil and was well cultivated, it produced but a few small, rough and worthless tubers. A writer familiar with the Chicago market says there are some twenty varieties sold in that city to-day for Early Rose which are not of that variety. In fact, genuine Early Rose are rarely seen there. The same is true of Pearless and Burbank. Mammoth, Pearl and a dozen other varieties of round Russety species are sold for Peerless, while the White Star, White Rose, Jordan's Prolific and other long white kinds are sold for Burbank.

The selection of pure seed of the best varieties would probably double the potato crop of the country without enlarging the area planted.

Of new varieties of the Early Rose type I have found Lee's Favorite, Early Pearl and Early Maine very productive and in every way desirable. They mature with Early Ohio, are of the best quality, and their tubers are generally smooth and shapely. New Queen and Sunlit Star, early varieties of more recent introduction, promise to be the most productive varieties of the Early Rose type yet offered to the public. Sunlit Star is an extra early variety, with tubers uniformly large and smooth, and of the best quality. New Queen matures ten days later, and is also remarkably productive, tubers generally large and smooth, and of good quality, and like the Early Rose in appearance. I planted one pound of seed of this variety last spring, which, without petting and unfavorable weather, produced ninety pounds of fair tubers. Charles Downing is an early white potato, decidedly productive, with smooth tubers, generally of marketable size and of the best quality. On account of its fine flavor, appearance and greater productiveness, it promises to take the place of Snowflake in the Boston market, where that variety has long been a favorite. Of late varieties I have met with none as good in all respects as the State of Maine, Green Mountain and Empire State, all in color and shape somewhat like Burbank, but all much more productive, of better flavor and with tubers uniformly large and handsome.

Green Mountain and State of Maine mature in August. Neither of these have quite equaled Empire State in productiveness, but they are, I believe, of rather better quality. In points of quality I regard State of Maine as one of the best I ever tested. In productiveness and ability to successfully withstand drought and beetles I have seen no variety equal to Empire State. This season but four per cent. of its tubers were too small for market.

DISCUSSION.

President Cory. I tested two new kinds last spring, the Everett and Green Mountain. The Green Mountain is a pretty good potato. The Everett is an early variety but it does not grow smooth enough; the eyes are a little too sunken. I do not know much about their cooking qualities. I have been growing Mammoth Pearl for several years, and have had no potato to give the satisfaction it has. It grows uniformly, is large, quite smooth, and never has any hollow in it, no matter how large it grows. If I were sending for seed potatoes in either direction north or south, I would send north always.

Mrs. Mary Roberts. I feel very glad to learn that there are better potatoes than the Burbanks. I think there are other kinds better for cooking and that are more productive, perhaps, than they are. It seems the borers have disturbed them more for us this year than any others. The Burbanks are a very strong potato and I do not like them for cooking. If they are cooked in a kettle used only for this purpose the kettle will become black in a very short time.

R. M. Lockhart. Have any of your people had foreign potatoes shipped in, which have been planted for seed?

Wm. Stanley. I only tried a few, just as an experiment, and I don't think they are worth raising. The seed came from Germany.

Mr. Lockhart. We had two or three years ago quite a quantity of foreign potatoes shipped in. The experience Mr. Stanley gives has been about our experience. Those that were planted were small, insignificant things. Some farmers determined to go ahead with them and try to make something out of them, but they have failed to make anything out of those potatoes. Did you find any way to keep the wire worms from working on the potatoes this year?

Mary Roberts. We found no remedy for them, but I think the worms did their work, not when the vines were in a green state, but after the potatoes had matured. The potatoes were allowed to remain in the ground too long after they were ripe.

Mr. Lockhart. I have found this to be a fact, that where we salt the land thoroughly potatoes have grown very finely and I can show some as handsome potatoes as were ever taken out of the ground. We have had the worms to commence on them very soon after they were in condition for eating. Our people of course are experimenting all the time. I think it will be better to bring our seed potatoes from the north than from the south.

Edward Roberts. The patch where we planted our potatoes was on the south hillside where it had not been plowed for years. I think the worms were in the ground and mostly these little white grubs were the cause of the injury to the potatoes. I wish to say this, if any one wishes a new variety of potatoes, I don't believe they can get any authority in this section of the country better than Granville Cowing, of Muncie.

T. M. Hardy. I want to know what it is that produces the roughness of the potato, what it is that causes the potato to be worthless a short distance inside the rind? I think with all my reading that it is not known what it is, but it is supposed to be a fungus growth and your use of the salt will probably be a great aid