Falls, and Hon. J. M. Smith, of Green Bay) as honest men, but when, at a later stage of the proceedings, the one came to talk about butter making and the other about strawberries, they would tell such big stories that it would be hard to believe them. [Laughter.]

On motion, it was decided that a few minutes should be spent in discussing each paper read before the convention.

Convention then adjourned until 1:15 P. M., sharp.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

On reassembling, Mr. Carhart again led his quartette in "'Twas Rum that Spoiled my Boy," a choice selection, that received rounds of applause.

Hon. Hiram Smith, by request, proceeded to explain the Cooley system of butter making.

The old method of making butter is fast being supplanted by the improved method of the successful dairyman. Cream was injured by being exposed to the atmosphere, hence the sooner it could be separated from the milk the better. It is lamentable, indeed, to look back upon the yearly waste of work, enterprise and property. Persons moved slowly in this improvement. When I had first heard of the "Cooley system" I enthusiastically brought the news home to my wife, but she, having previously heard of a great many other new things, was slow to believe. Finally we concluded to try the new plan, but unfortunately it was a failure, and, woman-like, she condemned it. Immediately I went in search for more detailed information, but not wishing to expose myself, I set a man at work, but the fool didn't understand his business. [Uproarious laughter.]

The milk should be placed in certain cans and submerged in a tank containing ice water. At a temperature of 45 degrees the milk and cream soon separate. The milk is drawn off through faucets. The cream should be left to "ripen " about twenty-four hours, when it is reduced to a temperature of 60 degrees and churned until the grains of butter are of the size of wheat kernels. A handful of salt is then put into a pailful of water and poured into the churn, when the buttermilk is drawn off. After

three quarters of an hour some more water is put in and a few turns given to the churn to wash the butter. Salt is then put into the churn, a few more turns and the salt and butter are thoroughly mixed in the churn. The butter is then ready for packing.

The speaker, for the last year, had 50 cows. Net profit from each, $50. All the cream had been worked into butter by an 18 year old boy, who took the gold medal for the best butter at the great New York fair (subject of course to the "old boy!")

The president then introduced Hon. J. M. Smith, President of the State Horticultural Society, who proceeded to address the convention on the subject:

"WILL HORTICULTURE PAY IN CONNECTION WITH THE FARM ?"

The speaker alluded to the historical fact that agriculture has always been honored and dignified. Contrasted the agricultural standing of the leading nations of the present day. This branch of industry controlled the destinies of nation. Hence the importance of having intelligent and industrious men in this calling of life, and not such as simply make a living. What we need is more homes, within the full meaning of that word. The speaker then took for example two young men as they start in farming. His vivid, impassioned pen picture of how the one would embellish his home and gardens, containing fruit and shade trees, etc., while the other would care for nothing of this kind that would have a tendency to make home more attractive and agreeable, was earnest and impressive. The speaker next mentioned the varieties of fruits, strawberries, etc., that could advantageously be cultivated, also the manner in which it should be done. On his father's farm was a bed of asparagus that was over eighty years old.

DISCUSSION.

Hiram Smith - What is the cause, and what would you sug gest as the remedy for the untidy appearance of so many farms? The speaker thought it was not on account of a lack of taste but through sheer carelessness.

The president wanted to know the best method of raising as paragus.

Answer-The richer the soil the better and larger crop you can raise. Plow six or seven inches in depth. Use roots one year old. One farmer set them in rows three feet apart, and two feet apart in the row. After the roots are in the ground put more manure on the ground. If you get roots from a distance, guard against getting dead ones. Beds set in the fall are very apt to get killed during winter. How can you get good roots? Get seeds and raise them yourself. Sow the seed as early in the spring as you can. It grows slowly and needs constant attention. Put the seeds one inch apart in rows eighteen inches apart. After the plants have been one year in the ground they may be cut and transplanted. The beds should be manured annually, but great care should be taken not to disturb the roots.

Question Is there any method by which the strawberry season may be lengthened?

Speaker suggested the Kentucky and Wilson varieties.

H. Smith Is there any method by which the dealer could be made not to put the bottom more than half way up the strawberry box? (Laughter.)

The best time for setting strawberry plants is in the spring; and they should be set about three feet apart each way The larger varieties are unreliable. The largest strawberry crop the speaker knew of was at the rate of 446 bushels per acre.

The next on the programme was a paper on

OURSELVES, PRACTICALLY AND OTHERWISE CON

SIDERED.

BY MISS MARY RHODES, TREMPEALEAU, WIS.

A poor subject, you say; one that no one but ourselves cares anything about; one that can be of no interest to any one but ourselves. Possibly so, for there are very few of us that thoroughly know and understand ourselves. Some one has said, "Let a man tell me what he admires most in another person, and I will tell

him what he has the least of; let him tell me what he dislikes most in another person, and I will tell him what he has the most of." We see others make a blunder. We laugh and say, "I could do better myself." "Well, try it then." "Oh, I don't want to. I don't want to be held responsible for the thing if it goes amiss." And so they will stand back and grumble and complain. The price of butter and wheat is too low. Politics are all wrong, from beginning to end. The wrong man is in the wrong office; and, in fact, the whole universe is turned around and traveling the wrong path. Very well, whose is the fault? The one who takes an active part and so sadly mismanages things, or the ones who growl and complain because things are turned loose? The ones who wait until others have got control of things, and, as is too often the case, manage matters more for their own good than the public interest, are the ones who are most to blame, and why? Because, when they see others erring, and it is in their power to better them, or perhaps set them right, they stand off and shirk their share of the responsibility; afraid to cast their vote or raise their voice, for fear they might possibly be in the wrong. 'Tis weak and foolish, and I don't know that we would be far wrong in saying 'tis selfish as well.

Many of the best and smartest men we have had a poor beginning in life, and more than one have made blunders. "'Tis better to try and fail, than not to try at all." And did you ever notice that sometimes the most green and awkward appearing of people, those whom we were accustomed to laugh at, and whom we thought were not gifted with more than their share of natural smartness at least, are sometimes the ones who come out the best in the end. They seem to profit and learn a lesson from the jokes played on them, and in the end they may have a chance to laugh at their tormentors. We are all familiar with the old saying, He laughs best who laughs last." By our worst mistakes we learn our most beneficial and practical lessons. By our failures we learn our weakest points, and in the next attempt we should be better fortified against them. We may think a certain thing very easy to do, and blame others for failing, until we ourselves make the attempt, and then we find how hard it is to accomplish

66

what seems so easy a task. We see what others have to bear and suffer, and think we never could endure as they do, but sometime the bitter cup will be passed to us, and we find we must bear it. Our greatest errors make us more kind and charitable to others. We can then pity where before we censured. The world is wide, its ways and pursuits are many and varied. There are many paths to be traveled; some that lead to pleasant places where God's angel seems to watch over and lend a protecting presence, and keep from all evil. There are others that are almost choked up with the haunts of vice and wickedness, yet all have one starting point and one ending the cradle and the grave. No matter how far apart we travel after leaving the starting point, we must all stop at the same place at last. No distinction shall be shown there. We shall be judged, not according to our riches and standing, but according to our lives and deeds. The veil of deception that so faithfully screens us now, will then be torn in shreds, and the secret chambers of our heart will then be surely opened, and all its contents revealed.

Then should we not try to make our lives worth living for? It is not all of life to live nor all of death to die. Why was the gift of life given us if not to make a good and noble use of? If we cannot accomplish anything at one vocation, we surely can at some other. The world seems crowded, to be sure, but if we look around us we can find a place left open for us somewhere. We will take it, and do something beside merely droning along any way to get along with the least trouble. We must not be as the peri who sought admittance at heaven's gate. "What good deeds have you done?" asked God's angel. "None," said the peri. "Has your life been all evil, then?" "Alas!" said the

peri, "I have just lived; I have done neither good nor evil.” "Your place is not here," said the angel. "Go back to earth, and remain until by your good deeds you have gained a place in heaven, or by your bad deeds have forever forfeited it.”

And yet many of our best acts are done inore for the praise we expect to receive for it, than for the real good in the act. It may be half unconsciously that we do it, but look into your motive and reason, and see if you were not actuated as much

- yes,