8 FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 



Third Session — February 12, 2 p. m. 



1. Music. 



2. Paper — "Roads and Roadmaking," by T. Apjileton, Esq., City Engineer of East 



Saginaw. Discussion. 



3. Paper — "Nitrogen," by R. C. Kedzie, M. D., Professor of Chemistry, State 



Agricultural College. 



4. Paper — "Dairy Interests in the Saginaw Valley," by Hon. Wm. L. Webber. 



Discussion. 



5. Paper — " Fruit on the Farm," by E. F. Guild, East Saginaw. Discussion. 



6. Paper — ' ' Diversities of Natm-e, as exemplified in the Occupations of the Far- 



mer," by Robt. Ure, of Saginaw. Discussion. 



Fourth Session — February 12, 7 p. m. 



1. Music. 



2. Paper — "Mechanics and Agriculture," by Prof. McLouth, of the Agricultural 



College. Discussion. 



3. " Exhibition of Views of the State Agricultural College, with the Stereoptican," 



by Frank S. Kedzie, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, State Agricultural 

 College. 



4. "Talk by jHon. Edwin Willets, President State Agricultural, concerning the 



objects and methods of the College." 



Mayor Estabrook, as chairmaii, in extending a welcome to those in attend- 

 ance upon the Institute, said ; * * * * "We welcome you to our midst; 

 we welcome you not merely to the city of East Saginaw, but to the cities of 

 the Saginaw Valley. And what is the Saginaw Valley? Xot merely the land 

 along the banks of the Saginaw river. It may be a misnomer to call it 

 a valley. Did you ever look at the map of Michigan and learn what a vast 

 part of the Lower Peninsula the Saginaw river drains? Parts, or all of Huron, 

 Tuscola, Sanilac, Lapeer, Genessee, Oakland, Shiawassee, Livingston, Mont- 

 calm, Gratiot, Mecosta. Isabella, Clare, Midland, Roscommon, Gladwin, 

 Osceola, Ogemaw, Bay, Saginaw — an area equal in extent to some of the great 

 kingdoms of the Old World. Much of this is yet undeveloped, but within 

 this territory lies what, in my Judgment, will one day be the best agricultural 

 section of the State. All this is drained through .the Saginaw river and its 

 tributaries, which, taken together, resemble an apple tree, the trunk of which 

 is the Saginaw river, the Cass, Flint, Tittabawassee, Shiawassee, Pine and 

 Chippewa being the branches, and is not this the agricultural Saginaw Valley? 



We especially welcome you to Saginaw county, as being the center and lieart 



of this great valley. If I had the time, I would gladly have given figures to 



show the growth of all this country. I will give a few showing the increase of 



land cleared, valuation of real and personal estates, and population in this 



county since 1860: 



Acres of land cleared in 1860 18,048 



" " " " " 1870 33,383 



" " " " " 1885 132,434 



From a total of 354,191 acres 3,335 farms averaging over 75 acres each. 



In valuation, 1850 $471,707 27 



" " 1860 2,554,484 22 



" " 1870 9,647,260 20 



«' " 1880 - . 17,997,451 52 



1885 22.666,857 94 



In population, 1860 12,493 



In United States census, 1880 59,145 



In State Census, 1884 75,813 



