DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 89 



Economy. The institute lasted two days with a good attendance 

 throughout and those present seemed well repaid. An interesting fea- 

 ture of the meeting was an exhibit of farm crops and relics of pioneer 

 days. 



The round-up institute at the Agricultural College drew out a very 

 large attendance from all parts of the state, nearly all of the counties 

 south of the straits being represented. There was also a large number 

 of farmers present from the surrounding townships, many of whom 

 have seldom attended such meetings, but who returned for several of 

 the sessions this year. 



Aside from the regular lecturers, we were favored by the presence of 

 Prof. Thomas Shaw, of Minnesota, who gave three very valuable ad- 

 dresses; Prof. R. A. Moore, of the University of Wisconsin, whose talks 

 upon corn improvement and corn culture were very well received ; Prof. 

 W. J. Green, of the Ohio experiment station, who spoke upon spraying 

 and orchard management, and Prof. C. B. Lane, of the Dairy Division, 

 U. S. Department of Agriculture, who explained the work of the divi- 

 sion and gave an interesting address upon forage crops for dairy farm- 

 ers. 



During the institute several conferences with the delegates from the 

 county institute societies and the state lecturers were held, at which 

 the work of the year was reviewed and plans for carrying on the insti- 

 tutes during the coming season were considered. 



From the discussions at the conferences it would appear that the 

 general plan under which the farmers' institutes in Michigan are con- 

 ducted has been satisfactory, both to the officers of the county institute 

 societies and those who have taken part as state lecturers. Several of 

 the delegates, however, expressed a desire for more addresses by the 

 women speakers and for an increase in the number of one-day insti- 

 tutes. If either of these requests is granted, it will necessitate the ex- 

 penditure of a larger amount for the institutes than is now available. 

 At the close of the round-up institute the committee on resolutions, 

 which consisted of one representative each from among the delegates 

 of the county institute societies, state lecturers and farmers in attend- 

 ance, reported in favor of an increase in the amount set aside for the 

 purpose by the State Board of Agriculture. 



During the progress of the institute, opportunity was afforded to 

 those in attendance to note the w^ork being done by the different depart- 

 ments and those who had not previously visited the college, as is always 

 the case, expressed themselves as greatly surprised with the complete- 

 ness of the equipment and more than pleased with the work that is 

 being done. 



The eleventh annual institute report was issued at the close of the 

 year in an edition of 9,000 volumes. These were distributed to the 

 members of the county institute societies as provided by law. 



Respectfully submitted, 



L. R. TAFT, 

 Superintendent of Farmers' Institutes. 



Agricultural College, June 30, 1906. 

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