REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER. 13 



of the farm into money as well as the hog. and hogs v/ill grow 

 well and thrive in a pasture or orchard, and will improve both. 

 The high price of meat products has brought the price of 

 pork where the farmer can sell his hogs to good advantage. He 

 should give them good shelter in the winter and keep them 

 comfortable and provide a chance for exercise. This v/ill be 

 a great prevention against any cholera or other trouble to 

 which his hogs might be exposed. 



farmers' institutes. 

 All of our institutes were held in connection with the granges 

 in different parts of the State. Mr. W. F. McSparran of Fur- 

 niss, Pa., talked on dairying and general farming and Mr. C. 

 E. Embree on cooperation. With the men from this Depart- 

 ment and Mr. McSparran and Mr. Embree, 90 institutes were 

 held in different parts of the State from January ist to May 

 15th and Mr. Embree was employed by the State until October 

 ist, holding meetings and organizing farmers' exchanges in 

 different sections of the State. There is nothing in the line of 

 agriculture that needed more attention than did the work 

 of organizing the farmers to assist them to put their crops on 

 the market in better shape and receive better prices, and to 

 purchase the farm supplies. 



This is one of the most important subjects that can be taken 

 up with our farmers as the conditions that have existed in the 

 State in the past have been a great drawback to the farmer. 

 The farmer of this State has learned to raise large and good 

 crops ; he knows how to make cows give milk ; he knows how 

 to raise good live stock of all kinds ; but what does all this 

 amount to if he cannot receive a fair compensation for his 

 money invested and his mental and physical labor? For it re- 

 quires a man of good, sound judgment to manage a farm and 

 do it as it should be done. What is more discouraging for a 

 man of ability and energy than to put his time in on the hard- 

 est of all occupations, that obliges him to deal with the ele- 

 ments, the laws of nature in plant and animal life — for this is 

 what a successful farmer has before him every day in the year 

 — and not receive adequate returns for his labor? He has no 



