FARMEES' INSTITUTES. 73 



report the lectures, essays, and addresses delivered at tlie Institutes, aud also 

 the discussions by \diicli a })ortion of the time was most agreeably and profit- 

 ably occupied. 



The expediency of holding Farmers' Institutes in different portions of the 

 State had frequently boon a subject of discussion by the members of the College 

 Faculty. At a meeting of that ])ody, held May Tth, 18 To, the following resolu- 

 tions were presented by Prof. K. C. Kedzie, and unanimously adopted : 



'■•Eesoh'ed, That a connnittee of three he appointed by the President to draw up a 

 scheme for a series of Fanners' Institutes to be lield in different parts of the State 

 duriug the next winter; including in the exercises of sucli Institutes lectures aud 

 essays by members of tlie Faculty; that the several members of the State Board of 

 Agriculture aud leading farmers residing in the vicinity of tlie place of holding such 

 Institutes, be respectfully and earncstly'requested to participate in the exercises by 

 lectures, essays, aud discussions." 



'■'■Besohed, That said committee be instructed to confer with the State Board of 

 Agriculture, at its next meeting, to make all necessary arrangements for inaugurating 

 and carrying out such series of Farmers' Institutes." 



President Abbot ajipointed as such committee. Professors E. C. Kedzie, 

 W. J. Beal, and Mr. li. C. Carpenter. 



At the next meeting of the fState Board of Agriculture, which was held com- 

 mencing June 1st, the above committee presented the following memorial: 

 To the Hon. Board of ArjricnUiire : 



At a meeting of the Faculty of this College, held May r)th. it was inianimously 

 resolved that a'connuittee l)e appointed by the President to draw up a scheme for a 

 .series of Farmers' Institutes to l»e held under the supervision and direction of the 

 State Board of Agricultiu-e, in difterent parts of the State during the coming winter; 

 tliat the exercises of such InstitiUes shall consist of lectures, essays, and discussions 

 -of previously selected topics; that the several meml)ers of the Board, aud leading- 

 farmers residing in the vicinity, be invited to take part in all such meetings, and the 

 members of tlieVFacuIty will take such part as the Board nniy think best. 



It was also resolved that the committee confer with the Board at its next meeting, 

 and arrange for such a series of Institutes. 



In accordance with these resolutions, the undersigned were api)ointed a committee 

 to place the matter before the Board of Agriculture, and to ask you to inaugurate 

 .and carry forward such a series of Farmers' institutes during the coming winter. 



Whatever may be the cause, we think the fact is sufficiently evident that there is a 

 want of sympathy between the farmers and the Agricultural College. By reason of 

 this want'of sympathy the farmers are deprived of much of the .i>-ood which they may 

 secure from tlie Agricultural College, and which they have a right to demand; and 

 the College is crippled in its work for the same reason. We believe that this want of 

 sympathy and lack of interest are because the farmers, as a class, know but little of 

 the real working of the College, and that if the Board and Faculty could be brought 

 into more intimate association with farmers in all parts of the State, these evils 

 might be removed. If the College is not doing such work as ought to command the 

 confidence of intelligent farmers in all parts of our State, then our system should be 

 altered so as to meet the just demands of the farmers; if we are doing such work, we 

 may still fail of our duty if we .fail to make this fact known. There is something 

 wrong when the (,'ollege, after 16 years of continuous work, is still denounced and 

 decried in some of the most flourishing agricultural sections of our State. 



We therefore ;isk the Board of Agriculture, who are the agents of the people to 

 manage aiul control the College for the good of the whole State, to arrange for hold- 

 ing six Farmers' Institutes during the month of Jauuary, 187(5. These meetings 

 should be understood to be the firstof a series of meetings Avhicli will be held winter 

 after winter, if tlie interest of the agricultural public shall warrant. These first 

 meetings should be held in the older-settled portions of the State. We would sug- 

 gest that one be held in each of the following counties: Macomb, Lenawee, Branch. 

 St. Joseph, Cass, Van Buren. 



We ask the Board of Agriculture to take upon themselves the responsibility of the 

 whole thing; to invite speakers, essayists, and persons to lead off" in discussion on 

 topics selected and announced in advance; to preside at such meetings or to select 

 presiding officers, and to make all arrangements necessary to make these Institutes a 



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