FAEMERS' INSTITUTES. 



71 



The following article was published in the Lansing Kepublican Sept. 21, 1875, 

 and in other papers about the same time : 



FAEMEKS' INSTITUTES FOR 1S7G. 



At a meeting of the State Board of Agriculture held last June, the Board deter- 

 mined to hohl a series of Farmers' Institutes during the month of January, 187G. 

 They resolved to hold six Institutes. Tliese Institutes are the first of a series to he 

 held winter after winter if the interest of the agricultural public shall warrant. It 

 is the desire of the Board to hold these Institutes iu diflereut parts of the State, to 

 subserve the best interests of those engaged iji agriculture and kindred pm-suits. 



LENGTH OP THE MEETING. 



It is the design that the Institute shall not be long, or wear out the patience and 

 endurance of the community. Short, spicy, wide-awake meetings are what is desired. 

 The Institute will open with an evening meeting, and the whole of the next day and 

 evening will be devoted to the work. It will thus embrace two evenings and one day. 

 If it is found that the time is too short, a change may be made hereafter; but it is 

 not designed to make it a protracted meeting in any sense. 



AVHEN TO BE HELD. 



The Institutes will begin after the fall and early winter work is out of the way, and 

 the season of the holidays fully past. They will begin with the week commencing Jan- 

 uary 10, and two Institutes will be held each week till all are closed. 



WHERE THEY WaLL BE HELD. 



This is for the farmers to settle for themselves. ApiDlication has been made for one 

 Institute by the Armada Farmers' Club, and another by the Detroit and Bay City 

 District Council of Patrons of Husbandry. These invitations have been accepted, 

 and the first Institute will be held at Armada and the second at Rochester. Four 

 more Institutes are yet to be located. These will be located by the committee of 

 the Board having this matter in charge, on application by xVgricultural Societies, 

 Farmers' Clubs, Granges, and other organizations designed to advance the cause of 

 agriculture. Early application should be made to secure an Institute. 



TO "WHOM TO APPLY . 



The committee having in charge these Institutes consists of the following members 

 of the Board: Hon. -T.^Webster^Childs of Ypsilanti, Chairman; Hon. A. S. Dyckmau 

 of South Haven; and Hon. Milton J. Gard of Cassopolis. Application may be made 

 to any member of the committee. The details of each Institute will be arranged by 

 some member of the committee. A local committee should be appointed at each 

 place where an Institute is to be held, to assist the committee of the Board in per- 

 fecting the details of the meeting. 



EXPENSES. 



The conununity where the Institute is held will be expected to furnish the hall, and 

 provide for warming and lighting the same. All other expenses will be borne by the 

 Board of Agriculture. 



"WHO WILL TAKE PAPvT IN THE MEETINGS. 



« 



It is expected and earnestly desired that leading farmers in the vicinity of the 

 Institute will give lectures, read essays, and take part in the discussions. It is 

 expected that the discussions will be of 'especial interest, in which farmers will give 

 their views and relate their experience upon the topics proposed for discussion. As 

 the topics for discussion will be selected by the local committee where the Institute 

 is held, the public will thereby be assured that such topics for discussion will be pre- 

 sented as will be of especial iiiterest to that community. The members of the Board 

 will also take part in the proceedings, and the members of the College Faculty will 

 take part if so desired. 



WHO ARE INVITED. 



Every one who tills the soil or is interested iu agriculture. Farmers and their 

 wives and families are especially invited; also all who honor or would benefit the 

 noblest of all industries. 



