86 STATE BOAKD OF AGRICULTUKE. 



N. W. Lewis. — I tliiuk Mr. Clubb is mistaken in regard to the extreme cold 

 weatlier of 1875 covering the hike with ice so that the hike exerted no influence 

 upon the temperature. For instance, the 9th of February was the coldest morn- 

 ing. February 16 was another veiy cold time, but not as cold as the other. 

 Near the lake the thermometer marked two degrees above zero, wdiile at a dis- 

 tance of sixteen miles away from the lake it stood at sunrise from eighteen to 

 twenty degrees below. This shows that the lake shore did receive an influ- 

 ence from the lake at that time, although it was two weeks after the extreme 

 cold morning. 



A. S. Dyckman, South Haven. — I cannot state definitely as to how the figures 

 Averc obtained in regard to tlie peacli crop of 1873, but I believe it was done 

 imdcr State law, by the officers who took the census of the other crops. It cer- 

 tainly was not taken from the shipments to Chicago or from any port in Mich- 

 igan. In reference to the lake being frozen over during last winter, I am 

 inclined to doubt tliat. I believe there was no time durins; the winter of 1875 

 that we did not receive some protection from the lake. In Allegan and Van 

 Buren counties I had opportunities for carefully observing it more than any- 

 where else. The extreme cold of Feb. 9 was unprecedented, and eA"en then 

 there Avas something of a lake influence, from the fact that the thermometer on 

 the lake shore marked from 14 to 20 deg. below zero, Avhile we know at Grand 

 Eapids it Avent below 40 deg., at Kalamazoo 30 deg., and at Allegan 34 deg. 



wed:nesday foeexoox. 



On the meeting being called to order, it Avas found that Mr. Blair of Martin, 

 one of the essayist?, Avas absent, and Prof. Kedzio was requested to occupy the 

 time, wliich he did by giA'ing an address on "Lightning Ivods." Immediately 

 after, and in the regular order of the programme, the Professor gave his lecture 

 on "Muck." Both of these lectures, and discussions on the same, are given in 

 full, folloAvins; this record of the Institutes. 



Next on the programme Avas Mr. Julius Tomlinson of Allegan, avIio, being 

 called upon, read the folloAving essay, entitled 



SHALL FARMERS KEEP BEES? 



Should A^e be told to-da}^ that some article of value existed all around us, and 

 that it could 1)e had freely for the gathering, there Avould be, I apprehend, some 

 curiosity to knoAv of this article. And should we have the further information 

 that plenty of laborers could be obtained to gather tliis article, and bring it to 

 our very doors, and put it into the most beautiful and couA'enient forms for sale 

 or iise, the curiosity Avould doubtless increase. And A\'ero Ave further told that 

 those laborers worked without Avages, seven days in the week, and from daAvn of 

 day till dark, there might be some excitement on the subject. 



In the dcA^elopment of \'egetable life, one of its most beautiful processes is 

 the opening of lloAvers. In the liearfe of floAA'ers is distilled the nectar that we 

 call lioncy, and it is this article of value just ahuded to. 



In the development of animal and insect life, Avhich exists all around us in 

 Avonderful profusion, Ave have the insect that Ave term the Bee ; the instinct of 

 which is to gather this honey and store it away for present and future iise. The 

 bees are the hiborers of Avliich I haA^e spoken. 



