PAEMERS* llS'STlTUTES. 131 



Mr. Anclerton. — I •wouicl like to inquire in regfird to luulehing peacli tree.?, 

 iind al>^o what varieties will stand winter best. 



Mr. Dyckman. — I think mulching young trees is one of the very best things 

 that can be done. It does not seem necessary for older trees. The Standard 

 Late and Hale's Early arc among the hardy ones. 



Mr. Phillijis. — At what time do you put this mulching about your trees? 



Mr. Dyckman. — Soon after planting. 



Mr. Biackman. — At what age do you plant trees? 



Mr. Dyckman. — One year from the bud. Older than that I would not like to 

 plant. 



Mr. Biackman, — Do you think Hale's Earlv a hardier peach than the Craw- 

 ford? 



Mr. Dyckman. — I did not think so until last winter. 



At the close of the discussion tlie following resolutions were introduced and 

 unanimously adopted : 



Whereas, It is our opinion that the exercises of this institute have been couducive 

 to the advaueement of the interests of agriculture and horticulture auiong us, there- 

 fore be it 



Eesolved, That we unite in requesting the Allegan covmty agricultural society to 

 hold, at least once in each year, an institute similar to this, and we hereby pledge our 

 support to sucli an enterprise ; 



Resolved, That we tender our hearty thanks to Professors Fairchild, Kedzie, and 

 Cook, and Mr. R. C. Carpenter, of the State Agricultural College, Mr. A. S. Dj'ckman 

 of the State Board of Agriculture, and those others who have furnished us with essays, 

 for the valuable assistance they have rendered in the successful conduct of this meeting. 



The meeting closed with a few remarks by Gen. B. D. Pritchard. who pro- 

 nounced a kind of valedictory over tlie pleasantest and most profitable meeting 



- ever held by Allegan county farmers. Its entire success was as pleasing to the 

 faculty of the college as to our own people, and they repeatedly expressed their 



•■ entire satisfaction, declaring that they had been benefited by information gained 

 from the farmers who read essays or debated tlic points raised. On the other 

 hand the farmers are thankful for the new light tliey received, and were agrec- 



. ably surprised to find the agricultural college professors not a set of "starched 

 up" book-worms, but quite unpretending and very practical men, their hands 

 without kid gloves, and their minds well stored with the knowledge necessary 

 for their position. Much more favorable views will 'henceforth be entertained 



^ of our State school of agricultiu'e, and we will be surprised if in the future Alle- 

 gan county is not more fully represented there. 



ARMADA FARMERS" INSTITUTE. 



The Institute at Armada commenced on the evening of January 11th, and 

 •. continued its sessions during the following day and evening. Although the 

 roads in the vicinity were in an exceedingly bad condition, tlie attendance was 

 large, and an enthusiastic interest was manifested throughout the proceedings. 

 The local committee of arrangements had done their Avork perfectly, and all the 

 parties to whom the reading of papers had been assigned were in attendance and 

 prepared to do their part, so that no deviation from the programme was ren- 

 * dered necessary, except what was caused by the absence of Profs. W. J. Beal 



16 



