FAKMEES" INSTITUTES. 137 



Here, as at Allegau, Armada, and in fact at most of the places Avliere Insti- 

 tutes were held, the local committee had done their work so thoroughly as to 

 secure a wide-sjiread and enthusiastic interest, and a highl}- profitable time. 

 The High School choir furnished excellent music, which added greatly to the 

 interest of the evening sessions. The same representatives of the State Agri- 

 cultural College attended this Institute as did that at Allegan. The sessions 

 were ably presided over by Eepresentativc A. B. Co2)ley, who delivered the 

 followhig 



OPENIXG ADDRESS. 



Ladies and Gextlemex : — Some time in August last the State Board of 

 Agriculture made arrangements to hold a series of six Farmers' Institutes, one 

 of which was to be held at Decatur January 13 and 14, 1870. At a meeting 

 called for that purpose, December 15th, 1875, in this place, the published order 

 of exercises recommended for adoption by this meeting was made out, and if 

 there Idc no objections it will be considered as accepted by the Institute. 



This Institute is one of the first held by the professors of the State Agricult- 

 ural College. The college Avas established by an act of the Legislature of 1855, 

 and was placed under the care of the State Board of Education at first, and so 

 remained until, by an act of the Legislature of 1861 the college was reorganized 

 and a State Board of Agriculture created, under whose management the college 

 has been to the present time. Winter meetings of the State Agricultural Soci- 

 ety have been held several years at the tinie of the executive committee meeting, 

 of a similar character to this, Vihich were very interesting. The Illinois Indus- 

 trial College held meetings in that State last vrinter of like nature, which must 

 have been very instructive, judging from the published programme. The State 

 Board of Agriculture of Massachusetts have held annual meetings for twenty- 

 four years, lasting three to four days, the published proceedings of which fill 

 quite a volume, and are a valuable acquisition to any farmer's library. 



These meetings are held in many other States, being largely attended by the 

 enterprising farmers within reach, with beneficial results generally. 



The objects of the founders of the Agricultural College were to teach scien- 

 tific agriculture, theoretically and practically. Also, to test different kinds of 

 stock, grains, fruits, grasses, and vegetables ; different modes of treatment, 

 management, and culture ; develop new theories, and confirm or explode old 

 ones ; thus proving by actual practice what had been theoretically taught in the 

 class-room. 



By receiving reports and essays from some of the most successful farmers of 

 this and other States, the college became the repository of the most approved 

 systems of farming, which, through its annual reports, were widely disseminated 

 back again to the masses. Valuable as these results have been thus far, the 

 State Board of Agriculture and college faculty aim to do better. As students 

 to the Agricultural College, but few could have the advantages of its teachings, 

 while but comparatively a small minority of the 116,300 farmers of this State 

 could have reports to read. Some system was needed whereby the theories of 

 science could be propounded to actual workers of the soil, illustrations shown, 

 explanations given, objections answered, improvements suggested, — in short, a 

 general criticism of the various subjects presented for the consideration of the 

 Institute. Thus, while imparting information, not unfrequently Avould the 

 benefits be mutual. 



In this spirit it is to be hoped this Institute will be conducted, so that at its 



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