130 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



a clear and interesting manner. As nearly all of the common operations 

 of the farm are based upon natural laws, the better understa'iiding a 

 lecturer has of these laws and their relation to the handling of the 

 soil and the growth of animals and plants, the more valuable, every- 

 thing else being equal, will he be as an institute lecturer. 



ONE-DAY INSTITUTES. 



During the year now closing there have been held in Michigan 3G8 

 one-day institutes at which 84,924 persons have been present as deter- 

 mined by actual count at each of the sessions. The usual plan of fur- 

 nishing one s])eaker upon farming topics has been followed and the 

 local managers have been urged to secure as local speakers for the fore- 

 noon and afternoon sessions two farmers who will outline the methods 

 they have used in growing some of the cro])s or handling somie of the 

 classes of animals in Avhich the farmers of the section are particularly- 

 interested. It has not been found advisable to have more than two 

 subjects on the program' for the forenoon and three for the afternoon 

 sessions. As a third speaker for the afternoon some lady upon topics 

 relating to the home or such other matters as might be of general in- 

 terest has often been selected. 



In quite a number of the counties arrangements have been made with 

 the county commissioner of schools to furnish a speaker upon some 

 educational topic who would appear in the afternoon and again for the 

 evening program. This plan has very generally given satisfaction but 

 in a few cases where local speakers were not upon the program or 

 where they failed to appear it was felt that too little time was given to 

 topics relating to farm work. The importance of having local speakers 

 upon the program should not be overlooked. It should not be difficult in 

 any farming community to find one or two farmers who have been 

 particularly successful in some line of agriculture or who have had ex- 

 perience which will be of value to their brother farmers. It will not 

 be necessary and in most cases is not desirable to have tliem prepare 

 a ''paper" but if they will merely state the methods they have used and 

 the results they have obtained the matter can then be thrown open for 

 discussion and much valuable information which will be of general 

 interest will be brought out. 



The value of the Grange and Farmers' Clubs and similar organiza- 

 tions has many times been shown at the one-day institutes. Not only 

 have they been helpful by supplying halls in which the meetings can 

 be held but an attendance is generally assured when an institute is 

 located in a section where such organizations exist. It is also an easy 

 matter to secure speakers to fill out the program and there is generally 

 no difficulty about securing a lively discussion. 



COUNTY INSTITUTES. 



Nearly all of the counties have availed themselves of the privilege of 

 (having a two-day county institute and in fact several counties instead of 

 having four to six one-day institutes have expressed a choice for the 

 holding of Iwo or three two-day institutes. While this has seemed to 

 answer very well in (juite a number of ])laces in a groat majoi-ity of 



