DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 131 



the counties it is undoubtedly better to held to the plan of having onl^^ 

 one of the institutes last more than one day and that the county in- 

 stitute. This plan makes it possible to bring an institute within easy 

 reach of nearl,v all the farmers in a county. As now conducted the cost 

 of the county institutes is much greater than that of the one-day meet- 

 ings. Not only do they last twice as long but instead lof one speaker 

 whose entertainment and transportation about the county is looked 

 after by the local management, three and sometimes four speakers are 

 furaished and their traveling expenses and hotel bills are paid from 

 the State institute funds. 



With very few exceptions separate sectiions have been held for the 

 women in connection with the county institutes and in most instances 

 where it has been put to a vote a request has been made for the hold- 

 ing of women's sections during the coming year. The criticism that 

 the women are interested in all of the topics upon the program for 

 the general session and that the men are equally interested in the topics 

 discussed at the women's session is sometimes heard but it is seldom 

 possible to find time for all of the topics upon the programs of the 

 general sessions and however much the women may be interested in 

 the general session or the men in the topics on the program for the 

 women's section in most cases they will be most benefited by following 

 the ])rogram as planned, especially as each can learn from the other 

 what has been said. From the very beginning of the women's sections 

 it has always been reported that the women have entered more freely 

 into the discussion of topics relating to the home in the women's section 

 than when upon the program for the general session.' In many places 

 it is difficult to find a hall sufficiently large to hold all who wish to 

 attend the farmers' institute but by meeting in two sections the trouble 

 is solved. For these, and other reasons the holding of women's sections 

 in connection with the county institutes is strongly advised. 



In making out the programs for the county institutes there is al- 

 ways opportunity for using one or two local speakers. The opportun- 

 ity should not be neglected as it will often strengthen the program and 

 at the same time prove perhaps even more helpful to the speakers them- 

 selves. 



Through the kindness of Prof. W. J. Spillman, we were favored by 

 the presence of Prof. C. B. Smith, of the Bureau of Farm Management, 

 U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, at a number of the county institutes in 

 northeastern Michigan. Many complimentary reports upon his work 

 have been received as has also been the case with Prof. W. J. McDowell of 

 the same Bureau, who was with the institute train for twelve days. 



Prof. Smith formerly lived in Montmorency county and is now the 

 owner lOf a farm near Atlanta. This with his work for the Department 

 of Agriculture, which in part consists in studying the problems of the 

 pine plains, made him a valuable man for the work and it certainly 

 was highly appreciated by this ofiQce as well as by the farmers who 

 met him. 



For most of the county institutes it has been the custom to send 

 two lecturers upon farming topics and one lady speaker and during the 

 last year a speaker furnished by the courtesy of Hon. Townsend A. 

 Ely, State Highway Commissioner, has also been present at most of 

 the meetings. Frank F. Rogers, Deputy State Highway Commissioner, 



