FAKMERS' INSTITUTES. 327 



to drag down the existing system and put in its place the system practiced in 

 the early history of this State. This is not only true of agriculture, but there 

 has been rapid advancement in the methods of transacting all kinds of business, 

 especially in travel and the conveyance of our products to markets, so it seems 

 now as if the world would almost come to a standstill were we to go back to the 

 old methods. 



But in the matter of farm life, or the cultivation of the soil, improvement has 

 been less than in almost any other direction. It certainly has been less, if we 

 take the total number engaged in this pursuit. It is true that much has been 

 accomplished by individual men, wdio have reached a very advanced position ; 

 but in investigation of the general principles which control the works of nature, 

 the mass of agriculturists are merely picking up jjebbles on the shore of the 

 illimitable ocean of truth spread before them. Go into any neighborliood to- 

 day, and you can readily see the great difference which attends the labors of the 

 farmers. Almost always a. few men are far in advance of their neighbors in 

 methods of cultivation, and their crops arc nearly double those of the ordinary 

 yield of the neighborhood. Such incidents show a want of intelligence and 

 investigation on the part of agriculturists as a class. In saying this I would 

 not speak disparagingly of Michigan, for T can claim truthfully that her farm- 

 ers, as a class, for intelligence and enterprise, stand higher than those of any 

 other State in the Union. 



Mr. Trowbridge dwelt upon the early settlement of the State, and contrasted 

 the pioneers of Michigan with those of many other western States, In Michi- 

 gan the early settlers came to make thonrselves homes, and they set to work 

 clearing off the forests and breaking up the prairies with only that object in 

 view. For this reason greater strides have been made in improvement and civ- 

 ilization than in States which were tirst settled by trappers, traders, speculators, 

 and others, who only Avent to stay for a season. The very earliest step taken by 

 our Michigan jDioneers was to provide for the education of the children ; and a 

 system was so devised that, commencing with common schools, through graded 

 schools, high schools, and colleges, Ave reach the University. These place us in 

 the front rank, educationally. 



These pioneers placed in the fundamental law of the State a provision that 

 the Legislature should establish a separate iudependenc college for the advance- 

 ment of agriculture and the mechanic arts. In this regard we are the banner 

 State of the [Jnion, and none have offered so good facilities for the education of 

 the children of farmers in farming pursuits. We feel proud of the Agricultural 

 College, and that its graduates are invited to positions of honor in similar insti- 

 tutions of the country. But while Ave have a college for the education of our 

 boys, there has as yet been no provision to educate farmers' girls, I Avant to see 

 our girls have the same chances for education as our boys. 



Mr. TroAvbridge strongly advocated the establishment of a veterinary depart- 

 ment at the College, for the reason that knoAvledge of this art Avould be a great 

 financial saving to the farmers. He cited statistics to shoAV the enormous loss 

 in liA'C stock, much of Avhicli could be aA"erted Avith a proper understanding of 

 the diseases of animals. 



He spoke of the falling off in the yield of Avheat on many of the farms in the 

 State as an evil that should be arrested. Some of these farms Avhich once pro- 

 duced 30 to 35 bushels to the acre, noAV produce only 10 to 12, It is to discuss 

 such questions that these institutes are held, and the professors of the Agricul- 

 tural College and members of the State Board of Agriculture are present to aid 



