FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 3G1 



The conimittoo on resolutions, by tlioir cluiinniiu, lion. A. McDoncll, pre- 

 sented the following, -whicii were unanimously adopted by a vote of the 

 audience : 



liesoloed, That the poople of Bay county liereby acknowletl<?e the jjreat services 

 that the State Board of Agriculture liave conferred upon us by appointing the insti- 

 tute just closed; and 



liesolved. That the thanks of this community are lierebj'' tendered to President 

 Abbot, Professors Kedzie and Carpenter, and Secretary Baird, of the State Agricul- 

 tural College, and our friends beyond the limits of our county, for their very success- 

 ful eflbrts in making the Northeastern Michigan Farmers' Institute a success. 



President Abbot very happily replied to the tender of thanks, and then Judge 

 Marstou formally declared the institute closed. 



DOWAGIAC INSTITUTE. 



This Institute was held commencing on the evening of January 28th. 



Notwithstanding an exceedingly unfavorable condition of roads the attend- 

 ance was large. Young Men's Ilall, in which the sessions of this Institute were 

 held, was well filled. 



Quite a number of farmers were present from Van Buren county, among 

 whom were Hon. J. J. Woodman, David Woodman, jr., J. 11. Hendryx, H. J. 

 Ilendryx, Mr. Durkee, and A. 0. Glidden. There were also some from Ber- 

 rien county, whose names we are unable to give. Mr. R. F. Johnstone, of the 

 Michigan Farmer, was also present. The attendance of these gentlemen added 

 much to the interest of the meeting. They are just about such a delegation as 

 we would like to have devote two or three weeks every winter to attending these 

 Farmers' Institutes. 



Hon. W. G. Beckwith, President of the Institute, called the meeting to order, 

 and in a brief and appropriate address of welcome, strongly urged the necessity 

 of better organization of farmers. Farmers' Clubs, Granges, Institutes, etc., 

 were all of great advantage. He described the old system of schools, especially 

 schools in which farmers' sons were educated, and contrasted them with our 

 present Agricultural College. He put considerable stress on the necessity of 

 farmers being educated to their special calling. 



Prof. II. C. Kedzie gave a lecture on the "Capabilities of Northern Michi- 

 gan." (See lectures given at more than one Institute.) 



Henry B. Wells followed with an essay on the 



MANAGEMENT OF SWINE. 



He was of the opinion that swine were the most profitable stock to the farm- 

 ers of southwestern Michigan, notwithstanding the depression in prices of the 

 last year or two. He deprecated the use of dogs, especially if managed by 

 small boys. In his opinion the small boned dark colored varieties were best 

 suited to our purposes. In winter he feeds clover hay, roots and corn. Never 

 keeps what are usually termed breeding sows, but breeds once and turns off the 

 same year. Sows before farrowing should be separated at least a week, that 

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