REPORTS FROM COUNTY SOCIETIES. GOO 



Fooling that I have already taken up too much space, I respectfully submit 



C. P. NEATIPASS, Sec'y. 



the foregoing 



SAGINAW COUNTY FARMEKS' CLUB. 



In July, 1878, a farmers' institute was held in this county at which the 

 attendance was large and the interest manifested was great. One of the 

 results of that institute was the organizing of the Saginaw County Farmers' 

 Club, on the 23d of February following, with a membership of 23. A com- 

 mittee was appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws, and a meeting held 

 on March 9tli and the club fully organized, with Chas. D. Little for president, 

 E. F. Guile secretary, and R. W. Beeman treasurer. An executive committee 

 of 12 were elected from the members, of which three with the president and 

 secretary form a quorum for the transaction of business. Meetings have been 

 held each month since the organization alternately in Saginaw City and East 

 Saginaw, at which essays have been read and discussions followed. From 

 these, together with the interchange of opinions and experiences, much prac- 

 tical information has been brought out and most of it made a matter of 

 record by the secretary. The attendance of the members has been fair to 

 good and the interest seems to be increasing and is much better than was 

 expected in the beginning. Reports of crops are brought in each month and 

 made a matter of record, but only recently has this been done. Wheat and 

 grass are reported in good condition at present, with a good body of snow to 

 protect it and no frost in the ground. Dr. I. N. Smith, of Saginaw City, 

 read an essay in March on "Michigan as an agricultural state as compared 

 with the best farming states in the union," which was published in all the local 

 papers and has been copied largely by the press throughout our state. He 

 selected the year 1875 for comparison and gave the quantity per acre with 

 the value singly and per acre on all the products of the farm in seven of the 

 best agricultural states, besides our own. With the exception of California, 

 Michigan leads in money value per acre in nearly all the products of the farm, 

 and in quantity per acre she holds her own well. 



In April David Geddes read an essay on " Spring crops," and putting them in 

 in which he gave his experience as a practical and intelligent farmer, being one 

 ■of the best in the county. The month of May called forth from John Fischer 

 a very excellent essay on "The best manner of cultivating spring crops." 

 The discussion of this subject was quite animated, and much practical informa- 

 tion was presented to the club. June with its roses and blossoms called forth 

 from the President, C. D. Little, "Tlie best time and manner of harvesting 

 summer crops." The secretary being absent no record was made of this paper 

 or discussion. Dennis Bow, of Bridgeport, read an essay in July on " Prepar- 

 ing the ground for wheat and for spring crops," whether or not it was best to 

 plow in the fall or spring, in which he advocates fall plowing on clay or all 

 heavy soils, and spring cultivation on all light, sandy or gravelly soils. Dis- 

 cussion followed on seeding with clover and grass, also manner of plowing, 

 tools to be used, etc., the general tenor of which was that money was thrown 

 ^way in getting poor tools and slighting the work. Much better results are 



