214 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTUEE. 



Besides the exercises on the programme a recitation was given by Mrs. Bart- 

 lett ("The Old Barn" by B. F. Taylor), in such a manner as to call forth 

 the most enthusiastic applause. 



The Hon. Geo. W. Phillips, of Romeo, presided throughout the Institute, and 

 kept everything up to time, and everybody in the most amiable mood. Mr. 

 Wm. H. Clark Jr. gave the following opening address : 



Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen : The honor accorded to me by 

 the committee of this Institute, to open these exercises, is by me gratefully 

 appreciated. Not on account of any peculiar talent on my part in this line or 

 as to the occupation of farming, but I appreciate it, because with you I am. 

 proud of our State, and since I adopted Michigan as my home, I have ever 

 been interested in its agricultural interests, its enterprises and advancement. 

 If I were called upon professionally at this time to give tillers of the soil 

 advice, I would simply suggest in the outset, for each one to try and keep on 

 good terms with his neighbor; each keep up his proper allotment of line 

 fence, see that one's stock does not trespass on his neighbor, and should 

 there be a little friction between you, try and settle all questions of difference 

 amicably; give lawyers as little patronage as possible, but when one's neigh- 

 bor is found incorrigible or unapproachable by fair methods, then go to some 

 honorable attorney (if such you can find), lay your case fairly before him, and 

 if found in the right, go for the stubborn one until he finds you mean business 

 and will deal fairly with you in the future. But perhaps such advice to the 

 farmers in this vicinity may not be necessary; they perhaps have grown wiser 

 than their predecessors, and possessed of more forgiving natures, and, without 

 a doubt, have at least improved in the science of agriculture. 



Allow me, in a brief review, to call your attention to the prosperity of 

 the producing interests in this State, and Macomb county, as to some 

 of its leading products : Statistics from the office of Secretary of State 

 give us the acreage of wheat therein in 1883 to be 1,726,927, yielding 

 31,777,047 bushels, or 18 and 41-100 bushels per acre; in Macomb county the 

 acreage for the same season was 32,673, yielding 697,568 bushels, or 21 and 

 35-100 bushels per acre. I regret that I am unable to give you the quantity 

 of corn and oats grown in the State for 1882, but for 1881 the number of 

 bushels of corn was 20,494,568; of oats, 15,352,444. This quantity was 

 largely increased the past season. 



The total number of sheep in 1880 was 1,965,952; weight of wool there- 

 from, 10,724,107 pounds; average weight of fleece, 5 and 45-100. In Macomb 

 county the same year the number of sheep was 65,189; pounds of washed wool 

 therefrom, 358,796; average fleece, 5^ pounds. 



I have been unable to obtain the statistics in relation to sheep for 1882, but 

 am informed by a prominent wool grower of this county that the fleeces taken 

 off in Macomb county will average six pounds each, washed wool. 



The condition of beef cattle as reported for December, 1882, in Macomb 

 county, is 109 per cent, and that of sheep 108, showing a good condition 

 above average. And now let us not lose sight of our neighbors in the upper 

 peninsula. I had said I would call your attention to some of the producing 

 interests of our State ; if, however, I depart from the agricultural branch of 

 this Institute, it will be simply for the purpose of showing you a little of the 

 vast wealth nature has stored up for us and future generations. The value 

 of the output of copper from Keweenaw, Houghton, and Ontonagon counties 

 for 1882 is estimated at $13,418,500, that of iron ore and pig iron mined 



