216 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The chairman, the Hon. P. Dean Warner, called the meeting to order, and, 

 after music, read his welcome address. He expressed strong hopes of a profit- 

 able institute. These gatherings are held in the interest of culture, but prin- 

 cipally in the interest of agriculture, including stock-raising, horticulture, and 

 floriculture. We meet here some of the faculty of the Agricultural College, 

 for mutual exchange of views. No doubt both parties will be benefited. The 

 location of this institute is largely due to an application made by A. E. Green 

 in behalf of the Farmington grange. 



0. E. Pettingill of Plymouth read an essay on Dairy Interests Detrimental 

 to the Welfare of the Farmer. He objected to a specialty in farming, no 

 matter whether it be dairying, wheat, corn, or any other production. A fail- 

 uee of one crop from any cause then becomes too disastrous. The imple- 

 ments cost much, the labor is not well distributed over the year. Too large a 

 part of the dairy business is placed in the hands of the buyers, who set their 

 own prices. 



A. D. Power showed that he was a man of experience, as he presented a 

 paper in favor of dairying. This business has rapidly advanced. Improved 

 appliances have insured greater profits and made them more certain. Some 

 have said that the dairyman was selling his farm by the quart, but facts show 

 that dairy farms grow better and better, producing more abundant and sweeter 

 grasses and larger crops of all kinds. To succeed one must learn the details 

 of the business, from selecting, raising, and caring for good cows to a knowl- 

 edge of all the improved machinery. He should like the business, and only 

 engage in it to remain there. He must be up to the times and attend to his 

 business. Like most other departments of farming, dairying will not bear 

 neglect. The dairyman must study the subject as a science as well as an art. 

 Mr. Power gave statistics showing the great magnitude and importance of the 

 dairy interest. The value of butter and cheese is about half that of wheat, 

 the great staple crop of many portions of the north. This takes no account 

 of milk sold and consumed at home. 



In the evening Mr. L. L. Dean was called on to give his experience in rais- 

 ing cane. He would select sandy soil, not freshly manured. He prefers Min- 

 nesota amber as the best variety. A useless and sickening syrup is produced 

 when fresh manure is used. He has manufactured it for 14 years. This year 

 he made 2,700 gallons of syrup, at a cost of about 35 cents a gallon, saying 

 nothing about the worth of the seed and the leaves. The leaves are worth 

 about as much to the acre as an acre of timothv. 



THE JEDDO INSTITUTE. 



The Institute at Jeddo, St. Clair countv, was held in Grange Hall, January 

 23 and 24. 

 The programme of exercises was as follows : 



TUESDAY, JANUARY 23. 



Music. 



Prayer by Elder Barber. 



Opening address by David Quaile, Jeddo. 



Music. 



