PAEMERS' INSTITUTES. 231 



there awaiting them, the professors resolved to take grip-sack in hand and go 

 to the people with their store of useful knowledge. Being impracticable to go 

 from house to house and impart instruction, it became necessary to designate 

 points of delivery in different parts of the State, where the people could 

 assemble and receive instruction. Hence the Farmers' Institute as an 

 auxiliary to the central College for the education of adults. 



The Farmers' Institute has done and is doing a good work. Socially it is 

 attractive and entertaining. As affording an opportunity for the interchange 

 of thought in relation to the many important questions continually arising, 

 aided by the able professors from the Agricultural College, it becomes an 

 educational institution of no mean significance. 



The Farmers' Institute cultivates friendly social relations. It tends to 

 universalize useful knowledge. It energizes mental action, and is, in fact, an 

 intellectual clearing-house for the comparison and settlement of many differ- 

 ences pertaining to the principles of agriculture. 



To you, Mr. President, and to the Farmers' Institute, embodying as it does 

 so many excellences, allow me again to say welcome. 



Mrs. S. M. Nichols of Kalamazoo, to whom was assigned the essay on 

 "Dairying," not being present, and the officers of the society not being 

 apprised of the cause of her absence, and fearing a failure of that portion of 

 the programme of the evening's entertainment, the subject was assigned by 

 President Dell to Mr. Lawrence, a prominent farmer, residing near Decatur, 

 Van Buren county, who presented the subject with such suggestions as were 

 deemed of interest and calculated to improve dairying. Mr. Lawrence is a 

 gentleman of pleasant address, and in his impromptu talk did exceedingly 

 well, and created quite a favorable impression here. When Mr. Lawrence had 

 concluded, Mr. Cox, of Portage, and Edwin Flanders, of Comstock, repre- 

 senting their wives, continued the subject, they having devoted much time in 

 the improvement of the dairy. A general discussion then followed, in which 

 Frank S. Kedzie, H. Marhoff, and others participated. The Jersey cow main- 

 tained the lead in this discussion, being regarded by the prominent farmers as 

 the best for milk and butter. 



"How can I make my husband satisfied with two meals a day?" was 

 announced as the next subject for discussion, Mrs. H. Dale Adams and other 

 ladies participating. The former stated in the course of her remarks that 

 her experience in trying to have two meals a day ended in two meals and two 

 lunches, sometimes three, and asked Avhich was the easiest, *'To get two 

 lunches and two meals, or three meals per day?" G-eneral discussion fol- 

 lowed, resulting in favor of three square meals per day. 



The resolutions of thanks tendered to the officers of the institute for the 

 manner in which they had attended to their duties; to the president and pro- 

 fessors of the State Agricultural College for their valuable essays and their 

 interest in the welfare of the institute ; to the choir for the fine music ren- 

 dered during the sessions of the institute; to the citizens of G-alesburg and 

 vicinity for providing for the entertainment of the guests during the two days' 

 session ; to the trustees of the Congregational and Methodist churches for the 

 use of their audience room and basement for the accommodation of the insti- 

 tute ; and, finally, to all who in any way contributed to the success of the 

 institute, were read by J. T. Cobb, chairman of the committee, and unani- 

 mously agreed to. 



The attendance, despite the unfavorable weather, was gratifying and the 

 discussions embraced a number of important topics. 



