NUMBER OF INSTITUTES HELD. 343 



imposed limits of orderly debate. The interest was main- 

 tained fully to the last ; and the feeling was unanimous that 

 all had derived, not only much pleasure from this free inter- 

 change of thoughts and experiences, but also material bene- 

 fit, and that more general good had resulted to the farming 

 interest than comes from cattle-shows, which have become a 

 mere scramble for petty premiums. 



James S. Gkinnell, 

 President Franklin Farmers' Institute. 



The representative of each society was then called upon 

 to make a statement in regard to the institutes held by his 

 society, hi accordance with the requirement of the Board at 

 its last annual meeting, when it appeared that every society 

 in the State had held at least three institutes, while several 

 had greatly exceeded the required number, having found 

 them very popular, instructive, and useful. The number 

 thus held in the State during the past year exceeded a 

 hundred. They were generally very largely attended ; the 

 exercises consisting of lectures, papers on special subjects, 

 questions and answers, and discussions in which all present 

 were invited to participate. 



Mr. Taft offered the following preamble and vote, which 

 were unanimously adopted : — 



Whereas The Board of Agriculture have seen in the 

 public prints a charge that cattle infected by some con- 

 tagious disease had been sold from the Agricultural College 

 Farm ; and 



Whereas, From the best information at present in posses- 

 sion of the Board, this statement is believed to be utterly 

 false ; and 



Whereas It is important to furnish an authoritative answer 

 which shall satisfy the farmers of the State, and relieve 

 any anxiety which they may feel : it is 



Voted, That the attention of the Commissioners on Con- 

 tagious Diseases among Cattle be called to this subject, and 

 that they be requested immediately to examine the cattle at 

 the Agricultural College, and all others claimed or suspected 

 to be diseased, and to report as soon as may be the results of 

 their investigations to this Board. 



