DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 109 



THE WOMEN^S CONGRESS. 



Owing in a large degree to the demonstrations in domestic science pro- 

 vided for the women's congresses there was a considerable increase in the 

 number of institutes having a women's section, and numerous requests 

 have been received for similar demonstrations at the one-day institutes. 



At these meetings, in order to secure uniformity and lessen the dan- 

 ger of repetition the same topics were used for all the meetings. '"The 

 Principles and Methods of Vegetable Coijkery," was assigned to the 

 State speakers and "Saving Steps and Strength in the Home" was used 

 by the local speakers at most of tlie institutes. Much interest was shown, 

 many questions were asked, and notes were freely taken. 



At a few institutes, by special request, "Home Nursing," or "House- 

 hold Sanitation" was the topic used. 



farmers' week. 



The first week in March was set aside for Farmers' Week at the Agri- 

 cultural College. 



The courses were on the same lines as in previous years. In coopera- 

 tion with the State Highway department a Highway School intended 

 particularly for highway commissioners was held for two days, with a 

 good attendance. 



The usual Country Life Conference was also held during the week, 

 with several speakers from abroad. The different departments were also 

 assisted by outside lecturers, among whom were Prof. C. G. Williams 

 of the Ohio Experiment Station, who aided the Farm Crops department ; 

 Mr. W. H. Card, of Connecticut, who spent the entire week with the 

 Poultry department; Dr. H. J. AVheeler, of Boston, also gave an ad- 

 dress upon "Liming the Soil." 



In several departments the work very largely took the form of demon- 

 strations and much interest was shoAvn. 



The attendance reached about one thousand with even more present at 

 some of the evening sessions, ^^'hile many came for the entire week a 

 large proportion of those from the vicinity of Lansing, who made up a 

 majority of those in attendance, only came for one or two days. 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 



Aside from tlie work done by the regular institute lecture force, Col- 

 lege faculty and county agents, speakers were also furnished by several 

 State institutions and commissions. 



As usual the State Highway department gave its hearty cooperation, 

 as did the State Historical Society, and the State Board of Health. Sec- 

 retary John I. Gibson of the Western Michigan Development Bureau 

 gave a very interesting illustrated address at several institutes. 



The American Portland Cement Manufacturers, Middle West Soil Im- 

 provement Committee, and the Kentucky Tobacco Products Company, 

 also furnished speakers for two weeks each to discu.ss, "Using Concrete 

 on the Farm;" "Handling the Soil;" and ''The Control of Plant Lice," 

 respectively. The topics were presented with the idea of furnishing up 

 to date information upon the various subjects, and no attempt was made 

 to directly advertise or take orders for any of the materials represented. 



