104 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



the assistance of Prof. H. A. Huston of Chicago, who for nearly twenty 

 years was chemist of the Indiana Experiment Station, and in charge 

 of the Fertilizer Control work of that state. For a number of years 

 also he has been carrying on experiments in the northern part of Indiana 

 and various parts of Michigan, and no one is better posted regarding 

 the needs of our soil and the amounts of plant food required for the 

 various crops. Prof. Huston was present at eight institutes during the 

 winter and spoke upon "Commercial Fertilizers, Their Use and Abuse." 



NOEMAL INSTITUTE. 



As preliminary to the regular institute work, the third annual Nor- 

 mal Institute was held at the college, November 19 to 22nd. The 

 meeting was attended by practically all of the institute lecturers; the 

 one or two who failed to attend being kept away by reasons beyond 

 their control. The time was spent in discussing methods of conduct- 

 ing the institutes and in listening to addresses and lectures by the 

 college faculty. The subjects treated were recent discoveries in the 

 science of agriculture and the progress that has been made in various 

 lines. 



This was the third meeting of the kind and, as in previous years, 

 the lecturers stated that they received much benefit from the sessions 

 and that they were greatly aided in carrying on the institute work 

 during the winter. 



FARMERS^ INSTITUTE SPECIAL. 



Arrangements were made in March, 1908, for a special institute train 

 over a portion of the Pere Marquette system from Lansing to Grand 

 Rapids and thence to New Buffalo and from there to Detroit over the 

 main line of the Michigan Central, returning to Lansing by way of 

 Saginaw. Three days were spent upon the Pere Marquette and six 

 on the Michigan Central and fifty-four stops were made. 



The train furnished by each road consisted of a locomotive, two bag- 

 gage cars and two and three coaches. Representatives of the passenger 

 and operating departments of the Michigan Central accompanied the 

 train over its line. 



The speakers upon the train were: 



Mr. W. F. Raven, Brooklyn, Dairying, nine days. 



Prof. J. A. Jefifery, M. A. C, Corn culture, one day. 



Mr. F. W. Howe, M. A. C, Corn Culture, eight days. 



Mr. J. G. Halpin, M. A. C, Poultry Raising, nine days. 



Mr. C. P. Halligan, M. A. C, Spraying and Fruit Growing, four days. 



Mr. T. A. Farrand, Eaton Rapids, Spraying and Fruit Growing, four 

 days. 



Hon. H. S. Earle, Lansing, Good Roads, eight days. 



Mr. F. F. Rogers, Lansing, Good Roads, one day. 



Prof. H. A. Huston, Chicago, Fertilizers, two days. 



Mr. E. B. Reid, special student in Agriculture and Mr. Howard 

 Taft, '09, assisted in demonstrating and had charge of Milk Testing. 



The stops at the different stations ranged from one hour to an hour 

 and fifteen minutes and from thirty to forty minutes was taken up 



