DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 73 



JUNIOR farmers' institutes. 



For several years several counties have held special meetings for the 

 boys, as separate sessions of the county institutes. These have generally 

 been in connection with Boj's' Corn Clubs, and in addition to a pro- 

 gram furnished by the boys, the exhibition of the products grown by 

 the members has been a prominent feature of the meeting. 



During the past year, in cooperation with the Department of Boys' 

 and Girls' Club Work, a special Junior Institute was held at Croswell. 

 The institute was conducted by Mr. S. 0. Kobinson, of the institute 

 lecture force, with the assistance of Mr. C. A. Spaulding, Assistant 

 Leader of Boys' Club Work, and Miss Anna B. Cowdes, Assistant Leader 

 of Girls' Clubs. The local arrangements were in charge of Supt. Powers 

 and Principal Eaven of the Croswell schools, under the general direction 

 of County Commissioner of Schools, W. J. Mu.sselman. 



Not only was there a large attendance of the older pupils from the 

 Croswell and neighboring rural schools, but teachers and pupils were 

 in attendance from Brown City, Carsonville and other points in the 

 county. 



In addition to addresses by the State Speakers mentioned, several 

 ])upils furnished a symposium upon "Legumes," and various topics were 

 presented by several rural teachers. Separate sessions for the boys and 

 girls were held on one afternoon, at which Mr. Spaulding and Miss 

 Cowles discussed respectively, "Club Work for Boys" and "Sewing 

 Club Work for Girls." Among the special features was a demonstra- 

 tion of the preparation of a hot school lunch, at noon of the first day. 

 A demonstration of gi'oup games during the forenoon of the second 

 day, and an exhibition of moving pictures, showing Boys' and Girls' 

 Club Prize Winners visiting Washington, D. C. 



As indicating the scope of the work, the following are the topics dis- 

 cussed by the conductor of the institute, Mr. Robinson: "Influence 

 of Pure Seed upon Crop Production;" "Results with Legumes in Michi- 

 gan;" "Essential Points in Judging Live Stock," and an evening ad- 

 dress upon "Wealth from Waste." Among the other topics presented 

 were, "Agriculture from the Rural Teacher's Standpoint;" "Community 

 Work in the Rural School;" "High School Extension Work;" "Teaching 

 Agriculture in the High School from the Farmers' Standpoint" and 

 "Teaching Agriculture in the High School from the Standpoint of a 

 Business Man." 



The interest and attendance were maintained throughout the five ses- 

 sions as will be seen by referring to the report of the attendance, which 

 amounted to 2,150 for the five sessions, with 525 present at the closing 

 session. Among the results of the institute has been a marked change 

 in the feeling of the farmers towards the agricultural department in 

 the high school, greater attention to Boys' and Girls' Clubs on the part 

 of both pupils and parents, and better work in the classes in agriculture. 



farmers' week. 



At the close of the regular institutes, the usual Farmers' Week exer- 

 cises were given at the Agi'icultural College. Instead, however, of 

 having seven or eight courses running through the entire week, Monday 

 afternoon and Tuesday were given up largely to lectures and demonstra- 



