DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 55 



The attendance, considering the weather, was most satisfactory, and 

 the proceedings interesting and instructive. A full report of the ad- 

 dresses and discussions is now in the hands of the printer. 



One new and important feature of the convention was the conference 

 of county secretaries, brought together by invitation of the Board to 

 consider matters relating to the institutes of next year. Adjacent coun- 

 ties were grouped in such a way as to economize the time of workers 

 and the funds of the State, and methods and means were as fully dis- 

 cussed as time allowed. 



The Farm Home Reading Circle, supported financially out of the 

 institute fund, has increased in membership and usefulness during the 

 past year in a A'ery satisfactory manner. Through the institutes, and 

 by means of circulars sent through the mail, it has been well advertised. 

 A new circular has just been issued introducing to members the best of 

 the nev,' books on topics related to agriculture. These books are being- 

 ordered freelv and are widelv read bv Michigan farmers and their fami- 

 lies. As agriculture becomes more and more specialized, the need of 

 tlio instruction given by these books becomes correspondingly empha- 

 sized. It is a hopeful sign that farmers are a])preciating tliis need and 

 are taking the wisest course to satisfy it. 



The State appropriation for the work of the year was $5,500. which 

 was expended as follows: 



Salaries |2,680 05 



Travel 2,397 17 



Postage and printing 227 35 



Incidentals 102 82 



Farm Home Eeading Circle 73 95 



Freight 9 G6 



'!-!' 



Total 15,500 00 



REPORT OF DEAN OF THE SPECIAL COURSES. 



To the President: 



I submit herewith a brief report of the special courses during the 

 college year 1899-1900. There were ottered five special courses as fol- 

 lows: The course in Creamer3' Management, in Live Stock Husbandry, 

 in Cheesemaking, in Fruit Growing, in Greenhouse Management and in 

 Beet Sugar Production. 



All courses, excejrt in cheesemaking and beet sugar production, 

 began January, 1900. A change was ma<le in the seipience of the 

 courses this year, that in cheesemaking following the creamery course 

 and immediately preceding the opening of the cheese factories in the 

 spring. 



The attendance upon the several courses was as follows: 



Fruit fi 



Cheese 17 



Creamery 26 



Live Stock 17 



Beet Sugar 5 



Total 71 



