612 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



tion of the people of the State and to take such other steps as shall, in 

 their judgment, seem wise in order that the spirit of the resolution may 

 be carried out: 



A. E. Palmer, Kalkaska, Kalkaska county, chairman. 



B. C. Davidson, Rudyard, Chippewa county. 



Hon. W. J. Oberdorffer, Stephenson, Menominee county. 



Stewart Gordon, Luzerne, Oscoda county. 



Fremont E. Skeels, Assistant Secretary, Agricultural College. 



CONFERENCES. 



Tuesday, February 22, was devoted to a conference of Institute work- 

 ers. The following program indicates the scope of the conference. Dis- 

 cussion was free, and there is no question about the good results of such 

 a meeting. The following is the program : 



CONFERENCE OF INSTITUTE WORKERS. 



HON. C. J. MONROE, CHAIRMAN. 



Tuesday Afternoon, February 22, 1898, 1:30. 



1. "How to get the most out of an Institute," Geo. McKerrow, Superintendent of 

 Institutes, Wisconsin. 



2. "The position and work of the Institute Conductor in Michigan," C. B. 

 Charles. 



3. "How can local work be improved?" A. E. Palmer. 



4. "One-day Institutes," Wm. Ball. 



Evening, 7:00. 



1. "Gleanings from the Institute field," T. B. Terry, Ohio. 



2. "The sunshine and shadows of Institute work," Mrs. Mattie A. Kennedy. 



3. Roll call of workers for this present season, with one minute suggestions. 

 from each, for improving the work in Michigan. 



Evening, 8:30. 



Social hour. Lunch served by the Domestic Economy Department of the College. 



CONFERENCES OP INSTITUTE OFFICERS. 



Each forenoon of the Institute proper, there was arranged a confer- 

 ence of officers of Institute societies. The meetings were delayed in 

 starting by the abominable street-car service, but nevertheless we had 

 good conferences. A goodly number of officers were present, including 

 some of the most progressive in the State. The subjects discussed, as 

 shown in the program given below, were those which concerned the 

 detail work of managing Institutes. They are subjects that are not 

 always of interest to the outside public, but they are of utmost impor 

 tance to those who are trying to make Institutes a success. The best 

 illustration of the strength of Institute work that we have ever had ex- 

 hibited was shown in the animated discussions on these various topics. 

 We did not have half time enough. Two or three, and sometimes half a 

 dozen were clamoring for recognition at the same time. Almost without 

 exception the remarks were crisp and to the point. There can be but one 

 opinion as to the value of these conferences of Institute officers, and we 



