140 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



the wheat crop, and to the ladies the value of flour made from Michi- 

 gan grown wheat for bread-making and other purposes. 



A second railroad institute train was run in June, 1912, for a period 

 of 13 days. It started from Bay City over the Detroit and Mackinac 

 road and spent four days in getting to Cheboygan, returning from 

 there over the Michigan Central railroad to Bay City, where the train 

 was transferred to the Grand Trunk. Two days were spent upon this 

 road upon the Saginaw and Muskegon divisions, and four upon the Ann 

 Arbor between Owosso and Copemish, 



The State Library, the State Dairy and Food Department and the 

 State Millers' Association co-operated by furnishing speakers and 

 demonstrators. The trip was very successful although the attendance 

 was somewhat reduced by the rush of farm work at that time. 



THE COUNTY INSTITUTES. 



The number of farmers' institutes held in Michigan has been steadily 

 increasing. For several years, meetings have been held in all, or particu- 

 larly all of the counties in the Lower Peninsula and in a majority of the 

 counties in the Upper Peninsula, but during the institute season of 1911- 

 12 county institutes were held in every county south of the Straits of 

 Mackinaw and in all but Keweenaw county in the Upper Peninsula. 



With few exceptions, the meetings included five sessions, beginning 

 in the forenoon of the first day and concluding with the afternoon session 

 of the second; a few counties, however, held two-day institutes with 

 six sessions and otJiers extended the program over three days. 



The success of the county institutes was almost always in proportion 

 to the ability of the secretary of the county institute society and the 

 interest taken by him in perfecting the local arrangements, and in adver- 

 tising the meetings. 



The largest attendance was at the Saginaw county institute which 

 was held at the Burt Auditorium in the city of Saginaw. Some years 

 ago when meetings were held in Saginaw they were but poorly attended, 

 the farmers taking very little interest in the institutes held in the city, 

 although when they were held at other points a goodly number attended. 

 It was frankly stated that it was not possible to hold a successful farm- 

 ers' institute in a large city, and esi:)ecially in Saginaw. This year, by 

 securing the co-operation of the Saginaw Board of Trade, the meeting 

 was thoroughly advertised and an attendance of fully 2,000 was secured 

 at each of two of the sessions and the auditorium was always well filled. 

 A valuable feature of this institute was an exhibit of agricultural 

 products by farmers, and of implements and tools, which would be of 

 interest to farmers, by a number of manufacturers. 



It was unquestionably one of the most successful and helpful farmers' 

 institutes ever held in Michigan and the credit is very largely due to the 

 efficient secretary of the Saginaw Board of Trade, Mr. J. P. Tracy, who 

 was indefatigable in his efforts to make the institute a success. One of 

 his methods for advertising the institute is commended to the officers 

 of institute societies in other counties. It consisted in furnishing read- 

 ing notices regarding plans for the institute, the speakers, etc., to the 

 newspapers for several weeks before the date of the meeting, and in send- 

 ing cards, circulars and programs to farmers all over the county. While 



