182 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The foregoing table shows a light attendance in the Upi^er Peninsula 

 and in the northern part of the Lower Peninsula. This is largely 

 accounted for by the, high price of lumber, which tempted farmers in 

 those sections to rent their teams to lumber companies and to betake 

 themselves to the lumber camps. Next year the attempt will be made 

 to hold the Institutes at an earlier date in these counties. 



The weather during January was in the main fair. In most of the 

 counties the work of the Secretary was, although entirely gratuitous, 

 entirely satisfactory. There were occasional counties in which the Sec- 

 retaries did not properly advertise the meeting, and the attendance 

 was therefore small. 



Two-day Cojmty Institutes were held in 04 counties, besides the 

 State Round-up at Ann Arbor. The attendance was, as the table shows, 

 very light in some counties and very good in others. The average at- 

 tendance per session for the season was 160, as against 158 last year. 

 This is true, although the total attendance this year was but 55,349, 

 as against 70,143 last year. This year no session was held the evening 

 of the second day, except in eight counties, nor were there any Three-day 

 Institutes held. 



women's sections. 



Women's Sections were held in connection with fifty-eight Count}^ 

 Institutes. The very evident desire in many counties to merge these 

 sessions into the regular sessions of the Institute must be recognized. 

 The State has been particularly fortunate in the women who have con- 

 ducted these sections. The subjects treated are such as to require 

 great wisdom, delicacy and tact on the part of the speaker. 



