FARMERS' INSTITUTES. J>7 



tiusrs. etc. The results of these colossal mutual benefit institutions are 

 too much in evidence to require any thing but a passing mention. Nor 

 will I discuss the moral side of the question, but the condition that con- 

 fronts us is that every other class is co-operative for their own financial 

 benefit, and if we are going to keep pace with them we must pit combina- 

 tion against combination. When we see every other business and pro- 

 fession solidly united in combines can we as farmers hope to be able to 

 compete with them on even ground unless we tie our interests in a com- 

 mon union? 



To a certain extent this has been done. We have in Michigan two 

 organizations which are working along this line. The grange, the older 

 of the two, has accomplished much and is deserving of most earnest sup- 

 port. I know very little of its workings, as we have no active grange in 

 oui- vicinit}', but I do know that it has been a power for good in many 

 rural communities and that its power has been felt in both State and 

 national legislation. 



The second form of farmers' organizations are our Farmers' Clubs, 

 which are of comparatively recent origin, very few clubs in the State 

 being over a dozen years old. The last five years has witnessed the for- 

 mation of over three hundred Farmers' Clubs in this State and all with- 

 out one cent paid to organizers. This it seems to me is a remarkable 

 showing and augurs well for the future of the club movement. While 

 we find a great variety of methods of conducting club meetings I will 

 briefly describe 



A TYPICAL MICHIGAN FARMERS' CLUB. 



It consists of twentj' families situated within easy driving distance of 

 each other. Meetings are held once each mouth in the home of a mem- 

 ber^ each entertaining in turn. The summer meetings are held in the 

 afternoon, the winter meetings all day or from ten until about four. The 

 dinner or supper, as the case may be, is in a majority of the clubs pro- 

 vided entirely by the hostess. A program is presented which is of practi- 

 cal value and recitations^, readings and music serve to enlighten and en- 

 liven and appeal more strongly to the young, for the club is most em- 

 phatically a family affair where all are at home from the prattling babe 

 to the grey haired grandsire. A considerable portion of the time is taken 

 up in a purely social way. 



In a number of counties, County Associations of clubs have been 

 formed, which serve as an intermediate step between the clubs and the 

 State Association of Farmers' Clubs. 



The State Association was organized with the object of bringing the 

 isolated clubs all into close relation, and to render united action possible. 

 This object has been secured. 



The "Michigan Farmer" has been a highly important factor in this 

 movement, and had it not been for its club department so ably edited, the 

 results of the last few years could never have been secured. 



That is what the clubs are. As to results, much knowledge of a prac- 

 tical nature is secured in the interchange of experience, and ideas as well 

 as in the discussion of desired legislation, existing abuses, and needed 

 reforms. A grand social time is enjoyed, resulting in the strengthening 

 of old friendships and the formation of new, a mutual confidence and re- 

 i:i 



