8 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



of Hartford, Conn., State Road Commissioner, who discussed "Road In- 

 struction and State Aid;" Prof. Chas. S. Plumb, of the State University, 

 Columbus, Ohio, who talked on "The Dairy Cow" and "Profitable Pork 

 Production," and Prof. Orville T. Bright, of Chicago, who gave an illus- 

 trated lecture on "Rural Schools as They Are and as They Should Be," 

 and also gave two talks before the County Teachers' Institute which 

 formed one section of the Round-up. In addition to the assistance they 

 rendered during the holding of the county institutes, President Angell 

 and several members of the faculty of the State University showed their 

 interest in the work of the Farmers' Institutes by attending the Round- 

 up and delivering addresses. 



On Wednesday and Thursday mornings, conferences of the State lec- 

 turers and the secretaries of the county institute societies were held, at 

 which the details of institute work were discussed and arrangements 

 made for continuing the work. The effect of these conferences cannot 

 fail to be beneficial to all who took part in them. 



During the last year, as has been the case previously, the railroads of 

 the State have made it possible to extend the work of the Farmers' In- 

 stitutes by offering reduced rates to the State lecturers and have in- 

 creased the attendance at the Round-up Institute, by selling tickets at 

 one fare for the round trip. These favors have resulted in a great benefit 

 to the institutes and merit hearty commendation. 



In closing, I desire to extend my thanks to the State speakers for the 

 hearty cooperation they have given and, especially, to yourself and the 

 faculty of the Agricultural College, President Angell and the faculty of 

 the State University, President C. T. Grawn, of the Central Normal 

 School, Prof. Delos Fall and his colleagues in the office of the State De- 

 partment of Public Instruction, and the members of the Forestry and 

 Highway commissions who have devoted so much of their valuable time 

 to this work without recompense. 



During the year, two persons who were among the pioneers in insti- 

 tute work in Michigan have passed away. Dr. R. C. Kedzie died in Nov- 

 ember, 1902, and Mrs. Mary A. Mayo in April, 1903. 



Dr. Kedzie was one of the first to propose the holding of Farmers' In- 

 stitutes and took a prominent part in the first meeting. He was inter- 

 ested in the work and for many years devoted a considerable part of the 

 winter vacation to attending these meetings. Each year he had some 

 new subject which he had been investigating to present to the farmers 

 and always received close attention. 



Mrs. Mayo was the first woman speaker employed in the institute force 

 in Michigan and was always a strong advocate of a special session for the 

 women. For a number of years she devoted the winter months to attend- 

 ing Farmers' Institutes in Michigan and other states and many of her 

 utterances are still household words. 



L. R. TAFT, 

 Superintendent. 



Michigan Agricultural College, June 30, 1903. 



