FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 135 



sons fixed in our minds the facts learned from lectures and books. 

 These were lessons that were practical, definite and clear. Our interest 

 was aroused not only in this experiment, but also in the reports of the 

 many similar tests conducted at other colleges throughout the country. 

 In this way the practical and theoretical became so closely combined 

 that, to the student, theory became practice in a real live sense. 



The carcasses produced were of the most desirable character. The 

 waste was reduced to a minimum. The flesh was evenly placed over the 

 whole carcass. A large percentage of the meat was found on the most 

 valuable cuts. The backs were thickly covered, the loins wide and thick 

 and the ''leg of mutton" full. The meat showed that beautiful mixture 

 denoting tenderness and choice flavor. There were no loose bunches of 

 tallow. The fat was intermixed with the lean, adding to the quality of 

 both. 



We fed a mixed protein ration to produce flesh rather than fat. We 

 believe the results prove that our presumption was correct. 



THE CENTRALIZED SCHOOL. 



BY HON. A. B. PALMER^ KALKASKA. 



During the spring of 1902, Senator Palmer spent several weeks study- 

 ing the results secured from the centralization of schools in northeastern 

 Ohio and, although skeptical at first, he became fully convinced of its 

 merits. He not only noted the results himself but was able to obtain 

 the opinion of the patrons as well as the teachers and scholars and all 

 were unanimous that better results were secured after the schools were 

 centralized than under the old plan. Not only was better progress 

 made by the scholars but the attendance was more regular and the cost 

 was generally less. He spoke in part as follows : 



"It is impossible to obtain results in a small school proportionate to 

 the money expended. The rural school population is being moved to the 

 villages and cities, there to get better education. Of the 65,000 schools 

 in the State in 1901, over 1,000 had less than fifteen enrolled, and an 

 average attendance of less than eight. 



"Were these schools centralized, instead of scattered, the problem 

 would be simpler, but they are scattered. A centralized school can be 

 made with from two to ten districts. When two schools of twenty 

 pupils each are close together it is better to unite them. There is an 

 alarming dearth of eflScient teachers in the State, especially in districts 

 far from good training schools. Country school teachers are not well 

 paid, but they get as much as you are able to pay. Our children in 

 country schools are being taught in memorizing only. We need a longer 

 school session in the country. The average is seven months of the year. 

 The results of a short school year are not lasting. The pupils are leav- 

 ing at an earlier age than they did ten years ago. 



"When your children go into the village or city to get a higher educa- 

 tion than the country school gives, although it is allowed to give it if 



