108 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



I do believe that there is need of education among the farmers, and I 

 think there is education needed along a practical line, and this is the 

 attempt of the Farm Home Beading Circle — to bring within reach of the 

 farmers the education which they cannot secure otherwise, and an educa- 

 tion which is practical and helpful in everyday life. 



I might say that we realize as well as anyone that the Farm Home 

 Beading Circle is not perfect, but we are making an honest effort to 

 improve the educational features of the Circle, and we are trying, the 

 best we are able, to bring it within reach of every farmer in Michigan. 



Q: What is the expense of this course? 



Mr. Mumf ord : There is no expense whatever connected with the Farm 

 Home Beading Circle except the purchase of the books that are used in 

 the course. The people outside of the State are charged a membership 

 fee of $1.00, but inside of the State, there is no expense whatever, except 

 the purchase of books. The books can be secured at the wholesale price, 

 and they vary from 15 cents to $3.00. It depends on the kind of book 

 you get, but the total expense of the first class is, I think, $3.13. 



FOECING VEGETABLES UNDEB GLASS. 



THOS. GUNSON, AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



Horticulture is in full sympathy with the ceaseless activity of the age. 

 Vegetables are grown in greater variety, of better quality, and the mar- 

 kets are supplied earlier and later in the season, than was considered 

 practical by previous generations of men. 



Perhaps the most satisfactory returns in the vegetable business have 

 been made with the aid of well managed hot-beds; but the increasing dif- 

 ficulty of getting sufiicient stable manure, that has heretofore served the 

 two-fold purpose of heating and fertilizing, at anywhere near its real 

 value, is compelling growers to erect permanent glass houses, heated by 

 steam or hot water circulating through iron pipes, for growing vege- 

 tables in winter, spring, and early summer. I am not prepared to say 

 whether vegetables are any better grown in this way, but there is the 

 advantage of their being grown with less care and at less expense, besides 

 being able to keep up a constant supply at any season of the year. Thus 

 equipped, the vegetable growler is not so dependent on seasons, as he 

 practically makes what weather he requires, and his goods are ready to 

 sell at a season of the year when competition is not so keen, and prices 

 rule higher. There is abundant evidence to prove that this way of grow- 

 ing vegetables is rapidly growing in favor. Thousands of feet of glass 

 houses are being built every year for this purpose alone. Near some of 

 the large eastern cities this work has reached a degree of perfection never 

 dreamed of a few years ago. In fact, it was only after there had grown 

 a demand for fresh vegetables in winter and spring by these being 

 brought from the south, that any attention was given to growing them 

 in the north in this way; and now, the greenhouse product is made to 

 compete successfully in the home market with the goods brought from 



