FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 30L 



LAPEER COUNTY LAPEER. 



The Institute held in Lapeer was somewhat of a peculiar nature — 

 peculiar from the fact that the local talent in a large measure made it a 

 place to vent their good or ill will about passing events, such as taxation, 

 free silver, tarifif, the purchase of stock for the Institution for the Feeble 

 Minded, etc., with some matters pertaining to farming thrown in. The 

 court house was used for the occasion, and though it was court week 

 Judge Smith kindly divided the time and gave most of it to the work of 

 the Institute. The weather was inclement and the , attendance not as 

 large as it would otherwise have been. Those having the work in hand 

 did all they could to make it successful. President Lee was on hand 

 during the different sessions and kept matters moving along in good 

 order. The secretary was accommodating and active in his duties. It 

 would seem that in a town the size of Lapeer more music could well 

 be furnished. What was furnished was excellent, showing that more 

 might be made available. The address of Gov. Rich on taxation brought 

 out a very animated and somewhat acrimonious discassion. Whether 

 such subjects in Institute work are very beneficial is a question upon 

 which men and women will probably differ. The discussions brought 

 out at this Institute, to our mind, did not add materially to the good of 

 the Institute. 



LENAWEE COUNTY ADRIAN. 



The Institute was largely attended. The woman's section was an 

 interesting and instructive feature of this Institute. A large number of • 

 ladies, both from the city and adjoining country, were present at these 

 special sessions. The subject of "Grading Grain" proved to be one in 

 which the farmers were alike unacquainted and one which was of vital 

 importance. The discussion " on this and other topics suggested by 

 papers presented at the Institute was one of its best features. The 

 music was good, and the local city papers furnished excellent reports 

 of each day's proceedings. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY HOWELL. 



The splendid court house here is an exceptionally good one to talk in, 

 A Farmers' Institute is not a new thing in Livingston county. They 

 were well up in all the questions that were discussed at Institutes. The 

 officers were devoted to their work, and upon all questions they wer(> 

 ready and able debaters. The interest was well distributed between 

 cows, sheep, horses, pigs and chickens. The farmers emphatically follow 

 mixed husbandry. Long wool sheep had more friends than the fine short 

 wool, or else the long wool men were more ready to defend the sheep of 

 their choice. It is one of the counties where the Institute manager need 

 not be afraid of selecting the wrong subject, for they seem to be deeply 

 interested in all that pertains to the farm, the home and the crops. 



