302 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



MACOMB COUNTY — MT. CLEMENS. 



The Institute at Mt. Clemens was held in a large and commodious hall. 

 Bo far as the attendance was concerned, it was something of a disap- 

 pointment; but so far as the interest of those who attended and the 

 excellence of the limited papers presented was concerned, it was all that 

 could be desired. One session was well attended by the farmers who 

 came in from the surrounding country. Others were attended by a few 

 farmers, but by a fair audience of city people. A few very intelligent 

 and deeply interested farmers came in from the remote parts of the 

 county and remained through all the sessions. Circuit Judge Eldridge 

 deserves special mention for the interest taken. There is a high degree 

 of intelligence among the farmers of Macomb county, but it requires 

 Farmers' Institutes or other organizations to bring it into activity. 

 They largely follow mixed husbandry in that county. 



MANISTEE COUNTY — BEAR LAKE. 



The attendance at this Institute was drawn from probably larger ter- 

 ritory than any other at which we were present during the winter, several 

 coming over thirty miles, and that regardless of the fact that the meeting 

 was held seven miles from a railroad. The president, Mr. George W. 

 Hopkins, was well adapted to the position. He kept the speakers well 

 confined to the subjects under discussion, and saw to it that the program 

 was carried out promptly. The light soils and rather hilly condition of 

 Manistee county made the "good roads" question rather important. The 

 fertilizer question, and what forage crops to grow, are the questions of 

 the near future for this section, and along these lines we believe is the 

 important work for succeeding Institutes. At this Institute we met 

 women who could do the best talking back in meeting of any place that 

 it has been our fortune to visit. Nor was there any lack of well informed 

 talkers among the men, which made all the sessions very interesting. 

 These people appreciate the value of the Institutes. 



MARQUETTE COUNTY MARQUETTE. 



This was the first Institute ever held in Marquette. While the county 

 is very largely devoted to mining interests, yet some very good farming 

 lands are found in certain sections. The percentage of farmers to the 

 total population of the county is small, and we suppose that this, in a 

 large measure at least, explains why so few farmers attended the Insti- 

 tute. The hearty support given the Institute by the residents of the city 

 of Marquette was highly commendable. Especial interest in the follow- 

 ing subjects was manifested: Fertilizers, potatoes, small fruits, dairy- 

 ing and poultry. The surprise manifested at the exhibit of farm and 

 garden products which was made clearly showed that there were possi- 

 bilities in Marquette county resources which were not generally known. 



