FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 323 



without any special prompting. It should, be so. The Institute system is a wise 

 one. It is one of the most valuable instrumentalities we have for the dissemination 

 of agricultural and horticultural information and improved methods. Those who 

 have conducted these gatherings are deserving of praise for their labors. — Practical 

 Farmer and Fruit Grower, Mar. 13, 1896. 



The woman's section of the Farmers' Institute, tried this year the first time, has 

 by its evident success proved its right to live, and must in future years be highly 

 useful to farmer women and ladies generally. — Coldwater Sun, Jan. 30, 1896. 



The work done in the Institute has been very profitable to those who were able 

 to attend regularly and those whose business interfered were well repaid for the 

 time spent in this direction. The attendance at all times was very good and 

 unusual interest was shown in the proceedings. The gathering together of people 

 from all parts of the county to attend such meetings is a good thing for the 

 people, city, county, and everything concerned, as it fosters interest in the welfare 

 of the community at large, and the interchange of sentiments, and the relating 

 of experiences in the various lines of agriculture, gives others the benefit without 

 the loss sustained in actual trial for themeselves. — Coldwater Daily Reporter, Jan. 

 30, 1896. 



What with the lectures, addresses, papers and discussions all combined on 

 objective points, the instruction of the farmer was well taken care of, and Bear 

 Lake saw more genuine farmer enthusiasm and heard more sound farmer talk 

 than ever before. The weather was exceedingly favorable, with good sleighing on 

 all sides, not permitting of the accustomed excuse from the farmer who would 

 like to see something in the weather to prevent him from attending and not 

 ruffle his conscience for staying at home. The large attendance not only gratified 

 but surprised the majority of the ofl^cers and promoters. From a comfortably filled 

 hall on the opening morning, the audience grew larger than the seating capacity 

 during the afternoon session and at night packed the hall to overflowing. An aver- 

 age of 400 was maintained right through. As for the enthusiastic manner in which 

 the audience "took hold" in the discussions, and whenever proper, making the 

 dryest subjects interesting, cannot be justly estimated in figures. — Manistee Times- 

 Sentinel, Jan. 17, 1896. 



The State Farmers' Institute which was held in this village Tuesday and Wed- 

 nesday was the most successful gathering of the kind that has ever been held in 

 this county, and we doubt that in the excellence of the papers read and the inter- 

 est manifested by those in attendance that it has been exceeded by any Institute 

 held in the State. Representative farmers were present from nearly every town- 

 ship in the county. Careful attention was paid to each paper read and the discus- 

 sions were at all times spirited. — Bad Axe Democrat, Jan. 24, 1896. 



Those farmers who failed to attend the Institute are great losers. It was an 

 opportunity they could not afford to miss, and we trust hereafter, when these 

 Institutes are held in the county, every live farmer in the county will make it a 

 point to be present. — Gladwin County Record, Nov. 29, 1895. 



The splendid attendance showed how interested the agriculturist is in his voca- 

 tion, and every session was a credit, not only to the professors from the Agricul- 

 tural College, but to the farmers of Branch county. This Institute demonstrated 

 beyond question that the appropriation made by the State to help on the work, 

 as here exemplified, is well expended, and it is doubtful if the State expends any 

 equal sum for public purposes that as richly repays the State as the sum expended 

 upon Farmers' Institutes. — Coldwater Courier, Feb. 1, 1896. 



That the Institute has been a grand success, is evident from the number of ear- 

 nest men and women in attendance at each session, the deep interest taken in the 

 papers read and discussed, as well as in the questions asked and answers given. 

 The interest in the attendants did not wane when they left the hall, for in stores, 

 hotels, and on the streets could be seen groups of men and women engaged in 

 earnest conversation about the proceedings of the Institute. — Alma Record, Jan. 

 31, 1896. 



The value of these Farmers" Institutes is difiicult to compute, as the seed sown 

 in the Institute this week may lay dormant for many days, but its ultimate growth 



