FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 343 



soldiers in life's battle, must go forth with energy so firm, zeal so great, that we 

 may be able to plant the standard of truth and right upon a sure foundation, and be 

 brave and manly enough to bring to any honorable calling dignity and the fruits of 

 education and culture, strong and courageous enough to bear the burdens and 

 responsibilities more loyally for the discipline thus received. 



WELCOME ADDRESS. 



JOS. GLASSON, SR., GAYLORD, AT OTSEGO COUNTY INSTITUTE. 



We believe that ours is a good country to live in. I do not mean to say that we 

 can grow pineapples or bananas with success. Neither would I recommend the 

 planting of an orange orchard, but we believe that with the judicious selection of 

 fruits, vegetables, and cereals that are adapted to our land, and with industry and a 

 measure of common sense rightly applied, this is not a bad country to live in. It is 

 true that for three or four years we have suffered severely from drouth, but not 

 more, if as much, as in some of the southern portions of the State. Our clover has 

 failed to catch during these drouths, but not more so than in the counties below, and 

 if we have suffered from the ravages of the grasshopper, it has not been worse with 

 us than in some parts of the State that are supposed to possess superior advantages. 

 It is true that the snow continues on the ground until the spring is somewhat 

 advanced, but owing to the genial influence of the lakes we have but little cold in 

 the fall, and when visited by a cold spell you will usually find that it strikes them 

 much more severely further south. It was generally supposed ten years ago that we 

 could not grow corn. It was admitted that we had the right kind of soil, but the 

 seasons were too short, but we have demonstrated after several years' experience 

 that corn can be grown with success and profit. In 1894, while our friends below 

 were utterly bewailing the failure of their corn crop, it was our pleasure to husk, in 

 many instances, 100 bushels per acre of good corn. Our potatoes, for abundance and 

 quality, are known far and wide, and yield from 200 to 300 bushels per acre. 



OUR DISTRICT SCHOOLS. 



PERRY OSTRANDER, GRAYLING, AT CRAWFORD COUNTY INSTITUTE. 



It seems to me that some who write about our district schools have very little 

 idea of the actual situation of the public schools in some of the newer parts of the 

 State. We are taxed unreasonably high and are yet unable to secure good schools. 

 Some of the laws recently passed by the legislature, while no doubt desirable for 

 the older settled portions of the State, only increase the difficulties under which 

 we labor. I have taken pains to inquire into the condition of some of the districts 

 in this county. 



Let us commence with District No. 2 of Grayling township. Last year this district 

 voted to raise one hundred and fifty dollars, to be assessed on the taxable propei'ty 

 of the district. The treasurer succeeded in collecting a trifle over thirty dollars. 

 That, with a balance left over from' the previous year, gave them a two months' 

 school. They now have seven dollars on hand with the prospect of getting about 

 thirty dollars more. (They will lose their share of the primary money.) Their 

 house needs painting and their platform and steps are rotten and unsafe. Out of 

 the five sections comprising this district, only three-fourths of one section pays 

 taxes. How about their five months' school, their flag, their toilet set, etc? 



The next district east in Grove township voted to raise one hundred dollars for 

 expenses and succeeded in collecting fifteen dollars. Passing south we come to 

 the Waldron district in South Branch township. Here they contracted to have a 

 five months' school which they obtained by cutting wages and the price of board. 

 District No. 1 of Center Plains township has thirty-five dollars on hand. They 

 voted to raise one hundred and fifty dollars, but their director says he dare not 



