FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 11 



iinct' of jiivin.i; them the best of care. There is uo doubt that working 

 iiloDg thesr lines the returns from the dairy interests may again be 

 nearly doubled during the next two years. This fact should receive 

 attention, and while we are making progress in our methods of handling 

 milk, the marketing and manufacture of the product, let us not lose 

 sight of the mainstay of the future prosperity of the dairy interests 

 of our State ;ind the very basis of our industry— the dairy cow. 



Two important things that would greatly aid our dairy industries and 

 so add much to the wealth of our State are dairy instructors and good 

 roads. In 1902 and 1903 I called your attention to the importance of 

 dairy instructors who should be appointed solely because of their capa- 

 bility to give instruction to the cheese and butter makers, and also to 

 the patrons of the 400 factories now in Michigan. These should be 

 under the dairy school of our Agricultural College and not be political 

 appointments in any sense of the word. Our last legislature considered 

 the appointment of two instructors which would have been a start in 

 the right direction, but for some reason the bill failed in the house after 

 passing the senate. The instructors have been a great benefit in the 

 other states that have tried this system. New York has eight and 

 Minnesota, which has lately made great progress in the dairy industry, 

 has five instructors and field workers. Under the dairy and food com- 

 mission, and in connection with the dairy school, neighborhood meet- 

 ings are held in school houses and other convenient places to instruct 

 the producers of milk and patrons of butter and cheese factories. 



The good roads question that is now being agitated more than ever 

 before should receive the careful attention of every dairy section. No 

 one thing will assist more to build up the creamery or cheese factory 

 than to have first-class roads in that locality. While better roads would 

 be of great benefit to all, to those who use them daily they would certainly 

 be a great boon. The present methods of road building are, as a rule, 

 without system, intelligent supervision, or business management, and 

 would not be allowed to continue in any other branch of our local 

 afl'airs. With the raising of an amount no larger than at present, road 

 building in our townships could be systemized, and our roads gradually 

 but greatly improved. Instil into the minds of the people in your 

 localities the necessity of acquiring the habit of building good roads. 

 The cause is worthy of your effort. No doubt the time will soon come 

 when the national government will lend its assistance in the construc- 

 tion of better highways. This should be done. If the national govern- 

 ment can spend vast amounts in improving our rivers and harbors, 

 and in the building of railroads, which is but another class of highways; 

 if it can signal the weather, modernize farming, foster and encourage 

 manufactures and aid and promote trade and transportation in various 

 ways, there is no good reason why it should not assist in the building 

 of better roads, the most useful and common of all interests it can 

 conserve. This year we meet in conjunction with the annual State 

 Farmers' Institute, and I trust we may be all much benefited by the 

 change. 



The report of the secretary and treasurer, S. J. Wilson, of Flint, 

 showed receipts of |30G.OO and disbursements of |322.30 in the current 

 expense account. The promotion account showed receipts from member- 



