OfV 



rO RURAL MICHIGAN 



tioii and for the purpose of special teaching in agri- 

 culture. The boys are selected competitively, the 

 examination covering both eighth grade and agri- 

 cultural subjects. This service is extended to the 

 most distant counties of the State, and, although its 

 cost is high, its benefits are deemed by Fair officials 

 to warrant the outlay. 



The annual event at the Michigan Agricultural 

 College, known as "Farmers' Week," attracts large 

 numbers of farmers to the institution to observe ex- 

 hibits of farm products and processes, and to listen 

 to addresses and discussions of a wide variety of 

 topics related to agriculture. For a few weeks each 

 Avinter, also, short-courses of instruction are given at 

 th3 College, especially designed to meet the practical 

 needs of men and women directly from the farm or 

 desiring brief scientific instruction in relation to 

 agricultural and rural problems. These winter 

 short-courses involve studies in agriculture, horti- 

 culture, dairying, beekeeping, farm mechanics, farm 

 management and other departments, which should 

 have the result of reducing agricultural knowledge 

 to system and the improvement of methods. 



Two of the State's normal schools likewise have 

 undertaken agricultural instruction in somewhat the 

 same manner. Not only do the normal schools give 

 courses for the training of teachers for rural schools, 

 but the Western State Normal School at Kalamazoo 

 annually gathers together farmers and persons inter- 

 ested in rural life and rural social work to hear 

 addresses by some of the country's most distinguished 



