Farmers' Institute

When the Webster Farmers' Iustitute opened at the Congregational chnrch in Webtser Wednesday morning only a small number, mostly ladies, were present. This was oaused by the absence in Aon Arbor at the ineetiog oL the Washtenaw Mntnal Fire Insurance Co. of a large part of the male popnlation of that seotion. George Merrill, president of the Webster Farmers' Club, occupied the ohair. The meeting opened with a vocal s.election by Miss Julia Ball and was followed with prayer by fiev. G. C. Morehonse. The first speaker was Rolland Morrill, of Benton Harbor, the state speaker, who spoke of one day farmers' clnbs and fariners' istitutes, their aims and objects, the relation they bore to each other, and how the üiovement carne to be first establisbed. Farmers he said were gettiug to be a class of specialists in that many went into one branch of the business and confined themselevs to it. Farmers are bnsiness men although rhey are nor so classed They are learning to drop the things that are not profitable. The fertility of the farm mast be maintained, however, as that is the farmer's stook in trade. An exchange of ideas is highly beneficial as no one oarries all the knowledge in his own coat and farmers' clnbs, institntes and granges help the farmer in this way. Mr. Morrill's address was followed by a declamation from Durr Queal, of Dexter. Mr. Merrill next spoke on "The Objecta and Metbods of Praning," in which he bronght out many ideas that were entirely new to his hearers. In the discussion that followed Cyrus M. Starks and John Williams took the principal pare. An adjonrnment of one hour fnr dinner followed and coffee baving been prepared by some of the ladies in the school house those who had brongbt their lunoheon with them lepaired to that building. The afternoon meeting opened with a vocal solo by Miss Julia Ball, ib the absence of the Webster quaitet. The sizn of the audience had tnaterially inoreased. Cyrus M. Starks' paper on "This, That and the Otber" was the flrst to be read and it contained many good thODghts for carefnl oonsideration. He urged bis hearers to raise what was prcfitable in faruiing. Good stook, good poik, good butler and eggs and don't be afraid to go out and peddle it from house to honse. He raised the point that more men were going to get bitten on the sugar beet than on raising anytbiag else, in Michigan. We bave the Hawaiian Islands, Cuba and Mexico and their cheap labor to compete with and they will be potent factors against proflts. In anothei part of nis paper he spoke of how to keep the yonng people on the farm. It was not to be done if the parents oomplained ali the time of the hardships of farm life and piotnred to their ohildren the beauties of city life and oity oconpations. He conclnded by remarking that he knew of nothing more saddening or desolate tban a farm house wito only the old folks left in it. Mrs. George Laké reoited James Whitoomb Riley'spoem"Mo and Jim," aud then it came Jndge H. Wirt Newkirk's turn to teil "What he kuew about farming. " For a man who has not been on a farm since be was 25 years old the judge still retains quite a vivid reoollection oí what that life is and he piotnred the difference between the life of a farmer and nis family fcoday aud 40 years ago in a inanner tbat pleased bis andienoe greatly. His poiuted remarks were fnll of truth and he was heartily applauded when he sat down. Rolland Morrill's next topio was "Benefits of Intensive Cultivation." He took oooasion to compliment Jndge Newkirk for his excellent speeoh, and then proceeded to show the value of intensive cultivation, illustrating it from his own experiuce along that 'line. The addiess was followed by a free discussion after which the question bos was taken up. The evening program was as follows : Mnsio; declamation, Nate Low, paper, "Correct Living, Right Thinking," Mrs. Alice Olsarer; discnssiou; declamation, Dorr Qual; paper, "Onr District Schools," School Commissioner W. N. Lister; disonssion. Prof. Walter Denuison, instructor of Latin in the university, has been granted the degree of doctor uf philosopby haviug satisfactorily suRtaiued before the Latiu aud Üreek faculty of the university the examiuation for the degree.