As has been stated by your president I was formerly a farmer. I farmed for 24 years, engaged chiefly in the dairy business at first but later got interested in general farming and stock raising, and for the past 15 years I have been a resident of Rockford endeavoring to sell wind for a living. Now I will say to you, my friends, that the callings are not to be compared. I look back with the greatest of pleasure to the scenes on the farm. I can never forget the fall of the year when the harvest was garnered. I will never forget the sight of that cellar on the farm with its large bins for the apples and potatoes and the other smaller bins of other vegetables, and after we had butchered three or four pigs and one beef, and through the fall and winter evenings my father would turn the hand sausage mill while I fed it from a pan, and how my mother in the spring would take the hams and pack them away for the summer, and the barrel of pork, salt pork, salted for the summer use and the surplus of apples that weren't used in the fall made into barrels of cider to turn into vinegar, and I remember one side of the cellar with its rows of barrels of cider turned into vinegar, and when I think of that cellar so filled, when I think of how we had a guarantee from hunger at least for months to come at that time, and then when I think of my own little cellar up here on the street, and my wife tells the grocer to send up a half peck of apples, or possibly a peck of potatoes, or perhaps half a pound of chipped beef or a pint or quart of vinegar, and you can go into the cellar and in one meal you have used it all perhaps, I can't help but think of the contrast.

I am glad to see that the farmers of Illinois are keeping apace with this progressive age in which we live. When my father came to the west from Massachusetts he forded the river here in Rockford in June, 1839, and a little later located in the adjoining county south, Ogle, near Byron, the place where our family was born and raised. He farmed the land he took up as government land until after I came to Rockford 15 years ago and I was not the oldest child by any means, there were four or five older. At that time my father, I have heard him say, looked upon this vast prairie in Illinois as something of a desert, a semi-desert as it were and he hunted around and found a piece of land that ran down to the river and had timber. He would not take the open land. There was nothing to keep you warm. And yet the progress this State has made through such agencies as the Farmers' Institute is testified to now by the magnificent homes and buildings and surrounding you find dotted all over the prairies. You find the most cultured and refined people in the State of Illinois on those farms and in the farmers' homes, and by the way, my friends, if I am ever permitted to retire from active life it will be to a home on the farm. It will be to a place where I can garner as I used to at the old home, the vegetables, the apples and all the stores we had in the cellar in the fall season. It will be where I can have the independent thought and action that can only be had upon the farm, and the advantages of ingress and egress now with interurban railroad and rural delivery you have the advantages of the city resident upon the farm without the disadvantages.

As was said by the court you take the house as the man does his wife for better or for worse. There are times when we receive each. I have but little knowledge of the southern part of this State, although I know that some of you have traveled from that extreme southern portion, but I have heard that down there they have but little use for preachers. My information in that regard was somewhat affirmed by a little incident which occurred down there last fall. Our very honorable mayor of the city of Rockford, together with a few of his friends who like to shoot quail went down that way and they stopped at a little town called Tamaroa. Now I do not know that it is a little town but I assume it is little although it produces some great men-I am not referring to this preacher. During their perambulations they met this very reverend gentlemen who had quit preaching and gone to farming and from all reports he was much more of a success as a farmer than as a preacher, but the quails strayed onto his land and the Rockford gentlemen strayed after them and they had some words with the preacher, and the result was that before they got through with the matter they had to walk up

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to the captain's desk at police court and settle. That perhaps does not have interest to you as members of the Farmers' Institute, but I am very sure it did have some interest to one of your members because I was informed today by your chairman that the first fellow he called upon was the mayor and that he had got it fixed up so there woud not be any trouble while here.

I had a slight experience with a fellow down south. The distinguishe gentleman who is to respond to the welcome comes from the city of Springfield, and I am fortunate or unfortunate, as you may term it, to have the command of the Third Illinois National Guards regiments and when we go into camp one of the first things is to instruct the soldier in his discipline and I found at our last encampment a fellow running a blind pig" in a tent. You all I guess know what a "blind pig" is. And I sent him word to quit, and as he did not I sent a lieutenant with a squad to bring him in and they brought him in, and they said they did not have to stop unless I had a warrant so I sent them to the guard house and at the end of four hours they sent me word if I would let them go there would be no further trouble and on that assurance I let them go, but before the week was over the sheriff came up to my camp and he served two summons upon me for $10,000 apiece, $20,000 damages. We went down and tried the case in Sangamon county, and the judge for whom I have a profound respect, instructed the jury to find the defendants not guilty. So I say we must take it for better or for worse, but I want to say that regardless of the slight occurrence down there at Springfield and regardless of the time of the mayor had his experience at Tamaroa we want you all to have a good profitable session during your stay in Rockford and I want to say we have one of the most magnanimous mayors in the city of Rockford that presides over any city in the State of Illinois or anywhere else. Knowing that you were coming, what did he do? Yesterday before your arrival, if you had watched him you would have seen him take the keys of the city of Rockford in his hand, proceed to the police court and there locking the door, and then going upon the river and boring a hole in the ice and throwing the keys to the bottom of the river.

My friends during your sojourn among us the city of Rockford and county of Winnebago is yours, and I bid you welcome, yea thrice welcome, to this city of ours.

President: I am very glad indeed to be so heartily welcomed to the city of Rockford. I suppose the mayor's action was taken knowing the conditions as they are in northern Illinois, but down in Egypt and around Tamaroa the preachers have gotten in their work ahead and it will not be necessary for such protection, especially not necessary for Egyptians.

I have the pleasure of introducing to you Colonel Mills of Springfield.

Colonel Mills: I think you have all heard of Rockford socks. We all have Rockford furniture in our homes, and whenever we want any good legislation we come to Senator Andrus of Winnebago county for it and I can tell you he was the father of the best bill that has been introduced into the legislature, and I am sorry he is not here. Geo. W. Curtiss of Jo Daviess of this district has the honor of having done a great many excellent things for the agricultural interests of Illinois. You have one of the greatest breeders of Illinois in your county, Mr. Lovejoy. There are a great many things that Rockford, Winnebago and this district excel in; but I have been placed on this program to give a fitting response to the address of welcome, and as I never know when to stop unless I confine myself to a paper, because then you have some encouragement, I will find a stopping place.

RESPONSE TO ADDRESS OF WELCOME.

MR. PRESIDENT, CITIZENS OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY AND MEMBERS OF THE ILLINOIS FARMERS INSTITUTE: It has been a great pleasure to this large and intelligent gathering of the best people of this peerless State to listen most

attentively to the cordial, hearty and eloquent address of welcome from the citizens of Winnebago county, so sincerely expressed by Mr. Fisher, who in a very gracious manner has voiced the greeting of hospitality and good cheer extended to the Illinois Farmers' Institute on the occasion of its seventh Annual State Meeting.

On behalf of the Illinois Farmers' Institute it is my great privilege to respond to the welcome extended, and to assure the speaker and his constituents that the cordial spirit of the welcome is most heartily reciprocated.

This large and splendid assemblage of intelligent and progressive farmers gathering from all sections of this premier agricultural State is the most eloquent that can be presented to the citizens of Winnebago county of our high appreciation of the preparations made for this meeting.

It is due the local committee to say that the very complete and satisfactory arrangements made for the entertainment and enjoyment of all in attendance at this conference will add much to the brilliant record of the Winnebago County Farmers' Institute and the intelligent and prosperous class of farmers it so creditably represents.

Much has been expected of this meeting, and it is safe to say that an ap preciative audience, such as is gathering here to-day, will vote the Rockford conference of the Illinois Farmers' Institute the most interesting and successful of the series of very instructive annual state conventions held by this organization.

The committee appointed by the Illinois Farmers' Institute to prepare the program for this meeting anticipated the complete arrangements that have been made by the local committee for the entertainment of this intelligent andience and have made corresponding effort to provide such a range of topics and such ability on the part of the speakers as will ensure a full measure of enjoyment and instruction to all in attendance.

It may not be out of place in this connection to call brief attention to the rare excellence of the program that has been prepared for this meeting.

The address of President Kinzey and the report of Secretary Hostetter will contain a review of the work of these faithful and industrious stewards, and the showing made of the rapid and healthy growth of the Farmers' Institute work in Illinois during the past year cannot fail to cheer and encourage the advocates of this very efficient and popular agency for promoting the interest of all engaged in rural pursuits.

The class work each morning on corn culture by that original investigator and able leader in the study of this all important cereal will largely increase the general fund of information on this subject and will add new laurels to that popular teacher, Prof. A. D. Shamel.

The class address on domestic science each morning will certainly be largely attended by all the ladies of this convention, and there will be no lack of interest in the proceedings.

That very successful promoter of better home making will confirm and increase the widespread esteem entertained for the pioneer in the advancement of household science in this State, Mrs. H. M. Dunlap.

Prof Blair's popularity as an eminent authority in all matters pertaining to horticulture will ensure him each morning a large and appreciative audience of parties interestedin fruit culture.

Prof. Mumford, who has charge of the animal husbandry work in the college of Agriculture, University of Illinois, is so well and widely known as an able and interesting instructor in this line of study that we can speak postively of the great satisfaction that will attend his class work each morning.

The program for the dairy session prepared by the State Dairymen's Association, the session in charge of the Illinois Association of Domestic Science, the topics and speakers presented by the Illinois Live Stock Breeders Association, Illinois Horticultural society, ensure the presentation of the most advanced thought on lines of study by leading authorities well known as popular speakers.

The evening session with such unexcelled attractions as Kerrick, Carter, Kern, Bradfute and Miss Hostetter will ensure crowded houses and a ful measure of enjoyment and benefit.

That splendid leader in the campaign of centralized schools, Prof. O. J. Kern, the county superintendent of schools for Winnebago county, has provided a very unique program for the boys and girls of the district schools which will not only be an original feature in the institute work, but will suggest a very profitable line of effort worthy of emulation. This session will be made very complete by the stereopticon lecture by Prof. O. T. Bright, county superintendent of schools of Cook county.

Not the least of the interesting and important sessions will be that devoted to the demonstriation of the results of the operations of House Bill 315, introduced into the Senate by Hon. Henry Andrus, of Winnebago county.

House Bill 315 provides for the co-operation of the practical and successful men engaged in all lines of rural husbandry with the scientific and progressive investigators directing the work of our State agricultural experiment station.

Under continued wise direction and the hearty co-operation that should exist between these mutual interested forces much practical information of great benefit to the agriculture of the State will be obtained.

Not a few of those present as they look into the intelligent faces indicative of the strong characters in this audience, hear the able practical papers of the speakers and listen to the dicussion from the floor will ask the very pertinent question, who is this sturdy young giant known as the Illinois Farmers' Institute that has been making such rapid strides in all sections of the State in the mustering into service of such an irresistible and patriotic force for the advancement of agriculture?

There are many in this audience who need not be told that the splendid campaign so ably conducted recently and carried into every farm neighborhood in this State that resulted in the construction of the largest, the most complete and creditable agricultural college building to be found in the world was the work of this sturdy young giant known as the Illinois Farmers' Institute.

It is well known that the influence so potent in creating such wide spread interest in the cause of agricultural education that has resulted in the increase of over 500 per cent in the attendance of students at the college of agriculture was exerted very largely by that sturdy young giant known as the Illinois Farmers' Institute.

The uprising in the thousands and thousands of farm homes in all sections of the State in the very general movement looking to the adoption of better methods of housekeeping, the more healthful preparation of food, and the establishment of such domestic relations as will ensure the best physical, intellectual and spiritual conditions was inspired by the young giant known as the Illinois Farmers' Institute.

The beautiful and worthy helpmate of this young giant, the Illinois Association of Domestic Science, has more than met the fondest expectations of its original promoters, and it may soon be said as a result largely of its benign influence, "that our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones polished after the similtude of a palace."

Not the least of the splendid achievements of this young giant who has exerted such a wide influence in promoting the material, intellectual and spiritual interests of the rural population that can be reached, is the inauguration of the free circulating library that may be had in any neighborhood for the asking. We read that "In the selection and purchase of books for the Institute libraries only those are chosen which are known to be the best of their kind. The character of the books in each library has given complete satisfaction and the communities which have been so fortunate as to secure libraries have without exception made good use of the books.'

Secretary Hostetter will doubtless give full particulars concerning the hundreds or more libraries that are doing such excellent missionary work in all sections of the State.

The pedigree of this splendid young giant is short and traces to the Illinois State Board of Agriculture which carefully nursed the infant in the eighties, when its secretary, assisted by Prof. Morrow, constituted the active force of aggressive institute workers in this State. A few members of the State Board of Agriculture and a very limited number of progressive farmers assisted for several years in the endeavor to hold congressional institutes at railroad centers in some districts.

The initial institute meetings had such a limited attendance as to discourage the local committees, and the interest in the excellent papers presented was very indifferent.

The institute movement was far from popular, and for some years it was difficult to locate congressional institutes or secure the presence, much less. the co-operation of the citizens of the place of meeting or the attendance of the farmers adjacent to the town where the institute was held.

The suggestion of a county institute in the early history of this work would have subjected the party to ridicule.

Later a few county institutes were organized, and the good work slowly advanced until Hon. Geo. W. Curtis, of Jo Daviess Company, introduced a bill into the General Assembly providing $50.00 annually for each county institute.

Said measure required far more effort in and out of the legislature to secure its passage than was expended in the recent canvass that resulted in the appropriation of $150,000 for the State agricultural college building.

This small annual appropriation of $50 to each county institute by the General Assembly, and the more important aid thus given the movement in the way of State recognition of the great value of the institute work, served a most valuable purpose in stimulating county organizations.

In 1894 twelve county institutes through their duly appointed delegates met in Springfield and organized an association known as the Illinois Farmers' Institute, and this temporary association largely assisted in securing the passage, in 1895, in the thirty-ninth General Assembly, of the act creating the Illinois Farmers' Institute under whose auspices we meet to-day.

For the next two years the Illinois Farmers' Institute, without State aid, made an earnest and successful effort to organize county institutes, to hold State meetings and otherwise promote the work provided for in the act creating the same, for that of assisting and encouraging useful education among farmers, and for developing the agricultural resources of the State.

In 1897 the General Assembly manifested its high appreciation of the results attending the endeavors of the Illinois Farmers' Institute by making an annual appropriation of $7,500 for its work.

The continued and increased appropriations made by each succeeding General Assembly, and the rapid growth of the work in recent years by this organization, is familiar to this audience which will be quite unanimous in voting the results accomplished by the Illinois Farmers' Institute as entitled to the brightest page in the history of the development of the agriculture of the State.

I have just simply outlined to you what a magnificient foundation the farmers of Illinois have laid, the depth and breadth; what a magnificient development we have. I ask leave to print the remainder of my speech for the reason President Kimzey and the secretary and myself all touch on the same topics, and we have agreed that we will take or separate our respective parts in presenting the work of the Illinois Farmers' Institute and will try and make it very complete in your report.

PRESIDENT: We will now have the address of the Secretary, Mr. A. B. Hostetter, who has been with us for years and who needs no introduction.