The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-01-17
Farmers Institutes.

DUvAL, January IA, 1889.
To the Editor of the Statesman
AS you have already announced through
your columns, it is proposed to inaugurate
n system of Farmers institutes for Texas
and the first meeting of those interested
in this movement will be held in the city
of Austin February 7, 8 and ..
1 would like to draw the attention of
your readers, and particularly of my
brother farmers, to the importance OF
this meeting and the value OF
such institutes. To those not familiar
with the aim and object of such institu-
tions would say that they bear the same
relation to the farmer as Teachers in
stitutes do to school teachers. They are
meetings for mutual improvement in the
science of agriculture and kindred pur-
suits.
II will readily be allowed that the farmer
requires training and knowledge to make
his occupation Success. This is truer
now than at any previous period of our
history.
Many organizations have been estab-
lished for the amelioration OF the farmer
and have been more or less successful. In
recent years the Grange and Alliance have
done much to excite their members to
better methods of agriculture and busl-
ness, but they have not covered the whole
ground.
Farmers institutes open the door
for all. Everyone interested
pursuits can attend without having to
take obligations, and give signs or pass
words. There is absolutely no condition
of membership, but everything is open
and free to all. No religion or politics is
allowed in the proceedings.
In short, Farmers institutes are simply
meetings of farmers at which papers are
read and addresses delivered by those who
have made q special study or success OF
any particular branch of agriculture. The
| fullest discussion of the various questions
raised 10 allowed, and thus new and i'm
proved methods are suggested, which can
not fail to advance the farmers interests.
! Such institutions are common in the
northern states, where they are hand
somely supported by government funds
and have been productive of immense
benefits, and l venture to believe Texas
offers quite as good field for the work as
any other state. However successful and
prosperous the farmers of Texas may be
as a class, it will be conceded that there is
much yet to learn, and higher prosperity
| possible.
Our agricultural college and expert.
mental station are doing good work in
this direction, but their efforts and bene-
fits would be greatly helped by a wide
spread system of county and district inst!
tutes, where our professors and scien-
tists could meet the practical farmer
and discuss all problems and theories
bearing on his important occupation.
The advantages would be reciprocal.
The man with the hoe, though not scien
tifio in his methods, has fund of practical
knowledge that is not to be despised in
the absence of sound scientific knowledge
and the learned professor can learn much
from communion with the unlettered
! farmer.
hope everyone who reads this viii
think it over, and, if possible, attend the
inaugural meeting, and by every mean:
help to launch this enterprise successfully
By so doing they will do noble and
patriotic service that will rebound to theii
own credit and help TO advance the great
est of all our neutrality-suspicious. Re
spectfully, JOHN G. EDGAR.