St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-02-16
POINTERS FOR INSTITUTES.
Money Put in Seeds by the Gov
eminent Might Better Be Given
to Institutes.

Money Put in Seeds by the Gov
eminent Might Better Be Given
to Institutes.
Mr.. Morton, superintendent of farm
institutes in Wisconsin last year, says
among other things, in letter to Waldo
T. Brown: "There is evidence accumu-
lating that out of them Farmers lnstl-
tutes) will grow permanent and self-sus-
tanning organizations which shall. carry
OH the work in the future without assist
ance from the state" He also made an
other suggestion which Mr.. Brown says
he should like to see thoroughly dis
cussed in the agricultural press. 1t is
that the money now spent for seed dis
tribution by the agricultural depart
ment at Washington be devoted to
institute work, national institute
department established and a band OF
workers sent to hold three days meet
ing in each congressional district; and,
that northern men be sent south ana
southern men north so that they may
study each others methods and learn
the habits and ways OF the different
sections.
As to the latter proposition we have
no doubt that even the wicked war had
its benefits which. feebly perhaps. go to
offset its disasters, in the way OF each
side learning more of the character,
soil and climate of the different sections
and the habits of their people. In the
same way. and under more favorable
circumstances, would the cOmminglng
of delegates help to liberaliZe and har-
monte: but we doubt if the farmers in
Northern Vermont and Southern Lou
isiana could make any great gain IN
EXCHANGING IDEAS
regarding the manufacture Oh sugar.
We have examined the methods used in
both places and are not sure that one
section could advise the other greatly in
farm methods, but we heartily agree
with the gentleman in wishing to divert
the seed distribution money into chan
mel likely to be more practical and ben
eficial.
In long acquaintance with the seeds
distributed by the department we recol-
lect only a few instances where we nave
| ever received much benefit from seeds
received from Washington. There is
| scarcely one farmers institute held i'll
| this state where ten might be profitable.
Accompanying the board of agrlcult-
ure to Coos county this season, we
heard farmer remark. at the close OF
one of the meetings, something ike
this: 1--WE have had a good meeting,
| but come next week and we will pack
| this hall for you. The fact is, a few
| farmers have come here and thoroughly
| enioyed the meeting and got walked up.
| They will get together at the stores
| and talk it all over and keep up the in
terest little while, and they will not
have another opportunity for long
| time"
1t may lie argued by some, we sup
| pose. that the Grange and Farmers cluD
offer sufficient food thought: Thls may
be partly true, but those who have had
experience in agricultural discussions
carried Oh by local talent, however
| good. know that man soon goes his
round, and the crowd learn just about
what will be said, and tire of it. What is
wanted at institutes is something fresh.
Members of the board of agriculture
| have only their expenses paid, nothing
| for their time. How can they afford the
time to go all over the state preaching
| the gospel of agricnltureW Members
| of the dairymen's association do not
have even their expenses paid, and the
secretary has a very large correspond
| ence. and an annual report to make and
| furnish a copy for publication. He
! does not even get pay for stationery
used in making it. Ass board OF .agrl-
culture and dairy meetings, or lnstl-
| tuteS are held, almost the only way to
get fresh speakers is to swap horses"
with other states adjoining. This IS a
difficult thing to manage on account OF
the collision Of days when parties are
| engaged.
| Last year the Vermont speaker eX-
pected did not appear at the dairymen's
| meeting. as we could not offer enough
to induce him to leave his private bust
ness, which had gone behind ID r, the
blizzard of the previous week. This
wear we were unable to advertise a
| popular speaker from Maine for whom
| it was expected to make a ''Swap."
| These thing are difficulties hard to
meet without funds. 1t may be said
that the general government appropri-
ates Literally by the Hatch bill.
Granted. But this is for a different
object, mainly scientific research, not
talk.
Experimental work and speaking by
practical farmers at institute meetings
are both important, but the institute
work is the most direct and will give
the quickest returns for money eX-
| pended. Institute work should be sup
| ported, either by wise use OF moneys
appropriated for agricultural purposes
| at Washington, or by suitable appro-
priations by the state legislature.
We, for one, favor divertlng the seed
distribution money into this channel,
thinking that farmers will derive a
much greater benefit than by distrbut-
ing seeds of doubtful nature to fav-
ored few friends and voters.