The record-union., 1896-09-06

bound up in the prosperity of California
have observed with regret that our far
mers, though acknowledged leaders in
horticultural branches, have only to a
very limited extent caught the spirit OF
progress which is awake in some of the
most important people with whom they
must compete. Relying upon their vir-
gin soil and admirable climate. too many
have been inclined to sleep while the
world passes on and leaves them behind.
The institute system which is doing so
much for our competitors, has not the
hold which it should have in California.
This is ont the fault of the agricult-
This is not the fault of the agricult-
ural college, whose staff has always been
anxious to engage more widely In TINS
work and to awaken in this State the In
terest in institute work which is felt
elsewhere.
SPECIAL EFFORT ON THE PART
OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY.
It is not to the interest of California
that this lack of life and organization
among farmers should continue. In the
public interest, therefore, the Regents
of the University have this year appro-
priated funds for a large number OF IN
stituteS.
At each institute held this year time
will be devoted to the discussio nof the
relations of the University of Califor-
mia to the agricultural interests of the
State. The object of this discussion Will
be to ascertain, in the light of all the
facts which will be presented, the means
and methods whereby the resources OF
fnr
they are taxed can be most wisely ap-
piled for their benefit. Such lnforma-
ton as is essential to an intelligent
Judgment will be laid before each instl-
tute, and upon the facts thus presented
and the expressions of opinion that are
obtained, the Regents will In due time
act with the intent to adopt such meas
ures as shall seem best adapted to pro-
mote the agricultural interests of the
State.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MEET
INGS.
1t is desired to hold not less than nifty
Farmers Institutes in this State during
the next six months. Other things be-
ing equal, communities applying first
will have the preference. AS a pre-
requisite to the appointment or an IN
stitute it is required:
1. That twenty or more persons, and
as many more as possible, shall signify,
in writing, their desire for an institute
and their intention of attending it.
2 That the use Of a suitable hall,
heated and lighted as may be neces-
sary, shall be assured without expense
to the State.
3. That there shall be committee of
one or more persons who shall be re-
sponsible for all local arrangements, in
Guiding the proper advertising Of the
meeting by means of posters, and by
frequent notices in the local press and
programmes printed at local expense.
Compliance with the above require
ments may be certified to the Organizer
in any way which may make clear to
him that they have been complied with,
but blanks for the purpose will be sup
piled on application to him at the ad-
dress given below.
Any person who desires that an insti-
tute be held in his vicinity may be one
of the first to get an application on file
by, Immediately upon reading this, Sc
curing the requisite signatures and
causing the committee called for to be
appointed. AS it is expected, now that
public attention is called to the subject,
that there will be more applications
than can be granted this year, the above
will be wise course for anyone inter-
ested to pursue.
SUGGESTIONS TO APPLICANTS
FOR MEETINGS.
Preference of date may be specified in
the application, and will receive due
consideration. but dates cannot be set
until the applications are all in. 1t
will be necessary to arrange them in
series in such a manner as to involve
the least loss of time and travelling ex-
penses on the part Of instructors
The institute will be of one or two
days duration, as may be desirable.
1t is desired to take up at each insti
tute the subject Of the most practical
Importance to the vicinity In which it is
held, and to have present as lecturers
experts in those subjects. Suggestions
as to topics for discussion are desired
from committees.
There will be no expense to be paid by
local communities except such as may
arise in conr ection with the use of the
hall and printing Of programmes of the
meetings.
After the date Of an institute is SET
and a few weeks before the time, ap-
propriate posters should be up in suit
able places throughout the district.
Programmes should be distributed by
the committee, which will, as nearly as
possible, indicate the subjects and the
lecturers
The local press will always be willing
tC be helpful, but the editors will need
the assistance of the local press com
mittee in collecting facts of interest in
connection with the coming institute.
The work of the institute will consist
of lectures followed by queries and re-
plies, and brief, pointed discussion and
statements of experience. 1t is desir-
able that the time be about equally di-
vided between the lectures and the dis
cussions. One session of each institute
should be devoted to woman's work and
home interests in general.
1t is urged that oranges, alliances,
farmers clubs, fruit exchanges, horti-
cultural and dairy societies, and other
organizations of farmers take the lead
in promoting these Institutes, and that
they begin by appointing the required
committee: but the university must in
sist upon the evidence of individual sig
natures to show that the subject has
been presented to at least twenty diff
ferent persons and received their ap-
proval. Resolutions of organized bodies,
however, accompanying the application
will be very notable additional evidence
of local interest.
Address all correspondence relating
to the holding of institutes, topics for
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