The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-11-14
FARMERS, INSTITUTES.
An Explanation OF their Scope-A Meeting
Next Week to Arrange One for
Carroll.

Farmers Institutes in Maryland are a nov
city to the people, though in about twenty of
the states and territories they have been in
operation for many years, and are acknowl-
edged by farmers to be of inestimable value,
by bringing before them the most practical
information aud in a form more comprehen-
sive than any other method yet conceived.
The work is a far reaching system of popular
education in agriculture. So vast a scheme
of university extension has never been under
taken in any other line. The institute is the
adult farmers school where men or women
skilled in all departments Of agriculture and
from any section of the globe will have an
opportunity TO meet our farmers, and by lee.
lures, essays or practical lessons from the
platform, or in the field, orchard, stable and
dairy, explain the preparation and the value
of foods and feeds as such, uses and needs Of
plants, the composition and methods of ap
plying insecticides and fungicides, the char
acteristics of breeds, breeding and their care,
testing milk and making butter, preparation
of products for market and marketing, ect.
In short information on all agricultural sub
jects through the medium of the Farmers In
stitute, is brought to the farmer and not sent.
Scientists at the same time learn the needs
of the farmer and the problems regarded as
most necessary of solution and finds out from
results of actual practice the truth or falsity
of theories and deductions made from expert
ments on a limited scale. The views OF both
farmer and experimental are broadened, ana
sympathetic relations are established by the
close social contact which marks the institute
in its most perfect form.
By an act passed by the last legislature an
appropriation of $4,000 was placed at the
disposal of the Board of Trustees of the Mary
l.. he
cred to carry into effect the provisions of the
act, which is to hold an institute in each
county of the state, and more if the appro-
priation will Justify so doing. The trustees
have appointed as the director of the new de-
partment Mr.. VIM. L. Amoss, farmer OF
Hartford county, who is now engaged in or
ganizing the work. preparing programs tor
each county, employing lecturers and essay
its. securing halls and making such local pre-
partitions as will insure successful meetings to
be held during the winter months. In this
work Mr. Amoss desires to conform as near
as II is possible to the wishes and needs OF the
farmers and hopes to have their assistance
through local committees, one IN each county,
composed of two or more members from each
election district, who will be asked to furnish
him with list of subjects which they desire
treated at their meetings; name suitable
place of meeting, give the names of practical
agriculturists who can assist in the work at
home or in other counties, for expenses or a
reasonable compensation, and give much
other information relative to the needs OF
their respective districts from time to time as
will enable the department TO do most effect
ual work with the state appropriation made to
assist its agricultural interests.
All farmers aud others interested are in-
vited to meet the Director of Farmers lnsti-
tutes, Wednesday, November IS, at ! Il. M,
in Westminster, at the Court House.