The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-08-04
FARMERS, INSTITUTES.

During the past thirty years the scientists
have worked out and reasoned out the
causes that produced the effects noted upon
the farm and In the gardens and herds Of
stock Seeking these causes has been termed
scientific research. until now we have n
new system Of agriculture based upon their
Investigation. Many farmers OF the present
day have not enjoyed the opportunities OF
early scientific training, but they gladly
welcome the facts that have been developed
through the painstaking research Of others.
In many cases these facts are Of the great.
est agricultural Importance and bear direct
ly upon the profits OF the farm, Meetings
at which these facts are clearly and sls.
tematically presented by trained teachers
are called institutes. As some one has said,
They are agricultural colleges on wheels,
A number of progressive agricultural States
have established these Institute systems.
Under n system of State farmers insti-
tutes. such as the one this congress holds
today, meetings may be held In every pog
tion OF Texas. Such well regulated prunta-
BILE meetings, should be encouraged by every
inhabltant Of the State. At least one such
institute should be held In every senatorial
district annually, and this should ne under
the general control of the Agricultural and
Mechanical college. which institution should
have fund provided for the support OF this
work. Twenty-onc States In the Union eX
pended the sum OF $4,000 for farmers in
stitutes during the year 1899, uud New York
State Is conspicuous for its liberal liked ap
preparation Of $4,000 per annum for this
purpose This sum pernllts the holding Of
some 400 meetings. Ohio eXpends $4,000
annually, Illinois $500. Minnesota $1,000
| PENNSYLVANIA $1,000 Wisconsin $1,000
| Michigan 5000 and Indiana aud Vermont
| 5000 each. Other States support Institutes
also. but we have not the data az hand ind.
| eating their expenditures. When once tried
they are never abandoned Your committee
! believes that institute system as operated
! In Wisconsin peculiarly well suited TO con
/ ditlons prevailing In Texas and we present
! an outline Of proposed bill, which should
! be presented to our legislature Mt Its next
session for passage.
II Is certain that no money ever expended
| nv the State of Texas Will return such prof
! its upon the Investment as Will this small
| sum annually placed In The hands Of the
| Agricultural and Mechanical college for the
| support Of system OF farmers Institutes.
Your committee does not disregard or un-
! dcrrate the educational power OF IN excel
/ lent agricultural press. with which we are
all familiar. nor are we unfnlndful OF the
gigantic efforts that are now being mt fortl,
companies to Instruct their growers III an
that is best In the new system OF GgIlcul
ture: but we deem those enterprises some
what beyond the scope OF this report us arc
some other educatve factors In our great
| State. With them you are already cooper
! ating and working most harmoniously, ana
we trust that all OF these agencies may ioin
hands with congress In the active support
of the cducativc campaign that may be
agreed upon at this session OF the congress
j. II. Conncli, College Station,
Chairman.
]. D. Fields. Manor
| O. f Dornbazor. Hillsboro;
Il. w kirkpatrick, Mckinney;
Oswald Wilson, Houston.