The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-07-27
The Farmers Institute Movement.

The Farmers Institute Movement.
To one who keeps in touch with what
is going on in the agricultural world.
nothing is more remarkable than the
development of the farmers institute
movement. While not so very recent in
It's first inception. the widely ex-
tended recognition of the necessity for
such work is the most notable feature of
agricultural progress that has been man
ifested since the passage of the Hatch
act, which provided for the organization
of experiment stations in each state and
territory.
The land grant act of 1862 was the first
recognition by the national legislature OF
the importanCe-a aye. the absolute neces-
sity for--the establishment Of Institutions
that We're to be devoted especially to the
teaching OF those branches of science
that relate to agriculture and the me-
ChaniC arts. These colleges Of agriculture
were established by most of the states
during the war period" but of course,
the appropriations We're not available to
the southern states until after that period
1t required but a few years after the re-
construction, however. for the latter sec
ton TO fall into line. and for nearly thirty
wears the list Of agricultural colleges has
been complete-one in every state and
territory.
1t did not require a long time to develop
the fact that something more than tech
meal education IN the agricultural
sciences was necessary There needed to
pe skilled experimentation and research
in field and latoratory-fo the farther en-
richment of the resources of the agricul-
tural colleges. There needed to be more
actual facts in order to sustain and con-
firm the teachings of the lecture room.
and to give broader and more practical
range To tho work of the professor.
It was but a short while after the or
ganzation and development of the ex-
pertinent station i8ea-preceded by the
agricultural college scheme-when It was
found that the great mass of the farmers
Of the country was not being reached and
directly benefited by the agencies then IN
dustrioUsly working. There was (and Is
yeti very large number of farmers
throughout the country who did not avail
themselves Of the opportunities for &C
curing an agricultural education while
young. Indeed, those opportunities We're
totally inadequate. and are yet, to the task
OF educating the millions OF young men
who were destined to follow the footsteps
of their fathers. SO it is that the great
majority Of the farmers OF today have
enjoyed no specia advantages in the wa )
of agricultural colleges and schools, al
though very many of them have become
more or less well Informed by means Of
reading books, agricultural journals and
the bulletins of the experiment stations
1t Is now the aim of the farmers inst-
tute organization to reach this great
mass composed Of the well-informed and
the iess-informed. and to scatter among
them the Dread Of life" agricultural
The farmers institute. in its essential
definition, proposes to carry directly to
the formers the scientific knowledge that
In. been gathered from all sources, along
with the practical results of experimental
ton It does not by any means, disdain
the practical and successful farmer-the
man who has never seen the inside OF
college" of any sort. On the contrary.
some Of TIE most efficient and successful
of tile institute workers are men of this
very sort
Indeed the institute idea Is close akin
IN some respects to the old camp-meeting
idea of some of the church workers. Not
only do scientific professors and trained
experiment station workers lecture
preacm. but so-called practical farmers
are called upon to give in their "eXperi-
ence." and are prepared to confirm by
their own experience the teaching OF the
professional teacher and the trained Elk
! erimentalist ii is happy and effective
combination of talents