The Courier. (Genoa, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1903-03-06
FARMERS INSTITUTES.
What They Have Accompli he'd and
Might Accomplish In
This State.

The various 5uate Agricultural Col
leges and Experiment Stations are po-
tent factors in the advancement Of
science in agriculture, and it is safe to
say that no department of their work
is more effective and productive of
more direct results than that of Farm
ers Institutes.
While comparatively new in this
State, they have been carried on for
years in eastern >tates and for some
time in our sister State, California.
1t has been the history of the work in
every State, that when first begun in
any section, it was looked upon with
Indifference, coldness and even suspi-
cion, but that as soon as the farmers
have realized what these institutes are,
and what their aim is, there has been
a demand for them. In most of the
eastern states and in California today
the demand for these meetings is so
great That the farming interests have
forced legislative appropriations of
large amounts TO carry on the work.
The Farmers Institute is in its in
fancy in Nevada, for it was but little
over year ago that the first institute
ever held in Nevada, was held at Elko,
and proved a great success. Others
have been held at Gardnerville and
Loyelock and still other drGtes are on
the calendar. We have met the same
difficulty that other States have met
before us not a GOODNESS and feeling
of suspicion in our case however, but a
lack of knowledge OF the what and
why OF the institutes. AS a result
our first audiences have not been large.
but this was not to be expected Each
succeeding session of an institute
brought 4 larger audience than had az.
tended the preceding session; for as the
farmers learned the object and some
thing of the benefits to be derivea
from the discussions, they gladly at
tended the meetings, so that at The
final session of an institute We spoke
to a full house. One of the first things
we have met on going to a new pla e
Is: "Well, are you going to teach the
ranehers how to ranch?' And the tingt
of irony with which this is said is very
noticeable. he idea is one of tht
things which initiate against the insti
tutes. Our first duty has therefor,
been to show the farmers that ii is MOI
our purpose to pose as "knoW-it-all,' ,
! but that we are carrying on this worl
for mutual advancement-that we %
TO the farmer because he has not tn,
: time to come to us; that We are ther,
to talk over the great agricultural
problem, to exchange ideas; and tina
We expect TO receive from these meet
ings as much rs we give. j he re ul
o. this work in Nevada are aire5 i,
apparent in many ways. The Exper.
nent Station is being brought nat,
? closer contact with those for who's,
benefit Congress endoNs it. rhe ata
ton STAFF are meeting the agri .ultsra
5 conditions as they exist, and are thu
, enabled to carry on their work in
mlch more satisfactory manner. a
we gain the confidence of the farmin
, communities of tho { te, tie worl
will be far moro effective, and we shal
be able to perfect scientific agricultuu
5 and place it upon the high plane whial
it occupies in other and older tates.
NATHAN e. WILSON.
l Vice Director and hemist Exper,men
Station.