The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-01
------Hs-----7------7----~- AGRICULTURAL.
FARMERS INSTITUTES.

The writer has been holdlnB IarinerS institutes continuously in Texas and the Indian Territory holding daily sessions and frequently three sessions--two in the day and one at night The farmers are more earnest and attend these meetings with more promptness and regularity than ever before.
 I have been holding the meetings in Texas in connection with Prof. c. W. Carson of the Texas Agricultural and Mechanical college. l have met with many new and funny experiences. l find in most places where I have held meet ings that the farmers are very much dis couraged and demoralized. They seem at a loss to know just what to do or when to do 1t. I have been brought Up against some things that should like very much to discuss and to sound warning on, but 1t Is hardly popular to do so now I fear that many of our farmers are being misled on certain lines, and that they will see this later on have no doubt.
 Organize for Education.
 Every day l meet with evidences Of the need of agricultural education among the people, and that farmers should organ ize for education there is no question. The questions that come up in our meet ings every day show the great need of this education. Now 1 want to call at tention here to an experience I met with recently.
 I was invited to address a farmers or ganization In a town situated in rich agricultural district. This farmers or ganization has been in existence for over six months. The district president was present also the loeai president and secretary and over one hundred members all of whom were greatly interested and wanted information l was kept on my feet for six hours, four beIore dinner and two after dinner, and If I had not had to catch my train there is no telling how long they would have held me.
 Now the strange part of this thing was that these people wanted information on nearly every crop grown In this country or that might be grown, and had to go into detail in giving directions for plant ing growing and marketing such crops as potatoes-sweet and Irish-ohions, toma- toes, beans cucumbers, melons and can- taloupes. clovers and grasses. forage crops; also live stock, poultry, hogs, mules. calves, and the dairy business. So was at no loss for subjects. and the questions propounded showed clearly that these people needed to be instructed in the very rudiments of agriculture. They need to commence right in the primer. The very first primary lessons they need to learn.
 As they were asking me so many rudi- mentary questions I was thinking, How have you spent your time in the many meetings you have been holding for months? Now A hint to the wise is sufficient, and I was and am glad to be able to give all this and much more in- formation Yet we will have our thoughts. and mine would run this way in spite of all I could do. Now here is an organ ization of farmers who have been holding regular meetings all winter passing reso- lutions, the sense of which in many cases has been that the world is against them, especially the banks and railroads and yet they sat and waited for the railroad to come and give them the information.
 The other night I went to town to hold a meeting. Over one hundred farm CTS came in-this was another farmers organization that had been in existence for some time-yet they had never heard the gospel of diversification preached from a primary point of view. and they kept me on the floor until 12 o'clock answer ing questions and giving Information on fruit, vegetables, forage crops and stock.