Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-27
FARMERS, INSTITUTES.

The Agricultural College of Utah is
authorized by law ito hold meetings.
Institutes. ono or two-week schools. ex-
hibltions, and demonstrations for the
instruction OF the citizens of Utah in
agriculture and domestic science" At
least one such meeting must be held in
cacn county every year.
Tho law provides further that at the
close of each years institute work. tho
Agricultural College shall cause to be
published in book or pamphlet form, for
free distribution to the farmers of the
State. an annual report of the institute
work. which report shall contain the
leading papers and discussions present.
ed at the institute meetings of the
State. The report just issued, for the
year ending Juno 80. 1909. is devoted to
poultry. The reader will find therein
the respective merits of different STAN
dard breeds of chickens set forth by
admirers of each kind. with many prac-
tical suggestions as to the successful
management and care OF poultry.
The history OF the farmers institute
movement in Utah occupies the first
chapter of the book. 1t appears that
the movement emanated from the
Agricultural College itself in 1906, when
the first state law was passed provid-
ing for farmers Institutes. 1t says:
THE president OF that institution,
Prof. j. II. Paul. realized that the work
of the Agricultural College was reach
ing but very small per cent of the
farmers and farmers sons of the State.
a few of the boys were attending the
Agricultural College. but only few
OF these were taking agricultural
courses in that institution. The plans
for these institutes were therefore ma
tured at the Agricultural College, and
acting upon these suggestions, the Hon.
]. r. Murdock, representing Wasatch
county, introduced Il bill. making II the
duty OF the Agricultural College to con-
duct farmers Institutes In each county
of the State at least once In each year,
beginning July 1, 1896. The trustees and
faculty were instructed 10 make ar
rlngemcnts for these Institutes, to
make such rules and regulations In or
ganizing and conducting them as they
deemed proper, and to employ an agent
or agents to perform such work. in con-
nection with the faculty of the college,
as they might deem best. The law pro-
vided that the course of instruction at
these Institutes should be so arranged
as to present to those in attendance the
results of the most recent investiga-
lions In theoretical and practical agri-
culture. 1t also made il the duty OF
those conducting the Institutes to as
sist In the formation and organization
of local agricultural societies. The law
further provided that at the close OF
each season OF institute work. there
should be issued an annual report in
book or pamphlet form, for free dis
tribution to the farmers OF the state"
Only $500 was appropriated for car
rying on the work the first two years,
but In 1918 like amount of the reg
ular college funds was used for this
purpose by DR.. Widtsoc.
During the last year. twenty-five
travelling schools were held. and these
were attended by 26.e2e men and wom-
en-. The audiences and the interest
manifested were far beyond the antIci-
patton of the workers; more requests
for the Institutes and schools were re-
ceived than could possibly be filed The
Increased interest and attendance have
entirely justified the employment OF a
special agent to take charge of the
work
BY the provisions of the new law a
sum not exceeding $4,000 in any one
year IS appropriated by the state for
the Institutes.
The conception and subsequent de-