The Mankato free press., 1910-04-22
MANKATO FREE PRESS


| cover as wide an area as possible. The
movement is general throughout the
states of the union and from "His-
tory of Farmers Institutes in the Uni
ted States" complied by John Haml-
ton. Farmers Institute Specialist for
the Department of Agriculture, pub
lished in 1906, the information is Civ
EN- that, i'm 1905, forty five states and
territories held Institutes aggregating
l0,555 half day sessions, which were
attended by 995.l92 persons, chiefly
adults.
The teaching force employed was
995 of whom it was assertained 1856 held
college degrees, l59 had taken parTia
college course, 1870 held Normal or
high school certificates and ll6 had
common school training In addition
to this force the local managers of the
several counties in % states reporting
employed 1881 local speakers who read
papers or delivered lectures at the in
stitute meetings. The appropriation for
institute purposes by the several states
in 1908 amounted to $225,73SS9. This
development took place in about thirty
years and the greater part within the
fifteen years prior to 1905.
Mr. Hamilton says in the history
above referred TO that
'The marvellous growth 0f this form
of agricultural instruction i'm so short
a period is accounted Tor by the fact
that about the time that this move
ment began agricultural lands i'm many
states were beginning to show the in
furious effects of constant cropping
without restoration OF thee fertiizing
elements thus abstracted, and the ma
jority of their owners were coming to
realize that the restoration "of their
lands to profitable production was II
problem for the solution of which they
needed the assistance of experts who
had made Il special study of the sub
ject.
Meetings were called by the farmers
OF the various communities for con
ference and interchange of opinion re-
specting the difficulties that they were
encornterng. TO these meetings sue
cessfu farmers were invited and given
an opportunity to explain the methods
by which they had succeeded. Later as
the agricultural experiment stations
We're developed, expert scientists from
these stations and professors from agri-
cultural colleges were brought in to
announce the late discoveries of science
as these discoveries related to aericul-
ture. and to give advice as to new
methods that might be introduced wit h
prospect OF success.
The feeling of need for information
respecting their calling was so general
among the farmers and the instruction
helpful that i'm all OF the states the
demand for such instruction became m-
gent. In response to this demand the
legislatures i'm most of the states pro
vided for the support and organiza ton
OF farmers Institutes. The Indications
are that the institute has come to stay
and that ont OF the early and cruder
forms there will gradually be developed
IL system that will be thoroughly or,
ganzed for giving systematic instruc-~
tion in agriculture and become recog-
nizcd as necessary part of the gen
eral system of industrial education"
I'm order To assist the states along
this line the fifty seventh congress pro
vided. at the request of the secretary
of agriculture. for the position bf
Farmers Institute Specialist The du-
ties of this officer are:
ITO investigate and report upon the
organization and progress of farmers
institutes in the several states and ter
ritories and upon similar organiza
tions in forei On countries, with spe-
cial suggestions of plans and methods
for making such organizations more
effective for the dissemination of the
results of the work of the department
OF agriculture and experiment stations,
and of improved methods of agricultural
practice
This official has collected large
OF valuable data, including Il
list of the names of the lecturers and
institute workers in the employ of the
various states. These number about
4 900 The office. in addition to itS.
is q clearing house for.
the farmers institute workers of the
country.
In 1896 there was formed what is
known as the American Association of
Farmers Institute Workers, at Wa
tertOwn, Wisconsin. This Or9aniZa ton
holds annual meetings. each year in
different section of the country. Its
membership is composed of active work
ers in the farmers Institutes of the
nited States and Canada Such an
organization must prove of great bene-
fit and assistance i'm the development
of agriculture.
The philadelphia Society for the
Promotion of Agriculture" is, so far
as known. the oldest organization OF
the kind in this country. 1t was or
ganized in 1885. In 1857 a movement
along this line was started in Maine
but the Industry was rot officially
recognized until 1892. Maine claims
TIE honor of being the state TO or
game tie fourth agricultural society
to be formed in this country. in 1902.
and this society furnishes the germ
institute movement AT Il meet in"
held August ,. 1892 is was voted to
recommend that the members OF the
society in different parts OF the state
should meet from time To time. in
viting their ne"hhors to join them for
consultation and discussion rela ting
to agriculture. with Il view TO gather
ing information useful to the work OF
the society. This idea. which is the
fundamental principle involved in the
institute work. has been increased AMI
enlarged upon until il has evolved
the modern farmers institute for in
struction and discussion OF the prac
teal work of This industry.
In this connection it may be inter
esting to know that the farmers in
stitutc movement in Minnesota was