The Mankato free press., 1910-04-22


bury to assist him in establishing
, farmers Institutes in the state. Mr.
Greggs work along this line was in
valuable and he was continued in charge
of the institute work in this state up
to about three years ago.
The first regular state appropriation
for carrying on this work was gotten
in 1887 through the efforts of Mr.. I'll.
+. Hoard. then a member of the state
senate. 1t was for 81 800 I'm 1880
this was raised to $4,000 where it
remained until 1895 when it was again
given a boost up to $l2,5O0. Later it
went to $l3.500, then to $4,000 and
in 1904 was made $4,000, at which
figure it has since remained.
"The Farmers Institute Annual is
the title of book issued each year.
containing a report of the work done,
papers on various subjects by experts
and much other information very val
liable to the farmer. These ANIMALS
are distributed free at the Institutes.
The edition for 1909 was 10000 copies.
From it | learn that in the year which
closed July 81, 1909, there were held
3l2 regular Institutes, Of two sessions
each, attended by total of l0S, $50
persons, an average of 34S each. There
were also 3l4 special institutes held
| with total attendance of 81 900, av-
erage Is. The total expense incurred
was S23.3S6.63 OF which $lS,69690 is
chargeable to the institute work proper.
A collection of these ANNALS makes
Il valuable scientific library for the
| farmer
1t can be readily seen from the
figures given above that a great
amount OF work is accomplished at a
very small expense considering the
ground covered and results obtained
| | was told IL few days ago by Mr.
w. w. 2. Mcconnell one of the state
institute conductors, that during the
last season he held ffty-six Institutes
with total attendance of about 3D.
600, averaging about 625 per institute,
which was a substantial growth over
the preceding year.
A new phase of the institute work
that was introduced this year in few
places and will be made general next
year, is the Offering of prizes for the
best specimens of various farm prod
ucts exhibited at these Institutes.
| Where Oned day sessions are held $5O
will be devoted to this purpose and
Sl00 for two day sessions, the places
where Institutes are held being re-
quired to provide these amounts.
Another movement resulting from the
| institute work is the organization of
| farmers clubs, and the furnishing of
| scientific assistance to the members
Ninety such clubs have already been
organized in Minnesota and il is the
aim to place them on the same plane
as that occupied by the commercial or
business mems clubs of the cities.
Work similar to that in Minnesota
along the lines referred to is being ear
ried on in every state in the union.
Another method of state promotion
of agriculture that should not be over
| looked, 4 very important one and one
which undoubtedly antedates all others,
| is the system of fairs held annually i'm
| the various countries and states in this
country. These fairs are largely edu-
cational in that they bring into com
parison and competition for prizes the
various products OF the farm. They
offer q means for social recreation as
well as for the exchange of IDEAS. the
comparison of methods in planting
Ecultivating and harvesting crops and
along other lines that are instructive
and stimulating to the advancement OF
agriculture The modern fair. how
ever, has so many side issues. such as
horse racing cheap shows and other di-
( versions Of an amusement order. that
i'm some instances the real purpose for
the holding of such exhibitions is lost
! sight Of They are. nevertheless as a
whole beneficial. especially to the pro-
gressive farmer who is seeking for
knowledge and is constantly on the
lookout for new methods and new
ideas which will add to the efficiency
with which he pursues this industry.
| 1t has not been my intention i'm
| this paper to treat this subject in
minute detail or from scientific stand
point What has been given here is
but mere skimming over the sur
face of what | consider to be one
of the most important and far reaching
! subjects relating to the industrial life
! of our nation. 1t is far too important
to be handled by novice or in fact
by any one who is not well versed
along its various lines. What | per-
, sonally know about agriculture could
j lave been told in a very short time
| and with few words. What | have
presented here is largely the result Of
! tie Investigations, experience and writ
+; in3s of others. therefore | do not claim
(, originality for much of the informa
! tion | have presented.
! As Il general conclusion | would say
| that the function of the national gov
crnment in the promotion of agricul
| ture is more along the line of scientif-
ic investigation. general research and
experiment and tic PRONUNCIATION of the
rCsul.s obtained in this work through
t'c medium of TIE several state agen-
cies.
, TIE state being closer to the people
most interested il naturally follows
/ ttat its function should be more
along direct educational lines in the
prcnaration OF the individual for the
, performance of the actual work de-
manded and the practical application
of tie knowledge gained to the pursuit
of agriculture in its most advanced
F, forms.
In closing wish 10 again quote from
Mr.. Liohton's article. referred 10 al
thr beginning of this paper. As to
what an acre i worth he says:
The question Of real value rests 'on
the earring power and on nothing else.
Earning power has doubled and doubled
! again and again so why
shouldn't values have mounted higher
and gained permanence The future
will show that our preseEt