FARMERS' INSTITUTES, gatherings of farmers held annually in the various States, sometimes under the direct management of the agricultural colleges and sometimes controlled by other State officers. The object of these institutes is in great part the bringing together of the workers in agricultural science and the practical farmers, for the discussion of ques tions of mutual interest. The latest agricultural theories are presented and discussed and com pared with the result of practical tests and long experience. They grew out of the public meet ings held years ago under the auspices of the local State agricultural fairs throughout the United States; and they stand for improve ment in business and home life. Itist as the agricultural fairs were carried on in different ways in different localities so the institute is i free in its general manner of procedure; but it is marked by characteristics common to all assemblies and localities. In some places the institutes meet for a half or a whole day once a month; in others they are held once or twice a year and last several days. Their activities are more pronounced in the winter when the farmers have more leisure time. The develop ment of farmers' institutes has been chiefly due to the impetus given to the agricultural in terests of the country by the Morrill Land Grant Act of 1862. These gatherings are held regularly in all the States and in all the provinces of Canada. In 1899 over 2,000 insti tutes were held in this country, and the special appropriations for this purpose aggregated over $140,000, not including $30,000 funds esti mated as expended from other sources. In 1913 the funds of the various States had risen to $510,784.
In all theprovinces of Canada, as in all the States of the Union, the institutes are regularly organized with officers possessed of both prac tical and technical knowledge to direct them. Very frequently they meet under the auspices of the State Agricultural College in this coun try and under that of the province in Canada. In the beginning of their history they made the mistake of going into politics, and they suf fered for it; but since they have decided to tend strictly to the business for which they were organized, they have made great advance ment.
The institute forms a clearing-house for the exchange of ideas, of experiences and of acquired knowledge; and not the least valuable members are the graduates of agricultural col leges, the practical teachers of the same, and the modern progressive, scientific farmer. The agricultural experimental stations contribute valuable help, also, to the meetings in the as sistance which they lend to the organizers and promoters thereof. One of the most valuable features of the institute is the popular lecture, which is generally held in the evening, after the more technical work of the day's session: Movable schools , also furnish the farmers, their sons, daughters and wives with valuable instruction in subjects relating to the conduct ing of all matters pertaining to the farm. The Department of Agriculture of the United States has contributed to the improvement of the agri culture of the country by collecting publications and placing them at the disposal of the farmer. It has also organized lecture courses in agri cultural subjects, which it furnishes to institutes and lecturers, free of charge. These lectures are generally well illustrated with lantern slides.
In 1913 there were 7,926 regular institutes held in the United States; and these occupied in all 10,578 days. In addition to these there were 800 independent institutes. The total at tendance at these institutes was over 4,000,000. But this is only a part of the work done by them for they maintained 187 movable schools, which pretty well covered the country in con junction with 25 educational trains. From 1903 to 1913 the attendance at the sessions of the institutes increased over 300 per cent while the increase of the appropriations was 175 per cent during the same period.
Hamilton, 'Legislation Re lating to Farmers' Institutes) (Bulletin 241); 'Farmers' Institutes and Agricultural Work in the United States> (Bulletin 83); 'History of Farmers' Institutes in the United States> (Bul letin 174); all of which may be had from the office of the Experimental Stations, • United States Department of Agriculture.