farmers' institutes in the united states. 387 



minnesota. 



The legislature of Minnesota, by art ai:)prove(l April 14, 1003, re- 

 pealed all former legislation in regard to farmers' institutes in that 

 State and provided for tlieir future constitution, government, and 

 support in an entirely new act com])osed of fifteen sections. A board 

 of administration is created by the act, consisting of three meml)ers 

 of the board of regents of the University of Minnesota, the president 

 of the State Agricultural Society, the president of the State Dairy 

 Association, and the president of the State Horticultural Society, 

 to have charge of the execution of the act regulating the farmers' 

 institute work throughout the State. This l)oard of administration 

 is authorized to appoint a State superintendent of farmers' institutes, 

 whose term of office continues for two years. The board of adminis- 

 tration, in conjunction with the superintendent, arranges the insti- 

 tute circuits and determines the times and places where institutes are 

 to be held. The duties of the superintendent are defined as follows: 



To superintend the several institutes when located as herein provided; to 

 engage competent instructors therefor ; to receive, examine, and reiHjrt upon 

 all bills for expenses and services payable from established appropriation, and 

 at the end of each fiscal year to make a detailed report of all farmers' insti- 

 tutes held under his direction, with an itemized account of all expenditures 

 under this act during the year last past, to said board of administration. 



The board of administration is directed to prepare and publish 

 each year a farmers' institute annual. Thirty-five thousand copies 

 of this publication were sent out last year. The law requires that — 



Each meeting shall continue for not less than one day nor more than three 

 days, with morning, afternoon, and, when practicable, evening sessions. Each 

 shall be free to the public, and each shall consist of practical and instructive 

 lectures upon topics pertaining to thoi farm and home, and with incidents and 

 addresses, discussions, and illustrations of such methods and practices as 

 ix)ssess real merit and are adapted to the conditions of our agriculture, the sole 

 object and puriK)se of these institutes being to disseminate practical knowledge 

 ui>on (juestions pertaining to agriculture, horticnlturo. stock and dairy farming, 

 with the least expense and inconvenience to the people of the State. 



One hundred and five institutes were held during the past year, 

 consisting of 227 sessions. All of the institutes held were one-day. 

 The total attendance was 52,125, and the amount of money appropri- 

 ated and expended was $18,000. There were 10 lecturers upon the 

 State teaching force. The coHege and the experiment station were 

 not represented upon the lecture corps. There are no local county 

 organizations of institutes in the State, the superintendent selecting 

 pei-sons in each locality from year to year to a.ssist him in organizing 

 and conducting the local work. A few women's institutes were held 

 dining the year, and the superint(Midcnt has also started cooi)erative 

 field experiments in conjunction witii the State experiment station. 



