F.VKMEKS' INSTITUTES IN THE UNITED STATES. S\)7 



OHIO. 



The faiiners' institute work in Ohio is organized under the provi- 

 sions of an act of assembly passed April 20, 1890, and amended April 

 27, 180G. Under this act whenever " twenty or more persons resident 

 of any county in the State organize themselves into a farmers' insti- 

 tute society, adopt a constitution and by-laws agreeable to rules and 

 regulations furnished by the State board of agriculture, and when 

 such society shall have elected proper officers and performed such 

 other acts as may be required by the rules of the State board of agri- 

 culture, such society shall be deemed a body corporate." Not more 

 than four farmers"' institute societies in any county are permitted to 

 hold annual meetings under the auspices of the State board of agri- 

 culture. The secretary of the State board of agriculture has charge of 

 the farmers' institute work under the general direction of the board. 



Section 3 of the act provides for the maintenance of farmers' insti- 

 tutes through the levy of a direct tax. Ohio is the only State that has 

 adopted this method of institute support. The section is as follows: 



When a society organized under tbe provisions of this act shall have hold an 

 annual farmers' institute meeting in accordance wltii the rules of the State 

 board of agriculture, the secretary of said board shall issue certihcates, one to 

 the president of the farmers' institute society and one to the president of the 

 State board of agriculture, setting forth these facts, and on the presentation of 

 these certificates to the county auditor he shall each year draw orders on the 

 treasurer of the county as follows : Based on the last previous national census, 

 a sum equal to 3 mills for each inhabitant of the county in favor of the presi- 

 dent of the State board of agriculture and a sum equal to .3 mills for each 

 inhabitant of the county in favor of the [(resident of the farmers' institute 

 society, whore but one society is org;inized ; but in counties where there are 

 more than one farmers' institute society organized under the provisions of this 

 act and holding meetings under the auspices and by the direction of the State 

 board of agriculture, tbe said 3 mills for each inhabitant shall 1)0 ('(jually 

 apportioned among such societies, and warrants in the proper amounts issued 

 to the respective presidents, and the treasurer of the county shall pay the same 

 from the county fund: Provided, That in no county shall the total annual sum 

 exceed two hundred and fifty dollars: And pmridcd further. That the payment 

 to any institute society shall not exceed the expeiiiie, as per detailed statement, 

 provided in section four of this act. 



The act, it will be seen, provides permanent county institute organi- 

 zation and secures to each a sul)stantial fund for support. The State 

 board of agriculture, under rules which it is authorized to prescribe, 

 gives specific instructions for the fornuition of local societies and 

 directs how reports shall be made out, and directs the details to be 

 observed in conducting their institute meetings. The State lecturers 

 are required to devote their time and etlorts to the discussion of such 

 subjects as are designated by the institute law, namely, " farming, 

 stock raising, fruit culture, and all branches of business connected 

 with the inchi.stry of agriculture." 



