farmers' institutes in the united states. 401 



tiire by the State director. Two hundred sessions of women's insti- 

 tutes were held durin<i- the year. The list of dates, places, and 

 speakers is advertised four months in advance of the institute season. 



PORTO RICO. 



Durin<>; the past year an a<^ricultural society composed of Amer- 

 icans and Porto Ricans has been organized, with Mr. H. C Henrick- 

 sen, horticulturist of the agricultural experiment station, as secretary. 

 Institutes under the auspices of this association will be held during 

 the coming year, and it is expected that there will lx% in connection 

 with the institutes, an agricultural fair, lasting several days, held at 

 Mayaguez. 



RHODE ISLAND. 



Farmers' institutes in Rhode Island are conducted under authority 

 granted by the general assembly in an act passed jSIay ID. 1SJ)2, sec- 

 tion 4 of which is as follows: 



Till' hoard of agriculture shall ImUl ono nsriculturnl institute in each county 

 PDUually, either indepenik'ntly or in connection with any society or association 

 or other organization devoted to the same general ohjects, and may hold as 

 many more as it shall deem expedient, and shall, as far as practicahle, encourage 

 State and local associations and societies in the interest of agriculture. 



The secretary' of the State board of agricidture is charged with the 

 duty of arranging for and holding institutes, the expenses of which 

 an; paid by the board out of the $15,000 annually appropriated for the 

 pui'|)()se of carrying out the .several provisions of the act by which 

 the board is constituted. 



One institute, continuing through two days, and composed of six 

 sessions, was held during the past yeai% with a total attendance of 

 about 400. The co.st of this meeting is reported at about $100, which 

 does not include the salary and expenses of the State director. Two 

 speakers were furnished by the State agricultural college and by the 

 State experiment station. The dates, places, and progrannnes arc 

 arrang('<l l)y the dii'cctoi". 



SOUTH CAROLINA. 



Tn l^sT the legislature of South Carolina made it obligatory upon 

 the. l)oard of agri<-ultui-e to hold farmei-s' institutes. A few wei'e iicld 

 under the jirovisions of that act. Sevei'al years later (Memson Agri- 

 cultural College was established, and the duties of the board of agri- 

 culture, so far as ri'lalcd to the holding of farmeis' institutes, were 

 devolved upon the board of tru.stees of Clemson Agriculluial College. 



