farmers' institutes in the united states. 405 



of whom were members of the college faculty or of the experiment 

 station stafl'. Seven thousand copies of the reports of proceedings 

 are printed and distributed. A connnittee of the faculty, under the 

 direction of the i)resident, arranges for all institute worjv. The 

 dates, places, and progrannnes are fixed l)y this connnittee. All the 

 local expenses incurred in holding meetings are i)aid out of the State 

 approi)riation. 



VERMONT. 



The farmers' institute work of Vermont is under the control of the 

 State board of agriculture. This board is composed of the governor, 

 Ihe president of the University of Vermont and State agricultural 

 college, and three other persons appointed by the governor. The}' 

 hold office for two years. The board is required to '" hold one meeting 

 in each county annually, and others if deemed expedient, and nuiy 

 employ lecturers, essayists, or other aid in conducting said meetings, 

 managing its affairs generally, and discharging its duties. At such 

 meetings it shall present subjects for discussion, and, among other 

 topics, forestry, tree planting, roads and road making." 



Fortv institutes were held durina" the vear, consistiui; of 80 ses- 

 sions. Seven thousand five hundred persons were in attendance. 

 Twenty-six State lecturers Avere engaged in giving instruction. The 

 approj^riation for institutes was $5,000, of which $2,088.75 was ex- 

 pended. The board publishes annually 8,000 copies of its reports, 

 which includes the proceedings of the farmers' institutes. 



The dates, places, and progrannnes for institutes are arranged by 

 the State director, who is also secretary of the State board of agri- 

 culture. The free use of hall is required to be provided by the com- 

 munity, the State board defraying the other local exi)enses. Three 

 members of the faculty of the agricultural e(jllege assisted in giving 

 instructions. 



VIRGINIA. 



Under an act of the legislature of 1808 the board of agriculture of 

 the State of Virginia is re(iuired to hold " farmers' institutes at such 

 times and at such places throughout the State as it may deem neces- 

 sary for the advancement of agricultural know ledge and llic ini|)rove- 

 ment of agricultural methods and pi-actices and publish and dis- 

 tribute such paj)ers and addresses read or nuide at these institutes as 

 promise to Ik? of value to the farming interests." 



The duty of arranging for and conducting farmers' institutes is 

 placed in the hands of the member of the board in each Congressional 

 district. Thirty-five one-day institutes were held, uuule up of 70 

 sessions. Institutes were held in 28 counties. The total attendance 

 was 8,000. There were \) lecturers upon the State institute force, all 



