11I4 BuiiEAu OF Faumeus' Institutes. 



ing generations than the king upon liis throne or the ruler of a 

 nation. Although we may not be able to leave an impression 

 upon the field of science, literature or art, we may upon the 

 soil, the more lasting of all, for nature is never forgetful of her 

 patrons. 



The influence of farmers' institutes, now so successfully organ- 

 ized throughout the State, is manifest in every direction in which 

 the farmer is interested. New methods of culture have been 

 very generally adopted by those possessing the means to intro- 

 duce them; while many improvements of a general nature, sug- 

 gested b^' the experience of those who have tested their con- 

 venience and utility, have taken place in the home and out-build- 

 ings of not only the agricultural but other classes of citizens. 

 Farmers should take advantage of these opportunities so gener- 

 ously afforded them by the State. Those who conduct these 

 institutes are all men of superior intelligence in their respective 

 line of thought, and merit the confidence of those w^ho are 

 privileged to listen to their instructive addresses. 



The year 1899 was a more than usually prosperous one for those 

 engaged in agriculture. Cereals of all kinds, except buckwheat, 

 were more than an average crop; potatoes, planted on high 

 ground, were an unusually good yield, while those raised on low 

 land rotted to some extent. The apple crop in this section wa» 

 large, but not of as fine quality as that of most preceding years. 

 The crop of small fruits was large and of good quality, and met 

 with a home market at remunerative prices. Indeed, there is 

 more profit derived from this source than that of any other, when 

 the labor expended in their production is properly estimated. 

 The present season will be productive of a still larger crop, as 

 many others not heretofore engaged in the business are turning 

 their attention in that direction. The grass crop was fairly good, 

 and the open weather experienced late in the fall has left quite a 

 surplus on hand to add to the coming harvest. 



The twenty-fourth annual agricultural fair was held at Monti- 

 cello, August 29, 30, 31 and September 1, 1899. The number of 

 exhibitors was 140, and entries as follow: Horses, 77; cattle^ 



