farmers' institutes, 647 



to be very interesting and instructive, and very encouraging for a con- 

 tinuation of the good Avorlv. Tlie Board made an effort to locate and liold 

 the other two institutes in Novemljer and December, but were unable to 

 do so, as the political campaign and other impediments prevented. 



''I would recommend the further holding of these institutes during 

 this year. I have no doubt but that the influence of these meetings will 

 be direct and effective for good, by the association of farmers and the 

 enthusiasm that may be awakened by lectures, discussions, and an in- 

 terchange of experience and thought, and so be the means of increasing 

 the knowledge and intelligence of agriculturists." 



At a later session of this same annual meeting, Mr. Jones presented 

 the following i-esolution: 



''Whereas, The experiment of holding a series of farmers' institutes, 

 inaugurated l>y this Board at its annual session, January, 1SS2 as a 

 means of imparting scientific and practical information, and awakening 

 an increased interest in education and better and more successful modes 

 and methods of practical agriculture, have proved eminently successful, 

 and, in the^opinion of this Board, should be continued as a permanent 

 educational measure, tending to a higlier appreciation of the practical 

 value of a more general knowledge of the sciences in the successful pros- 

 ecution of agriculture; therefore, be it 



"Resolved, That this Board use its influence and memorialize the 

 Legislature for an annual appropriatioia of $1,000, to be used in the de- 

 fraying of the expenses of these institutes. Ours being an agricultural 

 Stiite, the highest interest of the commonwealth will be promoted by 

 stimulating and fostering a more perfect- and complete development of 

 our agricultural resources in this manner." 



The foregoing resolution was adopted after some little discussion by 

 members of the Board, and referred to a committee on legislation. At 

 the next meeting of the Board hold in February, 1883, I tind this minute: 



'•Mr. jMitchell, from the Legislative Committee, reported that all mat- 

 ters referred to the committee had been acted upon, with the exception 

 of the appropriation for the farmers' institutes, which it was not deemed 

 best to urge at present, fearing it might jeopardize the appropriation for 

 the interest on their bonds." 



I find no further mention of institute work in the reports of the 

 State Board of Agriculture until the report for ISSO, Avhich contains in 

 the minutes of the Fel)ruary meeting of 1880 this statement: 



"The Executive Committee, in connection with the President, was di- 

 rected to outline a system for gathering crop reports and forming farmers' 

 Institutes throughout the State." 



