648 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



In the address of President W. B. Seward, delivered January 4, 1887, 

 at the annual meeting of the State Board of Agriculture, this paragraph 

 appears relative to farmers' institutes: 



"Farmers' institutes are now held in many of our sister States, and 

 have been tried to some extent in this State, but results have not been 

 altogether satisfactory with us, owing to the fact that we have had no 

 money provided us, as is the case in other States, to carry them on. 



"The advantages of these institutes as educators are beyond question, 

 and it is hoped that in time, when our Legislature is educated up to a 

 knowledge of the advantages of them, and the fact that all education for 

 the general good should be paid for out of the general fund, means will 

 be provided us to carry them on. The subject of farmers' institutes is a 

 proper one for your consideration." 



Later at the same meeting, the committee to whom the President's 

 address had been referred for recommendations, reported as to farmers' 

 institutes as follows: 



"We are also of the opinion that the Legislature should appropriate 

 a sum of money each year to be used by the State Board for the purpose 

 of sending a competent person out through the State to worli up what are 

 called 'Farmers' Institutes.' This course has been adopted by several 

 of our sister States, and it has been found to worli admirably and has 

 been a source of great benefit to the farming community in every State 

 where it has been adopted." 



This was followed by a general discussion by members of the State 

 and Delegate Board as to the ways and means of organizing and cour 

 ducting farmers' institutes. 



Following this discussion, Hon. Will Cumback offered the following 

 resolution: 



"Resolved, That all that portion of the President's address and the 

 report of the committee to whom it was referred, on the subject of 

 farmers' institutes, be referred tp the State Board, with the request that 

 they formulate a full set of rules for the organization of such institutes, 

 and that the members of the State Board shall' take such steps as they 

 may deem best to secure such an organization in the county and town- 

 ships in their several districts." 



Messrs. Seward, Mitchell, Simonton and Lockhart were appointed a 

 committee to formulate a system covering county institutes. This com- 

 mittee made its report at the January. 1888, meeting of the State Board 

 of Agriculture. Part of this report (see Report of 1887) reads as follows: 



"When the Board convened in February the members found them- 

 selves placed in a very embarrassing situation financially, owing to the 

 failure of our Legislature to make appropriations for carrying out thi 



