658 noAllI) oF ACJUltULTllHK. 



11. FAKMEUS" INSTITUTES UNDER STATE 



CONTROL. 



Historical Oiiiliiic.— In tlie General Assembly of 1S89, Hon. W. W. 

 Kobbins, representative from Miami County-, introduced a bill making 

 provision for tlie faiiners" institutes under State control. This liill. 

 known as House Bill No. 430, was passed in the closing hours of the Gen- 

 eral Assembly and approved by the Governor on March 9, 1889. Mr. 

 Kobbins. who is now living- in Indianapolis, writes that he introduced 

 the bill at the lequest of his farmer constituents, who had enjoyed some 

 profitable institutes and agricultural exhibits, made possible largely 

 through llie public spirit and enterprise of the business men of Peru. 



In tlie autumn of the same year— 1889— the farmers' institute work 

 was begun under State control. With the understanding that the insti- 

 tute act required the holding of an institute annually in -<?ach county of 

 the State, an effort was made to get the work organized in all of the 

 counties the first year. This was soon found to be impossible, owing to 

 the lack of information and to the indifference on the part of the people 

 in many localities. Farmers' institutes were held, however, in oU coun- 

 ties the first season— 1889-90— and in 41 of the remaining 42 counties the 

 second season: in the third season— 1891-92— farmer's institutes were held 

 in 90 counties and in the fourth year in 89 counties. Beginning with the 

 fifth season— 1893-94— and continuing since, at least one institute has been 

 held annually in each of the 92 counties of the State. 



At first the institutes Avere held almost exclusively at the county seats, 

 although in a few counties the plan has been, from the first, to hold the 

 meetings successively at different points. 



Beginning with 1898 an annual conference of institute officers and 

 workers has been held in October of each year. 



In 1901 the General Assembly increased the appropriation for farmers' 

 institutes from $.">,000 to .$10,000 per annum. 



In the autumn of the same year a woman's confei'ence Avas held for 

 the purjiose of considering what farmers' institutes might do for tlie 

 women of the farm. 



Beginning with 1!mi1, two or more two-daj' district farmers' institutes 

 have been held annually in the month of August. 



The increased ai.prnpriatioii becoming available in 1901, the number 

 of institutes was largely increased, and from that time on approxi- 

 mately half of the meetings have been held at outlying points near county 

 boundaries. 



On the following pages, under appropriate headings, will be found 

 the institute act, and a brief account of the organization, scope, growth 

 and results of the farmers' institute work. 



