farmers' institutes. 659 



Farmers' Institute Act.— In 1889 the General Assembly passed the 

 farmers' institute act, the full text of which reads as follOAvs: 



"An act to encourage the study of agriculture, horticulture, economic en- 

 tomology and agricultural chemistry, providing for county institutes, 

 prescribing the duties of trustees and faculty of Purdue University in 

 connection thei'ewith, and making an appropriation therefor. 



"Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of 

 Indiana, That it is hex'eby made the duty of the committee of experi- 

 mental agriculture and horticulture of the board of trustees, together 

 with the faculty of the school of agriculture of I'urdue University, to ap- 

 point, before November 1 of each year, suitable persons to hold in the 

 several counties of the State, between the 1st of November and the 1st 

 day of April of each year, county institutes for the purpose of giving to 

 farmers and others interested therein instruction in agriculture, horti- 

 culture, agricultural chemistx'y and economic entomology. 



"Sec. 2. Such institutes shall be held at such times and places as said 

 committee and faculty may determine, and under such rules, regulations 

 and methods of instruction as they may prescril)e: Provided, however, 

 That such institutes shall be so conducted as to give to those attending 

 the results of the latest investigations in theoretical and practical agri- 

 culture and horticulture. 



"Sec. 3. For the purpose of carrj-ing out the provisions of this act, 

 paying the salaries of instructors and other necessary expenses, the sum 

 of $5,000 is hereby appropriated, to Ije expended under the direction of 

 the said committee of said lioard of Trustees, and they shall annually 

 report such expenditures and the purpose thei-eof to the Governoi ."' 



General Committee on Institutes.— For the purpose of carrying out the 

 provisions of the institute act. the board of trustees appointed a general 

 committee on institutes, consisting of the president of the university, 

 the director of the experiment station and the professor of agriculture. 

 Tliis committee has direct charge of the institute worlv. The last men- 

 tioned officer, acting as Superintendent of In.stitutes. formulates plans 

 for the approval of the committee, and has immediate supervision of the 

 work. 



Organization of the Work.— At first the members of the State Board 

 of Agriculture were invited to take charge of the work in their re.spective 

 districts. Those who were willing to act were appointed to assist the 

 general management in holding meetings in the several counties of their 

 respective districts. Although several members of the Board of Agri- 

 culture co-operated acceptably and effectively, it was soon found desir- 

 able to appoint a suitable person within each county to taki- tlie local 

 supervision of the work. It soon became apparent that some form of 



