660 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



local organization within each county would give standing and perma- 

 nence to the work. Accordingly, granges, agricultural societies, farmers' 

 clubs, etc., were invited to take local supervision of the institute work. 

 Further' experience demonstrated the necessity of having some form of 

 local organization for the definite purpose of holding farmers' institutes. 

 Each institute was therefore requested to elect a chairman, who might 

 be recognized by the general management as the one having charge of 

 the work in the county. A secretary was also elected, and a little later, 

 a number of the counties elected or appointed vice-presidents for the 

 several townships. These local organizations, varying in character and 

 not well knit together, and often with no written or definite constitution, 

 answered the purpose very well for a number of years. With the in- 

 creased appropriation in 1901 and the consequent enlargement of the 

 work, it soon became apparent to the general committee that a com- 

 pact, uniform, county-wide form of organization would secure more ef- 

 fective local co-operation in carrying forward the work throughout the 

 State. A form of constitution for the government of the local associa- 

 tions was, therefore, submitted to the annual conference of institute 

 workers, which met in October, 1903. With some slight changes the 

 proposed constitution was unanimously approved by the conference. It 

 was then sent out to the several counties for adoption. During the sea- 

 son just closing— 1903-04— one-half of the counties adopted the constitu- 

 tion substantially as presented. It is believed that within a year or two 

 more, when the purpose of the proposed constitution is better understood, 

 and its necessity becomes more apparent to the local societies, it will be 

 generally adopted as the working plan for conducting farmers' institutes 

 throughout the State. 



The following is the text of the proposed constitution: 



CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF THE COUNTY 



FARMERS' INSTITUTE ASSOCIATION. 



Article I.— Name.— This organization shall be known as the 



County Farmers' Institute Association. 



Article II.— Object.— Its object shall be to assist the State Institute 

 management in increasing the number and value of farmers' institutes, ex- 

 tending their benefits, and thereby promoting the agricultural interests 

 of th'^' country as well as the financial, social, intellectual and moral better- 

 ment of its citizens. 



Article III. — Members.— Any resident of the county over 16 years of 

 age, may become a member by payment of the annual dues. 



Article IV.— Meetings.— Section 1. The association shall hold an annual 

 meeting at the time of the annual farmers' institute, scheduled by the 

 State superintendent, or within one month thereafter, for the purpose of 



