662 IJOAKD OF ArMUCI'I.TURE. 



Article XI.— Amoudments.— The constitution of by-laws may be 

 iunt'iulcd at any rcuulnr incctlni:, due notice in wrltiiii; having been given 

 at a previous regular meeting. I'rovided, that no amendment sliall l)e 

 adopted that will, in any way, affect the relation of the local associatioii 

 to the State management of farmers' institutes, without lirst having re- 

 ceived the approval of said management. 



Piu-pose and Scope of the AVork.— The purpose of the work as ex- 

 pressed in the institute act is to give "to farmers and others interested 

 therein instruction in agriculture, horticidture, agricultural chemistry and 

 economic entomology." Experience soon showed the desirability of 

 Avidening somewhat the scope of the work. Yet the definite aim has been 

 from the outset to make the instruction thoroughly practical in char- 

 acter and suited to the needs of the several classes of farmers in the 

 State. 



More broadly speaking, the aim is— 



(1) To give instruction that will be practically helpful to all classei? 

 of farmers and their wives in the performance of the everyday work of 

 the farm and the farm home; 



(2) To awaken a greater interest in the promotion of agriculture, bet- 

 terment of the farm home, improvement of the highways and advance- 

 ment of the rural schools; 



(3) To heighten the attractions of farm life, and intei-est the young 

 people of the ccmntry to seek adequate preparation for the successful 

 pursuit of agriculture. 



Plan of the Work.— The "general plan is to hold one or more insti- 

 tutes in each county of the State during the institute season— November 

 1st to April 1st. In the spring of each year, the conntj- institute chair- 

 men are requested to advise the superintendent of institutes as to tne 

 dales and places desired for meetings, and thc^general themes to be dis 

 cussed liy assigned speakers. With this advice before him. the supcr- 

 iulenilent arranges, each year, a schedule of meptiugs and assigns speak- 

 ers therefor. The several meetings are thrown into groups— usually three 

 each— two days of five sessions being generally allowed to each meet- 

 ing. As a rule, the same tAvo speakers are sent to the three meetings, 

 which constitute a group for one week. During the coming year, a con 

 siderable number of one-day institutes will be held, with one speaker 

 assigned to each. 



The institute schedxde and the list of speakers are printed and sent 

 out alike to officers and speakers before the opening of the institute 

 season. The jn-inted list of speakers contains instructions for the guid- 

 ance of speakers in the preparation and presentation of their several 

 subjects. A model program is occasionally printed liy the siiperintendeni 

 and sent out to the loc:il otlicers as a fui'ther guide in the ju'eparation of 

 their programs. 



