FAKMERs' INSTITUTES. 671 



versity in the month of October. In holding these annual conferences, 

 several purposes have been kept steadily in view. The more iniixtrtant of 

 these are: (1) To inform all the workers more fullj' as to the nature, 

 scope, needs and importance of the institute work; (2) To consider care- 

 fullj" the lines of work that should be undertaken; (;b To discover and 

 adopt the best methods of advertising, conductinj;- and rcportiny the insti- 

 tutes; (4) To acquaint the workers with each other and Ihus develop and 

 foster a spirit of good fellowship and mutual helpfulness; (5) To give to" 

 the workers a higher and broader conception of the dignity and importance 

 of the institute work, and to inspire them to more diligent effort to accom- 

 plish the ends in view; (6) To enable the w^orkers to meet, from time to 

 time, prominent and widely u.seful men in the tield of agricultural educa- 

 tion, and thereby acquire broader and truer concei)tions of the importance 

 and relations of the farmer; (7) To inspire a deeper love for agricultural 

 pursuits and a more earnest desire for the betterment of agricultural con- 

 ditions; (8) To arouse a deeper and more intelligent interest in the improve- 

 ment of the rural home, the rural schools and the rural highways as means 

 for agricultural improvement and progress. 



The several conferences hitherto held have borne immediate fruit in 

 the better preparation of the chairmen for their several meetings and in 

 the more earnest and effective work of tlie institute speakers. 



Gradually, but surely, the farmers of the State are coming to recognize 

 the importance of their calling and the advantages of the State for 

 agricultural pursuits. There is .already a widespi'ead, vital and growing 

 interest in the betterment of the rural schools ancl in the improvement of 

 the highways. The farm home is also receiving attention. This is clearly 

 shown in the discussions at the institutes on la))or-saving contrivances 

 for the housewife, home sanitation, home reading, home embellishments, 

 etc. While other agencies are conspiring to bring aliout these desired 

 results, it is entirely within the truth to say that the annual conferences 

 of institute workers have been productive of great good in these direc" 

 tions. 



Unfortunately, State funds have not been available to defray all the 

 expenses of these conferences. Without exception, six'akers in the State 

 have served without compensation. The several chairmen in attendance 

 have been reimbursed for lailroad fare only, :is a nil(>. It is estimated 

 that the expense borne by the delegates attending these conferences has 

 aggregated annually from .$100 to .$.300. In view of this, the attendance 

 has been highly gratifying. The character and scope of the work done at 

 these conferences may be seen by reference to the outline program of the 

 last one, held in October, 1903. which is as follows: 



