farmers' institutes. 687 



The Central Passenger Association has been a staunch ally and an 

 able supporter of the institute work from the very outset. At the begiu- 

 iiing of the work, this association generously offered half rates to dele- 

 gates, by rail, attending the several institute meetings, provided the 

 attendance should reach 100 or more in each case. It was soon found 

 out, however, that the attendance did not justify the continuance of this 

 offer. The association then kindly consented to grant special rates to the 

 institute speakers, upon request of the State Superintendent. From year 

 to year, this concession has been kindly renewed, and almost without 

 exception, the several railroad lines crossing the State have granted the 

 concession of special rates to institute speakers, authorized by the Central 

 Passenger Association. 



The support rendered to the institute work by Purdue University is 

 also deserving of especial mention. Throughout the entire period of the 

 work the president of the University has served as chairman of the 

 general committee on institutes, and the director of the experiment station 

 has also served as a member of the committee. In the aggregate these 

 oiHcers have given much time and thought to the work, for which they 

 have never received any compensation from the institute fund. The l>ills 

 presented against the institute fund by county chairmen and institute 

 speakers, aggregating several thousand dollars each year, have been 

 registered and audited by the officers of the university, free of charge. 

 In addition to this, all the members of the agricultural faculty and 

 several of the general faculty of the university, have attended a goodly 

 number of the institutes and taken an active part, making no charge what- 

 ever for their services, although their duties have been materially in- 

 creased by this gratuitous work. 



Expenditure of Funds.— Each year .$25 is apportioned to each county 

 Tor the purpose of meeting the local expenses of the several institutes. 

 In addition to this, two speakers are assigned, as a rule, to each two-day 

 meeting and one speaker to each one-day meeting, expenses paid. In 

 recent years, about .$1,000 has been expended annually upon the several 

 district institutes and the annual conference of institute otticers and 

 workers. The balance of the institute fund is used to pay the salaries of 

 the superintendent and clerks, and to defray the expenses of the superin- 

 tendent's office, including postage, printing, stationery, traveling expenses, 

 etc. 



Results of the Work.— From the nature of the work it is manifestly 

 imi)ossilile to make any tabular, or strictly accurate, statement of results 

 obtained. It is believed, however, the following statement is conservative 

 and within the truth in every respect. Briefly enumerated, some of the 

 results are: More intelligent and better care of the soil; greater care 

 to avoid the intrdduction of noxious weeds; better culture of crops; in- 

 creased area devoted to clover and leguminous crops; improvement in seed 



