G74 REPORT OF officp: ok kxpekimknt stations. 



acts as may ho roquiri-d l)y (1h' iuIcs of the State l)oard of agriculture, 

 sucli sofiety shall be deemed a Ixxly corporate." Not more than four 

 farmers"' institute societies in any county are permitted to hold annual 

 meetinj^s under the auspices of the State hoai'd of a«j;ri culture. The 

 secretary of the State board of agricultui-e has charge of the farmers' 

 institute work under the general direction of the board. Section 3 of 

 the act provides for the maintenance of farmers"' institutes thi-ough 

 the levy of a direct tax. Ohio is the only State that has adopted this 

 method of institute support. The section is as follows: 



When a society organized under the i)rovisions of tliin act wliall have lield an 

 annual fanners' institute meeting in accordance with the rules of tlie State board of 

 agriculture, the secretary of said l)oard shall issue certificates, one to the president 

 of the farmers' institute society and one to the president of the State l)oard of agri- 

 culture, setting forth these facts, and on the presentation of these certificates to the 

 county auditor, he shall each year draw orders on the treasurer of the county as fol- 

 lows: Based on the last previous national census, a sum equal to tliree mills for each 

 inhabitant of the county in favor of the president of the State l)oard of agriculture 

 and a sum ecjual to three mills for each inhabitant of the county in favor of the 

 presideiat of the farmers' institute society, where but one society is organized; but in 

 counties where there are more than one farmers' institute society organized under 

 the provisions of this act and holding meetings under the auspices and l)y the direc- 

 tion of the State board of agriculture, the said three mills for each inhabitant shall 

 be equally apportioned among such societies, and warrants in the proper amounts 

 issued to the respective i^residents, and the treasurer of the count}^ shall pay the 

 same from the county fund: Provided, That in no county shall the total annual sum 

 exceed two hundred and fifty dollars: And -p^'ocided J'artltcr, That the payment to 

 any institute society shall not exceed the expense, as i^er detailed statement, pro- 

 vided in section four of this act. 



The act, it will be seen, provides permanent county institute organ- 

 ization and secures to each a substantial fund for sup})ort. The State 

 board of agriculture, under rules which it is authorized to prescribe, 

 gives specific instructions for the formation of local societies and 

 directs how reports shall ])e made out, and directs the details to be 

 observed in conducting their institute meetings. The State lecturers 

 are required to devote their timi* and efforts to the discussion of such 

 subjects as are designated by the institute law, namel}^, "farming, 

 stock raising, fruit culture, and all branches of business connected 

 with the industry of agricidture." 



Two hundred and sixty -three institutes were held last year consisting 

 of 1,250 sessions. All of these were two-da}' institutes. Eighty-one 

 thousand seven hundred and fifty-two persons were in attendance. 

 The State teaching force consisted of 29 members and the total 

 expense incurred was $1<),9S1. Ten thousand copies of reports of 

 the proceedings were published and distributed. All of the local 

 expenses are met by the counties from their portion of the per capita 

 tax. The dates and places for institutes are arranged by the State 

 director, and the programmes are submitted to him by local societies 



