336 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



teemari in each locality where the institute is to be held, and they 

 are sent out by mail to different farmer friends, especially inviting 

 them to attend all the sessions. These programs are made up by 

 the chairman under the eye and dictation of the local committeeman 

 where the institute is to be held, some time previous, so that the 

 committeeman is a partner in the concern. These helpers are also 

 the question committee. They assist the chairman in soliciting and 

 reading the questions, so that the question-box is constantly replen- 

 ished. 



We sometimes use our committee, previous to holding the insti- 

 tute, by having them solicit exhibits from their farm neighbors of 

 fine samples of fruit, flowers, vegetables and grain. At the time the 

 institute is held, these are displayed on tables and labeled, showing 

 the variety and the name of the producer who furnished them. This 

 becomes a very interesting part when the farmers assemble, to 

 see who can furnish the best and most attractive display. This 

 leads to a great many comments and furnishes one of the best 

 places for farmers and their wives to visit that can be found in the 

 church or hall. I say in the church, because all of our institutes 

 are held in churches. Our people think the better the place, the 

 better the deed. The churches are willingly offered to us, because 

 we pay five dollars for the use of them for two days and this helps 

 to pay the sexton for his services and makes a very comfortable 

 place for the people to meet. Its a very convenient place for re- 

 freshments, for the. Ladies' Aid Society serve meals in the basement 

 or church parlors, and it is helpful to them in their good work. 



In our county, we have only farms enough to entitle us to four 

 days of appropriation from the State, so we must be in readiness 

 to bear the expense of the other eight days ourselves. We must 

 raise at least |100.0U dollars by voluntary contributions in order 

 to secure |100.00 more from the commissioners in our county, in 

 accordance with the act of the Legislature of March 28, 1851. By 

 so doing we have a membership fee of fifty cents for farmers and 

 twenty-five cents for their wives and daughters each year, and when 

 this is paid, they are entitled to membership in our order and have 

 special privileges granted to them. AVe experience very little diffi- 

 culty in raising this amount. Our committeemen act as solicitors, 

 and in a very few minutes the full quota of the institute in session 

 will be provided for. At the close of our institutes, or when they 

 have all been held, we have a day appointed at the court house, 

 when all the officers of our society and the committee from each 

 institute meet together to present bills and settle accounts. We 

 have always had money enough and we never fell short. 



In order that we may do a little something as an appreciation of 

 the faithful services of our committeemen, we send three of them 



