1905.] farmers' institutes in 1904. II 



One of the most remarkable examples of the good results 

 from Farmers' Institute work is found in Ontario. A few 

 years ago the farmers there were engaged in growing products 

 for shipment to the American markets. When the American 

 tariff wall was raised the agricultural interests were completely 

 stunned for a time. The attention of the farmers was, how- 

 ever, called to the profits in the production of bacon, and they 

 were given information as to the foreign demand for this prod- 

 uct and a new industry has been built up. This has largely 

 resulted from the general dissemination of information through 

 Farmers' Institute methods. 



The agricultural college of the State has a work to do which 

 no other institution can do, and yet in the dissemination of 

 popular agricultural information the Farmers' Institute does 

 a work which the agricultural college cannot do. 



I should like to see Connecticut one of the leading states 

 in Farmers' Institute work. It is not at present. With our 

 limited area and the facilities for reaching various points in 

 the State, I can see no good reason why we should not have 

 this State thoroughly organized in Farmers' Institute work. 

 As the great western States have organized by counties we 

 might organize by townships ; or, if it seems wiser at first to 

 organize by counties, I believe that we could find three or five 

 wide-awake farmers in every county who would be willing to 

 serve as an Institute committee. These farmers are well 

 acquainted with the needs of the locality, and would be able 

 to secure an attendance at the Institute which could not be 

 secured in any other way. 



I recommend to you and through you to the Board that an 

 effort be made to place the Farmers' Institute work in this 

 State on a little more systematic basis than it has been in the 

 past. The needs of the various localities of the state should 

 be carefully studied, and then speakers should be brought to 

 these localities who can give special information along the lines 

 where information is needed. 



Yours verv trulv, 



L. A. CLINTON. 



