28 



Last ycjir I'tiv IIk^ first time tlic siiltjoct of road building rccoivod attention in 

 an effort to iuii)rove the earth roads of the country. 



The subjects assigned to any particubir institut«> depend on tlie local de- 

 mands. An effort is made to send .speakers familiar with the needs of the 

 several localities and to conform so far as possible In matter of sul).iects to the 

 requests of the local coumiittee. 



Lady speakers are used, though not extensively, confining their sul>.iects to 

 household-science topics, poultry, etc. In a few institutes separate women's 

 sessions were held and these were usually successful. 



NEW JERSEY. 

 By Franklin Dye, Trenton. 



Tlie numl>er of farmers' institutes held in New Jersey during the fall and 

 winter of 1903-4 was 27. This does not include the annual meeting of the 

 State board of agriculture, covering three days and seven sessions, nor the 

 meeting of the State Horticultviral Society — two days. 



The amount of money expended in the institute work was $1,616.55. There 

 were 86 sessions held. There were 8 speakers (3 of whom were from another 

 State), not including the conductor nor a half-dozen othei-s who made but one, 

 two, or three addresses. 



The subjects treated included fruit production, l.irge and small ; marketing 

 farm produce ; asparagus production ; potato, tomato, pepper, and melon grow- 

 ing; dairy matters in general; poultry and egg production; soils — composition, 

 variety, requirements, etc.; plant food in general; entomology; grass produc- 

 tion; intensive and extensive farming; home life and home adornment; sanita- 

 tion and hygiene, etc. 



New subjects are considered from time to time as their importance seems to 

 demand and as our farmers take them up in practice. For example, last 

 season we presented, at suitable places, " squab raising." It is a growing indus- 

 try in New Jersey. The question of soils, already referred to, is a new sub- 

 ject, although the soils are old. They have not hitherto been scientifically 

 studied and presented to the farmers in such a way that they could understand 

 and adopt the teachers' conclusions. 



This subject was considered in a general way at a numl)er of institutes last 

 winter. During the coming institute season the question will be presented 

 more in detail and will cover nine subdivisions, or heads. Similarly the sub- 

 ject of asparagus production. This is a very important crop in New Jersey, 

 and last year at a number of places, where the soil is adapted to its production, 

 the best methods of culture were given by a leading producer of this crop. 



The interest manifested in the subjects presented, as indicated by the ques- 

 tions asked, was deeper and more intelligent than heretofore. The effect pro- 

 duced by the institute in the localities where held is more extended and the 

 influence more abiding. This improvement is shown by the adoption of the sug- 

 gestions presented at the institute, and where these new theories and methods 

 produce better results than the old did the institute as a help to the farming 

 profession has passed beyond the experimental period. 



Our plan of work is simple. The first notice sent out contains a list of all 

 the meetings to be held, the place, and the date. This notice goes to the news- 

 papers and the various farmers' organizations. The next notice is the pro- 

 gramme of the meetings, containing place of meeting, hall, list of subjects and 

 speakers, a few paragraphs on the purpose of the institute, and a short state- 

 ment of who the speakers are. These programmes are sent to the press in 





