29 



i>i;i.A\vAin:. 



By Wicsi.KV \\'i;i!H, Donr. 



The farmers' iiintitute movemeiit in Delaware is -raining steadily in influence and 

 po|)nlarity. Iniprovecl metliods in farming and a more enlighteneil sentiment ujion 

 public questions, are among the results of this movement. During the year L';') 

 meetings were hell! at a cost of $700. Fifteen sjieakers were employed. The total 

 attendance was apjiroximately 0,000. Several meetings were held in each of tlie 

 thn-e i-ounties, so that tlie institute was brought within reach of nearly every farmer in 

 the State, vet, jtrobalily not more than one-fourth of them attended any of the meet- 

 ings, tertain conditions made it advisable to hold meetings of one day each, 

 although our experience shows that meetings of two <lays each bring out a larger 

 attendance and develop a more intense interest. The topics discussed were chiefly 

 those relating to the various lines of farming, one session being usually devoted to 

 educational matters, and a few met-tings were devoted to sucli s|)ecial subjects as 

 good roads and civic righteousness. An agricultural conference is hel<l once in two 

 years for the discussion of the broadest ]>nbli<' policies. 



(iKolKilA. 



By I Iakvik Jordan, Alhnild. 



At the end f)f the fiscal year of lOOo a total of aO institutes had been held in Geor- 

 gia, and !?;>,500 was spent in carrying on the work. Twenty lecturers were employed, 

 and more than 2o,000 farmers" reached in the aggregate attem lance on the various 

 institutes held. The sessions each covered a period of two days, one-half of each 

 day being devoted to a women's .session in 'vhich lady lecturers are iMujiloyed to 

 deliver talks on domestic economy, and on building up the country home and i)ro- 

 moting social features in rural life. These ses^sions are largely attendeil by farmers' 

 wives and daughters. We had an average attendance of about ."iOO peoi)le at each 

 institute. P^very phase of farm work was covered l)y competent lecturers; the 

 question box was well patronized and everything done to advance and promote the 

 cause of agriculture. 



IDAHO. 



By II. T. French, Moarnu: 



The number of institutes held in the State of Idaho last year was twenty. This 

 numV)er varies from year to year. We are given §2,000 every tw^o years for institute 

 work. Last vear we held .only 20 meetings. This year we will hold 30 meetings in 

 the State. 



The amount of money we have would not be ample to carry on this nund^er of 

 institutes were it not foV the fact that the railroads give free transportation to insti- 

 tute workers. This is a very important aid, because many times our workers have 

 to travel from 500 to 1,000 miles to the institutes. In one instance we have to travel 

 1,050 miles before we reach the farmers' institute localities. Including the travel 

 from place to place after reaching that section of the State, and also the return trip, 

 we have traveled 2,500 or 3,000 miles before we get back home, after holding a 

 series of meetings in the extreme southeastern part of the State. 



The number rjf speakers employed is from four to six. The general plan of cam- 

 paign does not follow the plan in many States; that is, we have no law governing 

 theWork of the institutes in our State. We are simply given an appropriation, 

 which is put under the direction of the board of regents. They place that in the 

 hands of the director of the institutes, who is also at the experiment station; and it 

 has been my privilege to take charge of it for the last seven years, and I simply use 

 the money to the best advantage, and ai>prove the bills, and let the results speak for 

 themselves. 



We have no county organizations, because it is absolutely impossible in the State 

 of Idaho, where the counties are wddely separated by high mountain chains or 

 impassable mountains. We can myt Ijring the counties together, and we have simply 

 to go to the various sections and hold meetings, and everywhere we go W'e leave a 

 local organization known as the farmers' institute, the object of which will be to 

 perpetuate the meetings from year to year. These local organizations have grown 

 into farmers' clubs and farmers' organizations of different kinds. 



