39 



NKW .IKKSKY. 

 By Fkaxki.in Dvk, Trenton. 



At no time since the beginning of fanners' institutes in New Jersey lias the interest 

 in their purpose and work l)een so marked as it was during the season of 1904. This 

 interest was nianifi'sted in the iiic-reased attemhince, which was so general that it was 

 the rule, there being l)ut two or three exceptions to it and those for cause. 



This increased attendame was not out of idle curiosity nor for social intercourse, 

 but for the helpful, practical l)enetits the institute provides through its speakers. 

 The interest in the addresses was close, and the questions asked showed a growing 

 intelligence on the part of the questioners. 



Another evidence of growing interest is, requests are coming in for more meetings. . 

 These signs of progress so encouraged those in charge of this work in New Jersey 

 that a modest appeal was made to tlu' legislature at its last session for an increase of 

 the State appropriation for this object, and it is gratifying to state that, having a 

 governor and a legislature in full accord with our work, the addition was granted. 



Accordingly we are plaiuiing, in fact have already arranged, for an extension of 

 our work, which will cover most of the time from November 20, 1905, to latter part 

 of February, 1906. 



The number of meetings held last year was 30. This does not include the annual 

 meeting of the State board of agriculture nor that of the State horticultural society. 

 The institutes j)roper covered 3(5 days and 102 .sessions, or, including the two State 

 meetings named, 41 days and 115 se.s>^ions. 



The amount of money exi)ended, exclusive of printing, postal cards, posters, and 

 programmes, was $l,S0li, which would be §51 per day average for each institute day. 

 The State ])rints the recjuired advertising matter, all i)rinting being put out by the 

 State to the lowest responsible bidder; but the cost of such printing is taken from our 

 appropriation. The printing, with the postage, would probably add to the expense 

 of each institute about $3. 



Speakers employed were three from other States during the season, three profess- 

 ors from our own State agricultural college, and live or six local speakers, who were 

 farmers, on special subjects comiected with their own special line of w<jrk, as the 

 production of early tomatoes, ])roduction of melons, asparagus, peppers, sweet pota- 

 toes, etc. Besides being a dairy and fruit State, New Jersey is preeminently a mar- 

 ket garden State, and a variety of subjects uuist be treated in our institute lectures, 

 subjects adapted to the locality in which the meeting is held, or else the institute 

 would fail in its purpose. 



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

 ings to be held, the place, and the date. This notice goes to the newspapers and the 

 various farmers' organizations. The next notice is the programme of the meetings, 

 containing place of meeting, hall, list of subjects and S])eakers, a few jaaragraphs on 

 the purpose of the institute, and a short statement of who the speakers are. These 

 programmes are sent to the press in the neighborhood where each institute is to be 

 held, also to the local committee, if such there be, to distribute among the farmers. 



The third advertisement of a meeting is by large posters. These are .sent to the 

 local committee about eight or ten days before the date of the meeting, to be put up 

 in various public places. We are of the opinion that plenty of judicious advertising 

 secures a larger attendance than is likely to prevail where l)ut little notice of the 

 meeting has been given. 



New lines of work have to do with old questions, interest in which, for local rea- 

 sons, has subsided. For example, the peach industry, once so prominent in the 

 State, but now on the wane, will be taken up. in the coming institutes with a view 

 to creating a new interest in a product which we believe needs only to be under- 

 standingly treated to be made profitable. So, also, the production of alfalfa in all 

 our dairy sections especially will be discussed, and so presented as to encourage our 

 dairy farmers to produce a generous supply of this valuable plant, which, in conjunc- 

 tion with corn, should make the dairyman growing both comparatively independent 

 of other sources of food supply. 



The study of soils will also be continued as to their variety, composition, require- 

 ments, etc., and this by a soil specialist from our State experiment station. 



New lines of work are also embraced in our efforts to have the old, fundamental 

 principles that underlie safe and profitable agricultural practice presented in a clear, 

 common-sense, logical way, so that the average agricultural mind, occupied as it is 

 with home cares and daily toil, can apprehend and comprehend what is stated and 

 become so interested as to apply the teachings in jjractice. 



