25 



These single-session institutes were et)ntinuerl as the general practise in all three 

 counties until the winter of 1894-95, when a number of all-day meetings were held in 

 Kent County and were addrest by prominent institute workers from outside the 

 State, as well as by local speakers. These meetings were so successful that one-day 

 meetings were continued, as a rule, in Kent County until the winter of 1899-1900, 

 when Kent and Sussex counties joined in holding a series of meetings of two days each. 

 These meetings were well advertised, interesting programs were arranged, and were 

 even more successful than the one-day institutes, and therefore two-day institutes 

 have been the rule since that time. 



A feature of the work which proved of great int(>rest and value consisted of school- 

 house meetings. In the winter of 1 895-9(1 Sussex County was almost entirely covered 

 l)y such meetings, held on successive nights in adjoining districts. Each meeting 

 helped to adveitise those following, and, as a rule, every farmer in the school district 

 attended and often followed it up by going to his neighboring school district the follow- 

 ing night. The next winter Kent County was covered in a similar manner, and some 

 of these schoolhouse meetings have been held in all three counties since. 



The effect of the farmers' institute movement in the State has been marked. The 

 farmers have been stimulated to adopt better methods in the practical operations of 

 the farm and to make their homes more comfortable and happy. Public sentiment 

 has been aroused upon a numl^er of important (juestions, and beneficial legislation has 

 followed. 



In the winter of 1903 the legislature authorized the State board of agriculture to 

 appoint a State director of farmers' institutes to cooperate with the several county 

 organizations to assist in securing speakers and arranging and advertising the meetings, 

 thus furnishing a means of placing the system under one head and in this way simpli- 

 fying and enlarging the work. The director is paid out of the funds of the State board 

 of agriculture, which is equivalent to making a small appropriation to the institutes. 



FLORIDA. 



In September, 1898, a resolution was passed liy the board of trustees of the State 

 agricultural college to the effect that "A farmers' institute under the direction of the 

 agricultural department of the college be held in each county of the State, provided 

 the radroads furnish transportation for the speakers and the local committee furnish 

 entertainment." 



Prior to this date farmers' meetings were held in various parts of Florida by those 

 interested in better agriculture, but nothing dehnite had been done looking toward 

 any permanent organization of the work. 



Under the resolution of the board just referred to, a number of successful meetings 

 were held in diffei'ent parts of the State, speakers being furnished by the Florida 

 Agricultural College and! by the agricultural experiment station. 



In May, 1901, the legislature, recognizing the importance of the work, granted an 

 appropriation of |5,000 for two years for farmers' institutes. During 1903-4 the 

 expenses were met from an appropriation made by the State to the board of trustees 

 of the Florida Agricultural College in the following terms: "For holding farmers' insti- 

 tutes, $2,500." 



The superintendent of institutes is appointed by the board of trustees of the college 

 and given authority to make ail necessary arrangements for holding institute meetings. 

 In 1894 15 institutes were held, consisting of 32 sessions, and over 1,600 persons were 

 reported as being in attendance. 



Institute meetings are held only upon request of the locality desiring the institute. 

 A local chairman for each institute is appointed l)y the State superintendent of insti- 

 tutes, who looks after the advertising and the securing of a suitable place for holding 

 the meeting. 



