28 



to secure a greater number of instructors. The last demand is partially solving itself 

 in that men are developing a capacity for this work in various sections of the State 

 and many will no doubt soon be able to render assistance on the lecture platform. 



ILLINOIS. 



The iirst farmers' institute held in Illinois of which record appears to have been 

 made was held under the auspices of the Illinois Industrial University at Champaign, 

 January 12 to 22, 1869." 



In the announcement of this meeting it was stated that the course would continue 

 for eleven days, with three sessions each day; that there would be no charge for admis- 

 sion, and that each lecture would be followed l)y a discussion in which all were 

 expected to participate. 



The topics discust included: Agricultural Facts and Theories, by J. M. Gregory, 

 regent of the university; The Natural Sciences in Agriculture, by Prof. A. P. S. 

 Stuart; The Soils of Illinois, by H. C. Freeman, of the State geological survey; Man- 

 agement of Soils, by Dr. John A. Warder; Grass, l)y Dr. L. D. Morse, editor of Journal 

 of Agriculture; Corn, by M. L. Dunlap, agricultural correspondent, Chicago Tribune; 

 Wheat, by W. C. Flagg; Potatoes, by Jonathan Periam, superintendent practical 

 agriculture; Root Crops, by Jonathan Periam; Agricultural Bookkeeping, by Capt. 

 Ed. Snyder, instructor in bookkeeping; Orchard Fruits, by Dr. E. S. Hull, of Alton; 

 Grapes, by Hon. George Husmann, of Herman, Mo. ; Small Fruits, by Samuel Edwards, 

 Lamoille; Breeds of Cattle, by Sanford Howard, secretary, Michigan State Board of 

 Agriculture; Horses, by Col. N. J. Coleman, editor of Rural World; Swine, by Hon. 

 Elmer Baldwin; Sheep, by A. M. Garland, president of Sheep Growers' Association; 

 Agricultural Botany, by Assistant Professor Albert J. Burrill; Vegetable Physiology 

 and Economy, by John H. Tice, secretary of Missouri Board of Agriculture; Rural 

 Economy and Rural Life, by Dr. J. M. Gregory; Fences and Hedges, by Dr. John A. 

 Warder; and Timl^er Growing, by O. B. Galusha. 



The papers and discussions were published in full in the above named university 

 report. 



Dr. L. D. Morse, St. Louis, editor of Journal of Agriculture and secretary of the 

 Missouri Agricultural Society, published most of these papers in the Missouri Agri- 

 cultural Report for 1868. He said of this meeting: 



Thus was inaugurated a new and prol^ably important movement in western agri- 

 cultural education and improvement. Regarding it as an experiment, it may safely 

 be recorded as resulting successfully. The lectures and discussions were attended by 

 the students of the university, seventy or more in number, quite largely attended by 

 the citizens of Champaign and vicinity, and there was a goodly niunber from various 

 parts of the State. The'lectures were, most of them, of an eminently practical char- 

 acter and the discussions lively and interesting. 



It is very significant that the early promoters of industrial education, the advocates 

 of the agricultural college, should also have been the prime movers in developing the 

 farmers' institute idea. 



In 1870 three farmers' institutes were held under the auspices of the industrial uni- 

 versity. In 1871 four institutes, in 1872 five institutes, and in 1873 eight institutes, 

 which appears to have been the supreme and last effort of the industrial university to 

 hold farmers' institutes at other places than at the university. 



The expenditures for these institutes had been limited to al)out $500 per annum. 

 No mention of institutes was made in the university report for 1874. In 1875 the 

 following resolution was adopted by the board of institutes: 



Rrsolred, That the corresponding secretary be authorized to arrange for farmers' 

 institutes without expense to the university and to call upon professors of the uni- 

 versity for such services as lecturers as they may be able to render without detriment 



a Ann. Rpt. 111. Indus. Univ.. 1868-69, p. 120. 



