58 



As a result of this agitation, the University of Nebraska, in April. 1896, appointed 

 Prof. F. W. Taylor, then professor of horticulture, superintendent of farmers' insti- 

 tutes, and in conjunction with the several agricultural societies of the State an organi- 

 zation was perfected by which assistance. was given local organizations in the holding 

 of farmers' institutes. Among the .societies which thus assisted tliru the efforts of 

 their officers were the State Board of Agriculture, the State Horticultural Society, the 

 State Dairymen's Association, the State Poultry Association, the Improved Live Stock 

 Breeders' Association, and the State Bee Keepers' Association. "Small contributions 

 from each of these organizations constituted a fund for incidental expenses. Each 

 association furnished speakers, who attended institutes upon request without any com- 

 pensation and sometimes paying their incidental expenses en route. The railroads in 

 the State provided free transportation for speakers who were recjuired to travel to fill 

 institute appointments." 



The first legislative appropriation was made in 1897, $3,000 for the biennium being 

 appropriated l^y the State legislature to pay the expenses of farmers' institute work, 

 which fund was placed in charge of the University of Nebraska. In 1901 this fund wa.< 

 increased to $8,000 for the biennium, and in 1903 it was further increased to $12,000 

 for the biennium, which rate still continues. 



For the season of 1899-1900 51 institutes were held in 33 counties, reaching from 

 25,000 to 30,000 farmers, at an expenditure of $1,593, practically all transportation for 

 institute speakers being fvu-nished by the several railroads along which institutes were 

 held. Thirty-eight different speakers were sent out by the central office, all speakers 

 from the university staff Ijeing without expense to the institute fund. 



The season of 1900-1901 opened at Somerset, August 20, 1900, and closed at Thayer. 

 August 8, 1901. Sixty institutes were held in 46 counties, 21 of these institutes being 

 one-day meetings of two or three sessions, and 39 institutes being two-day meetings hold- 

 ing five regular sessions. The regular institute force consisted of 20 speakers, of which 7 

 were regular members of the experiment station staff, the balance being farmers and 

 institute speakers not connected with the university. The cost of these institutes was 

 kept within $1,500 appropriated for institute purposes exclusive of the salary of the 

 superintendent and of the members of the station staff, who received no compensation 

 from the farmers' institute fund. The attendance for the year was probably greater than 

 for the previous year, since a larger number of institutes were held, but no exact record 

 was kept to determine the number of persons attending these meetings. 



The season of 1901-2 began October 1, 1901, and closed March 29, 1902. Eighty-six 

 institutes \vere held in 62 counties. The appropriation for this biennium had been 

 increased to $4,000 per year, and $3,882.69 was expended during the first year of the 

 biennium. Twenty-seven institute speakers were employed, 11 of which were con- 

 nected with the experiment station. 



The institute season of 1902-3 commenced at Dorsey, December 2. 1902, and closed at 

 Amelia June 19, 1903. Sixty-seven institutes were held in 43 different counties at a 

 cost of $4,000, only $500 of which was paid for superintendence, the speakers from the 

 experiment station, who this year made up about one-third of the working force, serving 

 without compensation other than actual expenses. 



The farmers' institute season of 1903-4 began November 23, 1903, and closed March 24, 

 1904. Forty-three one-day institutes and 49 two-day institutes were held, with a total of 

 330 sessions. The total attendance was 26,000, figured according to methods advised by 

 the Farmers' Institute Specialist of the United States Department of Agriculture. Insti- 

 tutes were held in 57 counties. 



The State appropriation had been increased to $6,000 per year at the beginning of the 

 season 1903. Ten men connected with the experiment station did institute work. 

 Fourteen other lecturers were employed by the State, these giving their entire time dur- 

 ing the institute season. 



