79 



The new law undertook to correct these defects, and made it the duty of the director 

 to fix the dates for all institutes that were to be arranged for in such a way as to save 

 expense in traveling and economize time. The following extract from the law of 

 1895 organizing the new department of agi-iculture, shows the method adopted for the 

 control of the institute work: 



Section 4. There shall be one deputy secretary who shall be appointed by the 

 governor for the term of four years, at a salary of .?3,000 a year, who shall also be director 

 of farmers' institutes. 



Sec. 5. Tliat it shall be the duty of the superintendent of institutes to arrange them 

 in such manner as to time and place of holding the same as to secure the greatest 

 economy and efficiency of service, and to this end he shall, in each county where such 

 institutes are to be h^ld, confer and advise with the local member of the State board 

 of agi-iculture, together with representatives duly appointed by each county agri- 

 tural, horticultural, and other like organization, with reference to the appointment 

 of speakers and other local arrangements. 



On October 1, 1895, Prof. John Hamilton, of State College, Center County, Pa., 

 was appointed by Gov. Daniel II. Hastings as first director of farmers' institutes 

 under the new law, and served in that capacity until 1899. During his tenure of 

 office the institute system was reorganized, and institutes were held annually in every 

 county in the State. Interest in the work increased each year, and the appropriation 

 for institute purposes was raised in 1897 from $7,500 to $12,500 per annum, and in 

 1901 to $15,000 per annum. This appropriation was made to the department of agri- 

 culture, and its expenditure was entirely under the control of the secretary. An 

 entirely new method of distribution was agreed upon, by which a certain sum was 

 granted to the local directors in the several counties, and a portion withheld for the 

 purpose of paying institute lecturers employed l)y the State department. It was 

 made on the basis of granting two days of institute to every county having not over 

 1,000 farms j three days to each county having more than 1,000 farms and not over 

 1,500; afterwards one day for each 1,500 farms or fraction thereof. The sum of $12.50 

 per day was granted to the locrl director to be used in- meeting the local expenses. 

 The State furnished two additional lecturers, who were paid by the department. 



In 1899 Professor Hamilton was appointed by Gov. William A. Stone, secretary of 

 agriculture, and was succeeded by Mr. A. L. Martin, of Enon Valley, as deputy sec- 

 retary and director of institutes, who has continued in that position until the present 

 time. The appropriation for carrying on the work for the past two years has been 

 $17,500 per year, and from the month of December until March the director has had 

 five corps of lecturers traveling continually thruout the State giving instruction in 

 institutes along all phases of agricultural work. At these meetings instruction is 

 given respecting the most approved methods of dairy management, including the 

 feeding and stabling of co\7s, the care of milk, and the manufacture of butter and 

 cheese, and how and where to market these products most profitably. In soil im- 

 provement instruction is given as to the best methods for securing a sujjply of nitrogen, 

 phosphoric acid, and potash. Information is also imparted in the management of 

 swine, sheep husbandry, market gardening, horticulture, beekeeping, etc. 



An important feature of the institute work in this State is that which prescribes 

 that in every institute meeting an entire session shall be given to the discussion of 

 some particular topic that is of general interest, and that has been prescribed by the 

 State department for all the institutes of the Commonwealth. One session of the 

 institute is devoted to the subject of education — of a kind best adapted to the devel- 

 opment of rural life. 



The effect has been to secure the enactment of a law providing for the centraliza- 

 tion of the common schools and for the transportation of the children to and from 

 these schools. The purpose has been to secure for country children such instruction 

 as will be more in keeping with their surroundings, and be better calculated to fit 

 jthem for their life work than has heretofore been given. 



