87 



The movement seems to have waned somewhat during the year 1893. Only three 

 meetings were lield, namely, at Lynchburg, Harrisonburg, and Manassas. The total 

 cost was §532.35. Many of the papers read are reproduced in the commissioner's 

 report. 



Only two ai)plicalions seem to have been received for institutes in 1894, while only 

 one was held at Tappahannock, and the expense was $75. 



The institute movement seems to have revived a little according to the report of the 

 commissioner for 1895. Four meetings were reported for that year from the first, sixth, 

 seventh, and eighth districts, the total expense being something like $400. The meet- 

 ings were fairly well attended, but as the matter had been left entirely in the hands of 

 the farmers and no systematic effort mlide for the organization of the meetings, it is not 

 surprizing that a large part of the special appropriation made by the board for holding 

 institutes should have l)een returned to them. 



To Thomas ^^^litehead, commissioner of agriculture during the period under dis- 

 cussion, belongs the honor of first endeavoring to organize and place farmers' institutes 

 on a permanent basis in the State of Virginia. His efforts for the time and under the 

 conditions which confronted him were certainly successful. While these gatherings 

 were not as far-reaching in their influence as those of the present day, the information 

 given out was of immense value to those attending and has paved the way for the more 

 systematic efforts which the board of agriculture in cooperation with the Virgini i 

 Experiment Station has now inaugurated. 



The commissioner's reports for the years 1896, 1897, and 1898 are not availal)le,and 

 therefore it is not possible to say just what progress the institute movement made dur- 

 ing that peroid. A few meetings were held by the officers of the experiment station at 

 various points in the State at the request of a number of leading farmers, and more 

 would have been held but for the fact that no specific appropriation was available for 

 the work; and so, while the station and college authorities fully recognized the value of 

 institutes, they were unable to take a very active part in them because of a lack of 

 funds, but the institutes have always had their cordial support, and every effort has 

 been made to further them. Thomas Whitehead was succeeded by G. W. Koiner as 

 commissioner of agriculture. 



In Commissioner Koiner's report for the year 1899 reference is made to the value of 

 farmers' institute meetings and attention is called to the excellent work being done in 

 Wisconsin, Iowa, and various other States where large appropriations were made for 

 that specific purpose. It would appear from this statement that the farmers' institute 

 movement had practically died out in Virginia. No report is available as to where or 

 when meetings were held or what the attendance was. The item of expense reads as 

 follows: Appropriations for bulletins, institutes, and reports, $878.08. It is not likely, 

 therefore, that many meetings were held within the year. 



In the rejiort for 1900 the commissioner states that seventeen counties were visited 

 and that the meetings were fairly successful. No reference is made to the places where 

 the meetings were held. The disbursements of the board show that $3,000 was spent 

 for these meetings. 



Further reference is made to the institutes in the report for 1902, but no account is 

 given of places where the meetings were held or of the number of counties visited. 

 One thousand two hundred and forty dollars was spent for institute work according to 

 the financial statement of the board. 



In the year 1903 the commissioner's report states that "institute meetings have been 

 well received." The number is not given. One thousand one hundred and forty- 

 nine dollars was expended that year for institute purposes. In 1904 reference is made 

 to the increased demand for farmers' institutes. The statement of expenditures shows 

 that $1,610.10 was used for conducting them. 



Until 1903 the holding of farmers' institutes was practically under the direction of 

 the commissioner of agriculture, but with the adoption of the new constitution in that 



