90 



cents, and fc^r State institute societies, 50 to 75 cents; the money thus collected to be 

 u§ed by each club or society for the necessary expenses of conducting their respective 

 meetings and institutes. The farmers' clubs were to be open to members and invited 

 guests; the county institutes to be open and free to all who desired to attend. 



The secretaries of the clubs, societies, and meetings were to keep a record of pro- 

 grams and important and interesting facts presented at such meetings and report the 

 same in writing to the secretary of the State society, who would also act as general 

 superintendent of the system and furnish an annual report for pul^lication. 



The State society was to hold one or two institutes each year, to which county 

 societies and farmers' clubs would be expected to send delegates and sjicakers, assist 

 in obtaining special lecturers, and in securing an audience. 



For the financial support of the proposed system membership fees, annual dues, 

 and individual contributions were to be depended upon until State aid was secured. 



After a discussion of the plan it was decided to call a meeting of the farmers of 

 Wood and adjoining counties for the purpose of discussing the matter further and to 

 take some active steps toward the proposed organization. March 13 was selected as 

 the day of meeting, and the place the court-house in Parkersburg. A circular letter 

 dated March 2, 1889, was prepared and sent out, and notices were also given by the 

 county papers calling attention to the meeting, and referring to the necessity of farmers' 

 institutes being conducted in West Virigina as they were now being held in Ohio and 

 other States. 



The meeting was held at the time and place mentioned and was attended by some 

 of the most progressive and intelligent farmers of that section of the State. S. S. Stone, 

 of Selden, Wood County, was chosen temporary chairman, and A. D. Hopkins secretary. 



The director of the experiment station, John A. Myers, was present, and in his 

 address explained the objects of the experiment stations and how the experiments 

 and investigations would benefit the farmers. In closing he referred to the farmers' 

 institute as one of the best educational institutions for farmers that was ever started, 

 and that he would like to see them organized in every county in the State. 



The plan of organization for farmers' institutes that had been presented by Mr. 

 Hopkins at the February meeting was taken up and discust, after which the sec- 

 retary moved that steps be taken toward effecting a jjermanent organization. This 

 was carried, and 15 names were presented for charter membershii). On motion of 

 A. A. Keller, the organization was made permanent, and the temporary officers were 

 retained. 



The secretary then presented a draft of a constitution for an institute society, which 

 was referred to A. A. Keller and James McMechen, the president and secretary, a 

 committee to report a constitution to a succeeding meeting. 



This committee met at the Commercial Hotel in Parkersburg on March 16 and 23 

 and decided upon a constitution, which was reported to a general meeting of the 

 society at Parkersburg on June 1, 1889, and adopted. The Farmers' Institute Society 

 of West Virginia was then permanently organized, with S. S. Stone president, J. T. 

 McMechen vice-president, A. D. Hopkins secretary, and Omar Page treasurer. - 



The constitution, as adopted, provided for the election of a president, vice-president, 

 secretary, and treasurer. The secretary was made superintendent of institutes, and 

 was empowered and directed to form neighborhood farmers' clubs. A memliership 

 fee of 25 cents was fixt as the annual dues of each person. 



Under this organization a "Strawberry" meeting was held at the store of J. W. 

 Dudley on June 8, 1889. The fruit committee held another meeting at the fair grounds 

 in Parkersburg on July 27, and a picnic and farmers' institute was held on August 15, 

 at which T. B. Terry, of Ohio, was engaged to lecture. This was the first regular insti- 

 tute held by the society and was very successful. About 300 persons were in 

 attendance. 



At a meeting of the society held in December arrangements were made for the hold- 

 ing of an institute at the court-house in Parkersburg on January 21 and 22, 1890. 



