. 93 



organization was maintained by its nioml)i'rs until ISOO, when it roceivcd assistance 

 from the State board of agriculture. From March, 1891, to January 30, 1904, from one 

 to two successful institutes were held each year. 



In 1892 a farmers' agricultural society was organized at Pleasant Valley, Marshall 

 County, which held regular meetings for the discussion of farm topics. This organiza- 

 tion formed the nucleus of what may l)e considered one of the best institute organiza- 

 tions in the State. The meetings are well attended by the farmers and their families, 

 and one session of each institute is devoted to domestic science. A similar organization 

 has been maintained in Barl>our County for several years, where the farmers of their 

 own accord hold regular meetings for the purpose of "'educating the mind and training 

 the hand." It is easy to understand why such a county is called one of the l)anner 

 institute counties of the State. The society meets regularly each month, in addition 

 to holding one or two annual institutes. 



These counties are referred to in this connection because of the progressive spirit they 

 manifested in the early history of the institute movement in the State. Great i)rogress 

 is being made in many of the other counties, where from one to four institutes are held 

 each year. 



From March, 1891, until Octolx-r, 1897, the institutes were mostly conducted by the 

 members of the board, each member being assigned to look after the institutes in his 

 district. No compensation was allowed for the time and services rendered. Actual 

 traveling expenses incurred were paid out of the appropriation made to meet the 

 current expenses of the board. Gradually the farmers began to appreciate the work 

 that was being done to improve their condition, which created a greater demand for 

 institutes. 



It was soon found that some special effort must be made to meet the demands of the 

 farmers for additional meetings and also to extend the institutes into the more remote 

 sections of the State. 



With this in view, a resolution was past at a meeting of the board held October 4, 

 1897, creating the office of institute director, and C. C. Brown, of Charleston, was 

 elected to the office for the term of two years. In prescribing the duties of the d irector 

 the resolution says, in part: 



The duties of said director shall l)e to superintend and have direction of and arrange 

 for the holding of all farmers' institutes in the State, under such rules and regulations 

 as may be prescribed by the board, and as set forth in chapter 22, section 5, of the act 

 of 1895. 



Under the supervision of the institute director, a special effort was made to hold at 

 least one institute in each county, and the work was prosecuted with more or less suc- 

 cess. In some parts of the State they were missionary in character, since they opened 

 the way for the performance of a more substantial work in the future. The success 

 attending the efforts of the institute director fulfilled the hopes that inspired his 

 appointment to the extent that the office was continued. 



At the meeting of the board, October 18, 1899, D. M. Sullivan was elected institute 

 director for the term of two years. The name of the office was changed at the meeting 

 of the board held April 7, 1902, to that of superintendent of institutes, and J. B. Garvin 

 was elected for the remainder of that term. At a meeting held October 5, 1903, he was 

 reelected for the term of two years. 



Various plans have been devised to create interest among the farmers and to insure 

 good attendance at the meetings, so that the board might be justified in sending out 

 first-class instructors. A recent plan adopted by the board is to require that petitions 

 l)e sent in requesting institutes. Each society is furnished with two blank petitions 

 for the purpose of securing the names of farmers who agree to help work up the institute. 

 One copy of the petition, signed by at least ten or more farmers, is returned to the 

 office of the superintendent of institutes, where it is placed on file. One copy is kept 

 by the secretary of the local society. Ample time is given for circulating and 

 returning these petitions before the inst itute committee meets. 



