FAEMERS' INSTITUTES IN THE UNITED STATES. 307 



instrumental in organizing fruit growers and truckers' associations at 

 different points along its road, and issues printed circulars and bul- 

 letins of information respecting the agricultural advantages of the 

 several localities through which the road passes. This company also 

 employs experts to teach the trucker and farmer, and to oversee and 

 assist him in Ms work. Some of these experts have had training in 

 the agricultiu*al colleges and experiment stations of the country, and 

 others are commercial men of years of experience, who aid in market- 

 ing produce and assist by teaching the fruit growers and truckers how 

 to grade, pack, and prepare their products so as to suit the peculiar 

 demands of the various cities. This road has a soliciting freight agent 

 in every northern city of any magnitude. The agent informs the fruit 

 growers' associations and individual growers daily, and oftener if 

 required, as to the exact condition of the market in the city where he 

 is located. He advises of the arrival of the cars, the condition of the 

 contents, and often gives the prices which were obtained for the con- 

 signment before the consignee reports the arrival of the car. 



Another company has distributed along its lines 800 pure-bred 

 bulls and 6,000 pure-bred pigs for breeding purposes, and it also 

 offers prizes for the best-managed farms in the several districts 

 through which it runs. 



A western company has organized thirty-five farmers' mstitutes 

 and truck-growers' associations. Another reports eighteen such 

 organizations in its territory. In Texas the railroads have associated 

 for the development of the industries of the State, and are encouraging 

 and aiding the introduction of diversified crops, the improvement of 

 the rural schools, and the construction of substantial highways in the 

 country districts. The industrial agent of an important road in the 

 Southwest, in reporting upon the methods adopted by that road in 

 the encouragement of agriculture, states, "I have tried to use methods 

 in promoting the success of the various farmers along our line in 

 diversified farming the same as if they were tenants on a big 

 plantation and I its manager responsible for tlieir success." 



There is opportunity for this Department to assist the railroad 

 companies, and through them the agricultural industry, by investiga- 

 ting the relation of transportation to agriculture, and advising as to 

 methods that the companies can adopt that will assist farmers in the 

 marketing of their crops, and encourage the production of such 

 articles as are best suited to their soils. 



NEW FEATURES. 



A number of new features have been introduced into the institute 

 work during the year which give promise of becoming valuable addi- 

 tions to the methods heretofore used in giving instruction. In one 



