LAW AND RULES GOVERNING MICHIGAN 

 FARMERS' INSTITUrES. 



THE LAW GOVERNING FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 



[Act No. 163 of the Public Acts of 1895.1 



AN ACT to authorize the State Board of Agriculture to hold Institutes and to estab- 

 lish courses of reading and lectures for the instruction of citizens of this State in 

 the various branches of agriculture, and making an appropriation therefor. 



Section 1. The People of the State of Michigan Enact, That the State Board of Agri- 

 culture is hereby authorized to hold Institutes and to maintain courses of reading 

 and lectures for the instruction of citizens of this State in the various branches of 

 agriculture and kindred sciences. The said Board shall formulate such rules and 

 regulations as it shall deem proper to carry on the work contemplated in this act, 

 and may employ an agent or agents to perform such duties in connection therewith 

 as it shall deem best. 



Sec. 2. When twenty or more persons, residents of any county in this State, 



organize themselves into a society to be called the County Farmers' 



Institute Society, for the purpose of teaching better methods of farming, stock 

 raising, fruit culture, and all the branches of business connected with the industry 

 of agriculture, and adopt a constitution and by-laws agreeable to rules and regula- 

 tions furnished by the State Board of Agriculture; and when such society shall have 

 elected such proper officers and performed such other acts as may be required by 

 the rules of said Board, such society shall be deemed an Institute society in the 

 meaning of this act: Provided, That not more than one such Institute society in 

 any county shall be authorized by this act: And provided further. That any existing 

 organization, approved by the Board of Agriculture, shall be considered a legally 

 organized Institute society under the terms of this act. 



Sec. 3. In each county where an Institute Society shall be organized under the 

 provisions of this act the State Board of Agriculture shall hold one annual Institute, 

 two days in length, at such place in the county and at such time as said Board may 

 deem expedient, and shall furnish at least two speakers or lecturers, with all 

 expenses paid, to be present at all sessions of the Institute. The County Institute 

 Society shall provide a suitable hall for the Institute, furnish fuel and lights, and 

 pay other local expenses, and shall provide speakers who shall occupy one-half the 

 time of the Institute that is given to set addresses: Provided, That upon the request 

 of any local Institute Society who desir^ to conduct their own Institute, the State 

 Board of Agriculture may, in their discretion, appropriate from the Institute fund 

 money not to exceed twenty-five dollars in lieu of the speakers provided for by this 

 act, said money to be expended by said local Institute Society entirely in Institute 

 work. 



Sec. 4. If the funds appropriated by this act will permit, the said Board of Agri- 

 culture may hold a number of four day Institutes, at such places and times as said 

 Board may determine, at which the primary object shall be to furnish a school of 

 instruction in practical agriculture and kindred sciences. 



Sec. 5. The State Board of Agriculture shall maintain the course of reading 

 known as the Farm Home Reading Circle, and may expend from the moneys appro- 

 priated by this act a sum not to exceed two hundred dollars for each of the two 



