64 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



catine Institute has made this matter of a woman's session 

 practical ; I believe we must not neglect it. 



Mr. Foster, of Monroe County: We organized an insti- 

 tute three years ago. We had no place to meet, so we hired a 

 hall ; that hall wouldn't begin to hold the people. We organized 

 by electing a president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer and 

 an executive committee. Unfortunately I was the president, 

 The executive committee got up a program, and in connectioo 

 with that, I want to say, we have agricultural papers, bulletins 

 of every kind, and literature, that is full of information. The 

 reading farmer, if he is so disposed, can get up a very intelligent 

 paper. Our program covered the different topics ; we had essays. 

 and prizes. We solicited from the merchants. It was a grand 

 success. 



The second year we couldn't get the court house. I stood in 

 pretty well with two' of the members. I told them this place be- 

 longed tO' the public, the tax-payers built it, and that they had 

 a ladies' rest room for the ladies especially; that we were com- 

 pelled to come and pay our taxes, attend court, and so on. I 

 offered to pay the janitor fees and expenses. We went there. 

 The courthouse wouldn't hold the crowd. 



We had essays and- declamations.- Penn College gave a pre- 

 mium of one term tuition for the best essay. Albia high school 

 gave a premium; the merchants gave premiums. In that con- 

 nection, I want to say, we reserved the right to sell the corn. 

 We had an auctioneer to sell it. Ten ears of corn sold for $♦. 



We hired our large opera house, but that wouldn't begin to 

 hold the crowds. We charged ten cents admission. Of course, 

 nobody will stop on ten cents admission. Why, the boys and 

 girls there just beat everything I ever heard of. I want to say, 

 being the treasurer, that we have between $70 and $80 in the 

 treasury. 



Along the line of talent, we made arrangements for Prof. 

 Holden to come down. He sent a substitute. We appreciated 

 his talk on corn; it did us lots of good. 



I think the Central organization perhaps will be all right. I 

 think we have men down there that will get up a program that 

 will suit our people pretty well. If we haven't outside speak- 



