608 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



In education, in professions, in labor of every kind, nearly all work 

 Is now specialized. One teacher instructs in mathematics only; a doctor 

 may treat but the ear or eye, or spend all his energy and time on opera- 

 tions. How does this bear on institute work? To a greater degree than 

 perhaps we think. 



When outside help is wanted for a meeting, does not the request 

 come for some specialist — one who has trained as a nurse or graduated 

 as a teacher of domestic science? This bespeaks progress. It shows 

 that the women of our country are seeking not only the best, but the 

 latest methods and knowledge. When a government not only furnishes 

 schools for special training, but supervises such a system of instruction 

 as the institute is proving itself to be, that country is a progressive one 

 and can not fail to take its place among the foremost nations. 



The question relating to women's institutes is no longer "To be or 

 not to be." They are; and, if the present is the fullness of the past and 

 the herald of the future, then is their continued success a certainty. 



ORGANIZATION OF INSTITUTES. 



Miss Smith: This is the age of organization, and women have their 

 organizations as well as men. In many places the farmers' institute 

 meetings are attended by both men and women; and it is well that they 

 should be, because there is no field of industry where men and women 

 have so many interests in common. But there are many times when sub- 

 jects are discussed not interesting to one side of the house, while of the 

 greatest interest to the other. We have got over this difficulty by having 

 separate meetings in the afternoon, and a joint meeting at night, where 

 general subjects are discussed, so that we keep the feeling of unity by 

 having the evening meeting, and yet save time and have more satisfactory 

 discussions by having the separate afternoon meetings. 



The women have an organization of their own, with officers and all 

 the machinery necessary. The women's institute is affiliated with the 

 farmers' institute, and there is usually a spirit of the greatest mutual 

 helpfulness between the societies. 



OUTUXE OF SYSTEM. 



(1) Each electoral division may have one institute, with a president, 

 a vice president, a secretary-treasurer, and a number of directors, the 

 directors being representative women from the different i)oints in the 

 division. These officers form the board of directors to transact the busi- 

 ness of the society. 



(2) Each district institute may have as many branch institutes as 

 desired. There are always two or more directors chosen from the points 

 where the branch organizations are. thus making a connecting link be- 

 tween the branch and the general society. These branch institutes have 

 a local president and secretary-treasurer. The local secretary reports 



