CHAPTER VII 



FARMERS' INSTITUTES 



A decade and a half ago, there was a vig- 

 orous [campaign for the establishment of uni- 

 versity extension throughout the United States. 

 Generally speaking the campaign was a losing 

 one — with but a few successes amid general 

 failure. But many years before this agitation, 

 there was begun a work among farmers, which 

 in form and spirit was university extension, and 

 which has constantly developed until it is today 

 one of the most potent among the forces making 

 for rural progress. This work has been done 

 chiefly by what are now universally known as 

 farmers' institutes. 



The typical farmers' institute is a meeting 

 usually lasting two days, held for the purpose of 

 discussing subjects that relate to the interests of 

 farmers, more particularly those of a practical 

 ^character. As a rule, the speakers to whom 

 set topics are assigned are composed of two 

 classes: the first class is made up of experts, 

 either professors or experimenters in agricul- 

 tural colleges and similar institutions, or prac- 



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