FARMERS' INSTITUTES 95 



held regularly, since 1876, annual farmers' insti- 

 tutes, "so known and designated," which al- 

 ways have contained practically the essential 

 features of the present-day institute. The 

 Michigan legislature passed a law in 1861 pro- 

 viding for "lectures to others than students of 

 the Agricultural College," and has made bien- 

 nial appropriations for institutes since 1877. 

 Ohio, in 1881, extended the institute idea to 

 include every county in the state. 



More important than the origin of the farmers' 

 institute movement is the present status. Prac- 

 r tically every state and territory in the Union 

 carries on institutes under some form or other. 

 In somewhat more than half the states, the 

 authorities of the land-grant colleges have charge 

 of the work. In the other states, the board of 

 agriculture or the department of agriculture has 

 control. 



In 1905-6 there were held 3,500 institutes, in 

 45 states and territories, with a total reported 

 attendance of 1,300,000 people, at a cost of 

 nearly $350,000. The work is largely supported 

 by the state treasuries, some of the states show- 

 ing a most generous spirit. The annual state 

 appropriations for the work in leading institute 

 states are as follows: Pennsylvania, $20,500; 



