STATE ORGANIZATIONS FOR AGRICULTURE 89 



and practice garden in connection with the school (132). The 

 commissioner says: 



This has been in the nature of an experiment, but we have gone far 

 enough in the matter to see that admirable results may be obtained, and 

 at a very minimum of cost. The only cost, in fact, to us is the salary of 

 the man nine months in the year. The land is furnished by the patrons of 

 the school, as are also the work animals, implements, fertilizers, etc., and 

 the school is given the profits from the farm.i 



These are typical examples of the work of various state 

 offices of agriculture in promoting an interest in agriculture and 

 rural life among boys and girls. Many others might have 

 been given. It is a new field of activity for these offices, and 

 promises much if organized and extended so as to co-operate 

 with other educational efforts. Perhaps the greatest value of 

 such work for agricultural education to the public schools lies 

 in placing the stamp of official approval upon this kind of 

 education. 



In many states practically nothing has been done by these 

 offices, and in none more than a beginning of what might be 

 done. The state and county fairs, for example, offer unusual 

 educational opportunities. If the same energy now expended in 

 managing and controlling amusement-park features of these fairs 

 (which are of doubtful value at best) were directed toward 

 helping the schools of rural communities there might be a great 

 educational gain for the state (133). 



STATE FARMERS' INSTITUTES 



The farmers' institute movement in the United States has now reached 

 a degree of importance and development that places it along side of the 

 leading institutions of the country organized in the interest of industrial 

 education. Forty-five states and territories held institutes in 1905, aggre- 

 gating 10,555 half-day sessions, which were attended by 995,192 persons, 

 chiefly adults ^134, p. 7). 



The growth of this movement may be seen by comparing 

 the above summary for 1905 with the following summary for 

 1908: number of institutes 4,643; half-day sessions 13,056; 



1 Quoted from private letter. 



