ioo AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS 



There are now over seven hundred state agricultural societies 

 most of which are devoted to special interests. In some states 

 the state society has no connection with local societies, but in 

 others the state organization is made up of representatives from 

 local societies. 



The latter plan is well illustrated by the Michigan State 

 Association of Farmers' Clubs. In 1908 the state associa- 

 tion included one hundred and twenty clubs from thirty-two 

 counties. In 1908 these clubs had a membership of over seven 

 thousand. The association holds an annual meeting in which a 

 majority of the associated clubs are represented. The program 

 consists of reports of various clubs, several addresses on sub- 

 jects of general interest to farmers, and reports of committees. 



A good example of the work of a local club is shown by the 

 following synopsis of its annual report to the association: 



The club is eleven years old, with a membership of 71, and average 

 attendance of 50. Annual dues are ten cents per member; the club holds 

 twelve meetings a year, all-day meetings from October to April. Men's 

 meetings in February, May; temperance meetings in February, March; 

 young people's meetings in April; ladies' meeting in May; club fair in 

 October; picnic in August. The club publishes a paper called the Rural 

 Grit (137, P- IS)- 



The addresses at the annual meetings are on topics of general 

 interest to farmers, often on agricultural education. The most 

 important committee is the one on resolutions. Some recom- 

 mendations directed toward legislation are usually found in its 

 reports. 



The published proceedings of the various agricultural socie- 

 ties contain important contributions to the literature of agri- 

 cultural education. The importance lies not so much in the new 

 points of view or new ideas presented as in the fact that these 

 articles indicate the attitude of the most progressive farmers on 

 this question. The Report of the Proceedings of the New 

 Jersey Horticultural Society for 1910 contains a discussion of 

 "What Shall We Teach the Farmer's Child?" (138). A scheme 

 is proposed for dividing the school year into more equal periods 



