Farmers' Institute that the College of Agriculture was so highly developed 

 that it was able to solve this great problem which has perplexed human- 

 kind for so many ages. 



The Farm Bureau and the Illinois Agricultural Association was also 

 founded on the principles of the earth replenishment; and permanent agri- 

 culture is nearest to the heart of the County Adviser and these associations. 

 The Farmers Institute paved the way for the County Adviser and the Farm 

 Bureau in Illinois, and it should be proud of the fact. The extension of 

 scientific knowledge by the institute to the farmers of the state so lowered 

 their prejudice and raised their confidence that they became willing to advise 

 with scientifically trained men under the name of an adviser. This seems 

 to be true in no other state, as the corresponding official in other states 

 are called agents, secretaries, etc. 



The Farm Bureau and its state and national associations are essentially 

 business organizations; organizations to aid the farmers in solving the de- 

 tails of many problems problems of securing raw materials needed in land 

 replenishment; problems relating to the distribution of products, and various 

 other economic problems; the efforts being extended largely to those holding 

 memberships. While these problems are of deep importance, and especially 

 pressing at present because of the break down in a part of the world machin- 

 ery, the problems of production are also likely to be pressing in a short 

 time, both as individual and world propositions. 



There is no conflict between the Farmers Institute and the Farm Bureau 

 and the state association. As a rule the utmost harmony prevails. The 

 lines of activity of both are clearly enough defined to provoke no conflict. 

 If there have been points of friction it has been because men lacked' wisdom, 

 and not due to any lack of harmony between the organizations. There are 

 stronger farm bureaus and better farmers institutes where there is the best 

 co-operation between the two. 



OPEN MEMBERSHIP SERVICE TO ALL. 



The farmers institute has been criticised sometimes because of the loose- 

 ness of its organization. It is true we have a loose, or open organization. 

 There are no paid memberships; no fees and no dues. All who wish to be 

 are members. Memberships are open to all alike; the rich or poor; the 

 proud or humble, have an equal voice in institute affairs. The superstruc- 

 ture of the institute rests on the farmer himself; he it is who decides what 

 the farmers' problems are, and how, when and where they may be given 

 consideration. Every one has an equal right to say who the institute officers 

 will be; the times and places of meetings, what subjects to be discussed and 

 who the speakers will be. It is because of its form of organization that 

 the institute is able to give consideration to the problems of the humblest 

 farmer as well as those of the more successful. As the institute is based on 

 the farmers' problems it has no place for party politics, or for the jealousies 

 of political leaders. The Institute so far has not wavered from its line of 

 duty, and may that day never come when it will forget its true functions. 



In some other states they also have farmers institutes. In some cases 

 the farmers institutes are managed by a department of the college of agri- 

 culture, or by an appointed board of management. In such cases, the times 

 and places of meetings, the subjects discussed' and the speakers who discuss 

 them, are all arranged without considering the desires and wishes of those 

 who are to be benefited. It is fair to assume that this type of institutes 

 will not do the good, nor will they have such an influence as when the meet- 

 ings are planned and conducted by those who are the most interested. 



A few years ago the women rather pushed themselves into the Insti- 

 tute and demanded that consideration be given to the problems they were 

 meeting. It was much the same with the Institute as with the colleges 

 of agriculture; as Dean Bailey said, there being no other place for domestic 

 science the college of agriculture had to adopt it. Fortunately, the Insti- 

 tute adopted domestic science and formed such a department. We recog- 

 nize that the problems of the home are just as much problems for the 



