National and Educational Interests. 



H5 



held in different parts of the state. The total appropriation to the Bureau was 

 $13,000, but no definite sum was specified for institutes. Five institutes were 

 held in the fall of 1890, nine in the spring of 1891, and about nine more will 

 be held during the present winter. The cost of these institutes averages 

 about $100 each, so that about $1,000 may be said to be spent for them annually. 

 Louisiana. — No appropriation. 



Maine. — Annual appropriation, $3,000. The secretary of the Board of 

 Agriculture and one member are obliged to hold two institutes yearly in 

 every county. 



Maryland. — No appropriation. 



Massachusetts. — Each incorporated agricultural society in the state com- 

 plying with the state law and regulations of the Board of Agriculture (see 

 page 138) receives an annual bounty of $600. Each society must hold at 

 least three institutes each year. In 1890, 36 societies held 129 institutes. 



The State Board of Agriculture also holds one public three-days meeting 

 each year, for which $800 is expended. The state also appropriates funds 

 for other general institutes, and for these institutes from $600 to $700 is 

 used. 



Michigan. — No separate appropriation. An item for farmers' institutes 

 is inserted annually in the appropriations made to the State Board of Agri- 

 culture. This was first given in 1876-7, the amount being $164.30. It has 

 varied from that amount to $750, which is the present appropriation per year, tutes. 



Minnesota. — Annual appropriation, $7,000. The first appropriation, 

 $5,000, was made in 1887. 



Mississippi. — No appropriation. 



Missouri. — Last appropriation, for each of two years, $5,000. Expenses 

 of members of Board of Agriculture attending meetings, per year, $500. 

 During the present winter, institutes will be held in 56 counties of the state. 



The institute work was established in 1882 by Professor J. W. Sanborn, then 

 secretary of the State Board of Agriculture. The Board was then receiving 

 $2,500 per annum to carry on all its work, and out of this sum the expenses of 

 a very limited series were met. By the aid of members of the faculty of the 

 Agricultural College, who gave their time during vacations and when they 

 could be spared from their class-room work, and volunteer assistance from 

 public-spirited farmers, the work was carried on without any special appro- 

 priation for the purpose from the general one made to the Board, and which at 

 any time never exceeded $3, 000 per annum. The work progressed slowly from 

 the time of its organization, and steadily grew in popularity until the demand 

 was so great for institute meetings that the legislature recognized the necessity 

 for making a liberal appropriation for carrying it on. The institute work did 

 more toward securing the increase from $3,000 to $12,000 per year for carry- 

 ing on the work of the Board of Agriculture than any other of the lines of 

 work which the Board prosecutes. 



Montana. — No movement has been made to establish farmers' institutes. 



Nebraska. — No appropriation has been made by the state. Institutes 

 have been held for 10 or 12 years, however, through the efforts of individuals 

 and societies. About 50 institutes are arranged for the present winter. 

 These are supported by appropriations from the following sources : Board of 

 Regents of the State University, $300; State Board of Agriculture, $100; State 

 Horticultural Society, $100 ; State Dairymen's Association, $100. These in- 

 stitutes are to be followed by a week or ten days' institute at Lincoln, under 

 the auspices of the State University, 



