National and Educational I?iterests. 



South Dakota. — The last session of the state legislature authorized the 

 board of trustees of the State Agricultural College to provide for holding 

 farmers' institutes during the coming winter in various parts of the state. 

 Accordingly the trustees directed the faculty of the college to provide pro- 

 grammes, and arrange for a series of five institutes during December and 

 January, 1891-2. As no funds were appropriated by the legislature, and 

 as there are none at the disposal of the trustees for this purpose, all ex- 

 penses must be met by the communities where institutes are desired. These 

 expenses cover the rent of rooms where the meetings are held, with lighting 

 and heating, the printing of notices and programmes, and the necessary 

 traveling expenses of those members of the college faculty whose services 

 may be desired. The college prints a roster of its officers who can take 

 part in the institute work, with the subjects which they wish to discuss. 

 Communities that desire institutes apply directly to the college. 



Tennessee. — The state has never made an appropriation for the special 

 purpose of organizing farmers' institutes. The present commissioner of 

 agriculture has commenced the work, and over one-half of the state has 

 been organized. The work is done by the assistant commissioners in con- statistics 

 nection with their general work, and they are paid out of the general appro- of insti- 

 priation made for this department. tutes. 



Texas. — Annual appropriation, $500, to be used under the direction of 

 the Agricultural and Mechanical College. It is expected that one institute 

 shall be held in each congressional district. 



Utah. — No appropriation. 



Vermont. — 2,500 per year. Every other year a report is printed from the 

 Board of Agriculture at a cost of $1,500. 



Virginia. — No appropriation has been made. Out of its general funds, 

 the State Board of Agriculture last year used $250 for institutes. 



Washington. — No appropriation. 



West Virginia. — No appropriation. 



Wisconsin. — Annual appropriation, $12,000. The first funds were given six 

 years ago. The first two years the annual appropriation was $5,000. The 

 proceedings of the institutes are each year condensed into a volume, of which 

 31,000 copies are issued. From 70 to 75 institutes are held each winter, with 

 an average attendance of over 500. 



Wyoming. — No appropriation. 



An important educational movement has been inaugurated 

 in England this year by the Fruit Growers' Association. * The 

 following scheme for forty lectures is prepared by a com- 

 mittee of the Association : First stage. Plant-life. — Seeds: itinerant 



lectures ir 



nature of, and germination ; requirements of growth — water, England, 

 heat, air. Soils : nature and composition. Roots : nature 

 and functions ; branches, fibrils, and root-hairs ; what they 

 do and how — what helps, what hinders them. Stems and 

 branches : their nature, work and uses — helps and hindrances. 

 Leaves : what they are, what they do — helps and hindrances. 



*Gar. Chron. 3 ser. x. 520. 



