ioo PAST AND PRESENT OF The Farmers' Institute system has made steady and stable progress. Thirty-three lo¬ cal organizations now exist. In February, 1905, a Farmers' Institute staff consisting of nine men was organized. The members of the staff were first sent for a three weeks' course at the Agricultural College, Truro, Nova Scotia . On their return they agreed to undertake the practice of the four-year system of cultivation, the keeping of milk- records, and some co-operative experimental work with corn and oats. Besides this they agreed to assist in the educational work in the Province -when called upon by the De¬ partment. In April, of the same year, a series of semi-annual institute conventions was begun and at these* matters of general interest were discussed. The result is that the farmers have been brought frequently together and prejudice and narrow-mind¬ edness are being dissipated as men begin to know each other better. In December, 1905, the first short course in live stock judg¬ ing was hekljn the Province. For five days classes in judging cattle, horses, sheep. swine and poultry were held under the di¬ rection of some of the best experts in live stock in the Dominion. The changes of evolution are slow but sure. National co-operation and organiza¬ tion are the "pile complete'' of local desires for economical operation of industrial pur¬ suits. The Farmers' Institute system is the institution evolved through nearly a cen¬ tury of desire and effort for the strengthen¬ ing and uplifting of Prince Edward Island farmers. Half a century more and we shall look back at these humble attempts to im¬ prove our soil, seed and stock and wonder how we could have been so slow to interpret the hand-writing of nature. The first crop bulletin was published in 1902. The data for this bulletin is sup¬ plied by the secretaries of the Farmers' In¬ stitutes. From the first, business men and shippers have appreciated this source of in¬ formation regarding the state of the crops and the probable market prospects. Improvement followed improvement; in 1902 model orchards were established at Lower Montague , Morell , Springfield , Ken¬ sington and Alberton . Up to recent years it was thought that apples could not be suc¬ cessfully grown. Persistent attempts proved this to be fallacious, when science was com¬ bined with intelligent effort. The next year four more orchards were planted under Government supervision, the object being to demonstrate the possibilities of horticulture, and the best methods of attaining success. A Fruit Growers' Association was organ¬ ized in 1898, and with the Rev. A. E. Burke for many years as its energetic presi¬ dent, the association has done much for the fruit interests of the Island. The Provin¬ cial Legislature gives an annual grant of seventy-five dollars to assist the association in its work. The heart of man is never satisfied. In spite of immense possibilities, in spite of home surroundings, in spite of money spent to point the way to better things at home, the faces of our young men are set west¬ ward. Every season the flower of the "Prov¬ ince, our young men and our young women uneasy under the restraint and conserva¬ tism, emigrate to give their best to the build¬ ing up of the new western provinces. Many farmers have sold or left their farms to join in the exodus, and it truly is a regrettable state of affairs that many of our prosperous farms are turned over to the common. It