FARMEB 100 EABMINa Farm management involves many phases of practical farming; the proper rotation of crops, the comparative value of fertilizers; co-operative organization for the purpose of purchasing seeds and fertilizers, and for the sale of crops at a minimum of loss to profiteering middle- men, and, by no means least, a proper system of bookkeeping, whereby the in- dividual farmer may know his profits and losses on his various transactions, so that the source of loss may be elim- inated. All means to making farming profitable to farmers are considered a legitimate part of the general subject of farm management. The economy of gasoline-driven vehicles for carrying pro- duce to market, or of dynamite in dig- ging ditches for drainage, are fair illus- trations of phases which are shown by actual demonstration. The main object is to eliminate waste and to introduce a scientific efficiency in every department of agricultural production. A fuller dis- cussion of this subject will be found in "What is Farm Management?" Bulletin No. 259, issued by the Bureau of Plant Industry, Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. FARMER, one who farms or contracts to collect taxes, imposts, duties, etc., for a certain payment per cent.; also one who farms or cultivates ground; an agri- culturist; a husbandman. FARMER - LABOR PARTY. — See United States. Political Happenings. FARMERS' ALLIANCE, a general term for an American association of agriculturists which was founded in 1873, originally in Texas, where it was organ- ized for the purpose of co-operation against cattle thieves. In 1887 its mem- bers had increased to over 100,000, its scope was greatly extended, and it con- solidated with the Farmers* Union of Louisiana, becoming incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia, as the National Farmers' Alliance and Co- operative Union. In 1880 the National Agricultural Wheel was organized in Arkansas, and branches were formed in other States. These two organizations were consolidated at St. Louis, Mo., Oct. 1, 1889, under the name of the National Farmers' Alliance and Industrial Union, with a membership then estimated at from 1,600,000 to 2,500,000. This so- ciety is in active operation in all the Southern and Western States (except Ohio and Wyoming), and in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Another organization, called the National Farm- ers' Alliance, was formed in Chicago in 1880. In 1892, fusing with others as the People's party, it nominate J J. B. Weaver for President and cast 1,041,021 votes. The Southern branch seceded and went out of politics. The Farmers' National Alliance held a convention in 1914, when it claimed a membership of over 3,000,- 000. The Alliance advocated Federal assistance for inland commerce, a liter- acy test for immigrants, and a poll tax upon them. FARMERS' INSTITUTE, an assembly of the farmers held to further their knowledge of agriculture or for their entertainment. The institute is derived from the earlier farmers' meetings which were held under the auspices of local agricultural societies. When the Morrill Act of 1862, grant- ing Federal aid to State universities, was passed, these meetings were patron- ized by the State and became distinc- tively educational in their character. Custom differs in the various States as to the length of the meetings; some are held for only half a day, while other institutes last for several days. Usually they are held in the winter season, so as to afford the farmers full opportunity to attend. The State agricultural college commonly directs the activities of the institutes, and with the help of the local committee prepares their programs. These usually consist of addresses by specialists on some subject of interest to farmers, and is followed by questions and discussions from the body of the meetings. The United States Depart- ment of Agriculture has prepared valu- able lantern slides for exhibition at these institutes, showing how to increase pro- duction on the farms and how best to combat plant diseases. Very frequently social features are introduced in the in- stitute programs. It is estimated that more than four million persons a year attend these meetings, and their influ- ence in improving agricultural methods has been incalculable. FARMING, the business or manage- ment of a farm, comprising the entire circumstances and control of it. Once regarded as a profession easy to be un- derstood, and requiring but little prep- aration for its successful practice, it has come to be viewed in a different and a wiser manner. It has been justly said that no pursuit requires more talent, per- severance, and careful observation than the cultivation of the earth ; that, so far from its being an empirical business, it is, in fact, one that several other sciences illustrate and assist; one whose profes- sors cannot too often examine the prac- tice of other cultivators; and hence, since it has been found that the labors of the chemist, the botanist, the mechanist, and
