The county boards of the several counties of this State are hereby authorized and empowered to make appropriations to and for the use of county soil and crop improvement associations and home improvement associations, or any other like associations organized for the improvement of general agricultural or home conditions, annually, which is hereby declared to be for county purposes, and to be paid to the treasurer of such association as soon as the annual taxes shall have been collected in like manner as all other expenditures are authorized and expended by said boards.