378 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



sessions, and having an attendance of about S,()0() persons. The 

 superintendent reports as a new feature of their work the combina- 

 tion of teachers' and farmers' institutes. The teaching of agricrdture 

 in the public schools and the consolidation of rural schools have been 

 made special features and were discussed at ever}' institute held 

 throughout the State. 



The Scott County Farmers' Institute during the past year succeeded 

 in inducing 10 boys to study corn judging under an expert corn judge. 

 These boys attended all of the day sessions of the institute, acting as 

 judges of corn brought up from the county for competition, and as a 

 premium for the best work done in corn judging one boy had his 

 entire expenses paid at the Corn Growers' Convention in January 

 at the University of Illinois, where he had opportunity to earn a 

 certificate as an expert corn judge. The expenses of sending a boy 

 to the Corn School at Urbana is the cost of the round-trip ticket and 

 board for two weeks, amounting from $10 to $20. Several counties 

 are planning to introduce the corn- judging contest into their insti- 

 tutes this year. 



The Illinois Farmers' Institute is required to make an annual 

 report to the governor of its transactions, which report shall include 

 papers pertaining to its work and addresses made at the annual meet- 

 ing of the organization. Twenty thousand copies of this report are 

 required to be printed each year, one-half for the use of the Illinois 

 Farmers' Institute and the remainder for the secretary of state for 

 distribution through the members of the general assembly. 



INDIANA. 



The laws of the State of Indiana require — 



the committee of experimental agriculture and horticulture of the board of 

 trustees, together with the faculty of the school of agriculture of Purdue Uni- 

 versity, to appoint before November 1 of each year suitable persons to hold 

 county institutes in the several counties of the State between the 1st day of 

 November and the 1st day of April, each year, for the purpose of giving to 

 farmers and others interested therein instruction in agriculture, horticulture, 

 agricultural chemistry, and economic entomology. 



Section 2 of the act provides that — 



such institutes shall be held at such times and places as said committee and 

 faculty may determine, and under such rules, regulations, and methods of 

 instruction as they may prescribe : Provided, however, That such institutes shall 

 be so conducted as to give to those attending results of the latest investigations 

 in theoretical and practical agi-iculture and horticulture. 



Ten thousand dollars per annum has been appropriated for bear- 

 ing the expenses of the lecturers and paying such items as may be 

 necessary for the proper conduct of the work. The director of insti- 

 tutes is appointed by the trustees of Purdue University, the present 



