farmers' institutes in the united states. 383 



director of the State exporimont station, and the commissioner of 

 agi'iculture and immigration. Two thousand doUars is annually ap- 

 propriated for institute work. The connnissioner of agriculture and 

 innuigration is the executive officer of the State conunittoe on farmers' 

 institutes, and has direct control of the work of organizing and con- 

 ducting institutes in the several districts. 



There are 33 lecturers on the State institute teaching force, 13 of 

 whom are connected with the State eoHege or experiment station. 

 Last year these college and station men contributed sixty davs of 

 their time to institute work. Sixty-seven institutes were held during 

 the year, composed of 208 sessions. The total attendance is given 

 at 14,541. The cost of the institutes was $2,500. Three thousand 

 five hundred copies of reports of institute proceedings were printed 

 and distributed. Permanent institute clubs, with a president and 

 secretary, and with one vice-president from each ward of the parish, 

 constitute the local organization. The institute director cooperates 

 with the local authorities in arranging the dates, places, and pro- 

 grannnes for institute meetings. The State director of institutes is 

 appointed by the governor for a period of four years and is also 

 commissioner of agriculture and immigration. 



MAINE. 



In Maine, under the act creating the State department of agricul- 

 ture and i)roviding for the appointment of a connnissioner of agri- 

 culture, the connnissioner is required to "" hold or cause to be held 

 two farmers' institutes in each county annually, and as many more 

 as the appropriation therefor will allow." An appropriation of 

 $3,000 annually is made for carrying on the institute work and for 

 meeting the expenses of the State dairymen's conference, provided 

 such expense shall not exceed the sum of $500 annually. During the 

 year 44 institutes were held, composed of 93 sessions. The total 

 attendance was 5,731, and the amount expended was $5,000. There 

 are 21 lecturers upon the State institute force. Abstracts of the pro- 

 ceedings are prepared by the connnissoner and included in his annual 

 report, of which 0,000 copies are printed. 



The commissioner is appointed by the legislature and holds office 

 for two years. The location of the county meetings is made by tho 

 co»nity agents, and the dates and progrannnes are planned by the 

 State director of institutes. The agricidtural college and experi- 

 ment station officers participate in the lecture work whenever desired 

 and at times that do not conflict with their other duties. During the 

 pa.st year four members of the college faculty lectured In'fore insti- 

 tute audiences, giving twenty-five days of their time to this service. 

 In addition to the regular institute work the director of institutes 



