REPORT OF FARMERS' INSTITUTES 



June 30, 1916. 



To Honorable Chas. S. Wilson, Commissioner of Agriculture, 

 Albany, N. Y.: 



My dear Sir. — I herewith submit to you my fourth annual 

 report as Director of Farmers' Institutes. Owing to the change 

 of the fiscal year from October 1 to July 1, this report extends to 

 the latter date, which will make my calendar year — ending 

 June 11 — correspond with the fiscal year ending June 30. The 

 advantages are obvious. 



As a result of the appropriation in the supply bill of 1915, 

 the various lines of w^ork of my bureau were carried on until the 

 regular appropriation became available — October 1. These 

 activities you will find set forth in the different divisions of this 

 report. 



The most noteworthy facts of the year have been the hindrances 

 to the regular institute meetings on account of continued storms 

 and consequently almost or quite imf)assable roads. These con- 

 ditions extended from the beginning of the season in early Decem- 

 ber until the end in March, and nine meetings had to be aban- 

 doned. In spite of these adverse conditions, the average attend- 

 ance per session was only ten below that of last year, plainly 

 indicating that the work is appreciated and that it is meeting the 

 wants of the people, impelling them to attend at much personal 

 discomfort. Closely allied with this is the other outstanding 

 fact — that not only has there been almost an entire absence of 

 criticism of the work and workers on the part of the people in 

 attendance, but that there has been a general expression of 

 appreciation on the part of those reporting. 



I would call special attention to the section of this report 

 devoted to women's work, also to that relating to cow-testing asso- 

 ciations. In both, marked advance has been made. 



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