80 Report of Farmers' Institutes 



Since my last report I have personally visited nearly the whole 

 state twice in holding county conferences, those for this year 

 having all been held, except in ten counties. In this and in other 

 work connected with my bureau I have personally traveled during 

 the year some 15,500 miles. I have participated in the Farmers' 

 Week exercises of Cornell College, and of the secondary schools 

 at Delhi, Morrisville, and Alfred ; the State Fruit Growers' meet- 

 ings both at Rochester and Poughkeepsie ; the joint meeting of 

 the state dairymen and breeders; and the annual meeting of the 

 town and county agricultural societies, as well as many smaller 

 gatherings. 



The relations between farm bureaus and the farmers' institutes 

 liave continued to be verv close. The farm bureau managers have 

 rendered valuable assistance to my work in its various branches, 

 and, so far as funds would permit, I have rendered service to the 

 bureaus. 



The report will show that w^e have had less help from the Col- 

 lege of Agriculture and the State Experiment Station than in 

 previous years. This does not indicate a lack of harmony or 

 cooperation between these institutions and the Institute Bureau, 

 for never were the relations closer. Because of increased burdens 

 laid on these institutions, the outside work they can do is limited 

 on the one hand ; on the other hand, there was a lack of funds to 

 pay expenses for this expert assistance. 



In accord with your desire, expressed at the last normal insti- 

 tute, that the agricultural law should be explained to the farmers, 

 as set forth on page 2259 of this report, the men in charge of the 

 meetings have taken particular pains to explain the laws affecting 

 the locality. I am sure this has been to the mutual advantage of 

 the farmers and the Department of Agriculture. In response to 

 requests, many copies of the agricultural law have been sent out. 

 In this connection I would call your attention to the fact that no 

 agency in your gi'eat department brings it in such close touch 

 with the real farmers as does the Bureau of Farmers' Institutes, 

 coming as it does into personal contact with representative men 

 over the entire state. 



I would commend the men and women that are connected with 

 my bureau and engaged in the field work for their loyalty to the 



