FARMEKS' INSTITUTES AND EXTENSION WORK. 349 



tions, it will certainly retrograde and eventually cease to be a factor in 

 the betterment of country life. 



To fall into routine methods is not only enervating to the individual 

 in charge, but will undoubtedly end in the complete destruction of 

 the organization if these stereotyped methods are continued. In 

 some States there are already signs of lack of vitality in institute work. 

 There is little originality of method shown or aggressiveness of effort. 

 For years the same forms have been maintained and frequently the 

 same antiquated methods of teaching are being followed. The new 

 and fresh ideas that are now bemg put into use in reaching rural 

 people are coming largely from outside, as is evidenced in the case of 

 the field demonstration, the agricultural survey, the itinerant adviser, 

 and similar modern methods. The institute should lead the way in 

 all of these and other directions in meeting the needs of country 

 people and not await the demonstration of their value by others before 

 undertaking to utilize them in their work of securing a better agri- 

 culture and a better country life. 



WOMEN'S INSTITUTES. 



Fourteen States report separate institutes for women to the num- 

 ber of 312, occupying 374 days, or 577 sessions, with a total attend- 

 ance of 47,962. The largest number of institutes was held by North 

 Carolina — 174, comprising 346 sessions and an attendance of 22,319. 

 Wisconsin is second with 83 sessions and an attendance of 7,500. 

 Michigan, 48 sessions and an attendance of 4,912; Delaware is fourth, 

 with 29 sessions and an attendance of 4,475. 



Fourteen States conducted 168 movable schools; 8 of these States 

 held similar schools for women to the number of 48, extending through 

 208 days. The attendance as reported by four of these States was 

 1,516. 



Whenever opportunity was afforded and proper attention given to 

 the development of the work, women's institutes have been organized, 

 and wherever they have been organized they have been well attended 

 and the effort appreciated. That they would be attended and appre- 

 ciated generally is evidenced from the fact that east, south, and west 

 women's institutes are successfully held, showing that the claim of 

 some directors that countiy women in their States are not desirous of 

 separate institutes is groundless, for wherever they have been thor- 

 oughly tried they have succeeded, and in Ontario, Canada, they now 

 far surpass those for men both in number of meetings and in attend- 

 ance. Their success is no longer problematical, and State du-ectors 

 who have not yet organized institutes of this character are missing an 

 opportunity for usefulness that seldom comes to a public official. 



