farmers' institutes. 35 



of iiniversity-extcn.sion work. They are thus meeting the needs of a 

 much hirger both' of students, and ai"e at the same time puttinjif into 

 shape courses of instruction Avliich are destined to be followed in many- 

 other institutions throughout the country. 



During the past year a number of separate agricultural schools of 

 secondary grade have been established under pu))lic or private control. 

 Discussion of (juestions relating to the improvement of the rural 

 common schools and the introduction in them of elementarv courses 

 in agriculture has taken a wider range. The general officers of edu- 

 cation and the teachers' associations in the different Stiites are earnestly 

 considering these matters, and the farmers' organizations are increasing 

 their demands that detinite pi'ovision for such instruction shall })e 

 made in the public schools. Alread}' a number of States have special 

 legislation relating to this subject. Courses for the instruction of 

 teachers have been established in a number of agricultural colleges 

 and normal schools, and under various forms instruction in agricul- 

 tural su))jects is already given in a considerable number of elementar}^ 

 schools i n different parts of the country. One of the most encouraging 

 features of this movement is the appearance of a number of text- 

 books prepared especial!}' for elementar}^ instruction in agriculture. 

 It is now possible for the intelligent and s^-mpathetic teacher to readily 

 obtain the information necessar}' to make such courses a success. 



In these various ways the movement to make instruction in ao-rlcul- 

 ture a regular feature of our public school sj'stem has received great 

 impetus. There must of course be a period of experimentation in 

 which the methods of instruction and the text-books shall be tested 

 and improved. There is always danger when a movement of this 

 kind gets under way that it will proceed to extremes with a resultant 

 reaction. Against this the friends of agricultural education should be 

 on their guard, l)ut they can now more contidenth' than ever before 

 assert the claims of agriculture to recognition in our public school 

 svstem and justly claim that the means are at hand for makino- a fair 

 and thorough trial of elementary instruction in this subject in these 

 schools. 



THE FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 



During the past year 3,17H farmers' institutes were held in 46 States 

 and Territories. The total attendance at these institutes was over 

 1*(H),(M)0, Appropriations varying from $85 in the Territory of Hawaii 

 to ^20,000 in the State of New York were made for the support of the 

 institutes, the aggregate for 45 Stjites and Territories reported })eing 

 !j^lNT,!i2G. The institutes were addressed b}^ 924 lecturers, employed 

 by the State directors, and by a))()ut three times as many more 

 employed by the local managers, making a total api>roximating 4,000 

 persons who gave instruction at the institutes during the year. One 



