FARMEKS' INSTITUTES IN THE UNITED STATES. 645 



ment of Agrunlturt". The Department, moreover, will welcome individual leeturers 

 at any time and for any period who come to Wayhinj^ton either as casual visitors or 

 for purposes of study; 



(7) By sending liim the publications of the Department of Agriculture; 



(8) By sending him lists of the experiment shition bulletins of the several States; 



(9) By sending him lists of the rt'])orts of the State departments of agriculture; 



(10) By supplying him with charts relating to soils, cattle feeds, fertilizers, the 

 composition of crops, etc., so far as the Department is alile to furnish them; 



(11) By sending him lists of books which relate to his specialty; 



(12) By interi'sting him in and securing his attendance at the American Associa- 

 tion of Farmers' Institute Workers. 



These are some of the more obvious and direct ways by which the Department 

 may a.«sist the State institutes. 



There are others not so direct but equally effective, such as, for instance, by 

 endeavoring to influence the normal schools to introduce the study of agricultural 

 science into their curricula, and the State and county teachers' institutes to devote 

 some time to nature-study topics instead of conlining their schedules, as is too often 

 the cai^e at jiresent, to the i)resentation of worn-out and soporilic tliscussions on 

 aljstract questions of psychology; by urging State boards of education to exert their 

 influence in behalf of better rural schools; by urging State and county agricultural 

 societies to make their exhibits educational and helpful instead of commonplace or 

 a mere miniature copy of their weekly local markets; by imlucing granges, alliances, 

 and farm clubs to send representatives to the institute to take not«s of the discussions 

 and rei)ort to their societies, or better, to secure the attendance of these organizations 

 en masse. 



CONDITION OF THE INSTITUTE WORK. 



Ill order that the condition of the institute work throiio-hout the 

 country might be a.scertained, the following blank form, accompanied 

 by a letter addressed to the officers having general charge of the insti- 

 tutes in the States and Territories, was sent out requesting them to till 

 in the blanks with appropriate replies to the questions asked and to 

 return them promptl}' to the Office of Experiment Stations. The 

 time covered ])y the report corresponds with the fiscal year of the 

 Department, which ended June 8(), 1903. 



Form of Report. 

 Rejxtrt of the director of farmers^ inntitiUex for the Slnlr of for the year endfd June 



30, mos. 



1. Total number of institutes held during the year ending June 30, 1903, . 



2. Number of one-day institutes, ; two-day, ; three or more days, . 



3. Total numlicr of sessif)iis, . 



4. Total attendance, computed by taking the largest attendance at any one session, 

 f(jr each institute, . 



5. When did your institute season begin? 

 f). WlK'udid it end? 



7. ( )n what basis are the institutes apportioned to the several districts in your State? 

 H. On what basis are your funds distril)uted in aid of institutes? 



9. What proportion of the local expens(>s do you, as <lirector, pav? 



10. If these expenses are provi<led for locally, what is the sy.steni? 



1 1. Does the State make appropriation I'ur institutes? 



