FAKMERS' INSTITUTES IN THE UNITED STATES. 049 



Various replies were received to tlio inqnir}* as to what the Office of 

 Exporinient Stations can do to assist in making- the State institute work 

 more etifectivo. Twenty-three directors made definite request*;. Six- 

 teen of them asked for competent speakers, and 7 for suital)h^ literature. 

 Two asked for assistance in securing State organization. Two 

 requested aid in educating their lecturers tlirough the estal)lishment 

 of State normal schools, to be in session for two or three weeks each 

 year. One a.sked for linancial assistance, and 1 requested some sug- 

 gestion as to how attendance upon their institutes can he increased. 



An examination of the reports from all of the States and Territories 

 shows that 3,100 institutes cost ^Oii. 22 per institute; that t>,42<) sessions 

 cost an average of $16.85 per session. Tliere were 4,8«)4 days of 

 institutes in all. A summary of the reports which are comparable 

 shows tliat 4,792 days of institutes cost at the rate of $89 per day, and 

 that the average cost for institutes to 88G,G54 persons \vas 0.022 cent 

 per person for the 3'ear. 



Twenty States reported copies of their proceedings published and 

 issued amounting to 253,700. 



Statistics giving the details of the work in each State are appended 

 in the tabulated statement accompanying this report. 



The replies received indicate what is being done in the institute 

 work throujrhout the countrv, and show to some extent the interest 

 that this work has excited botii upon the part of the farming people 

 who are directly l^enetited and also of those who have in charge the 

 general system of pul)lic education. The colleges and stations have 

 with one exception been active in their support of this movement. 

 There has been lack of organized cooperation on the part of the local 

 agricultural societies in man}' of the States. This is a source of 

 influence that ought to be enlisted in support of the institute move- 

 ment. 



It is unfortunate that full statistics could not be secured from all of 

 the States so as to be able to show the condition of the work in all of 

 the respects indicated in the blank form submitted. It is hoped that 

 the directors will arrange to secure data so that it will be possible to 

 present a complete report next year. 



Some statistics taken from the Census Report for the year 1900 are 

 also given, showing the population of the several States, the number 

 of homes in each State, and the percentage of the whole number of 

 homes that are distinctly farm homes. From these data an approxi- 

 mation of the numbor of people who live in farm homes is given. 



This approximation is arrived at by estimating that the num))er of 

 persons in a farm home is ecjual to that in other homes, and that the 

 per cent of farm homes is, therefore, also the per cent of rural 

 population. 



This estimate is not strictly accurate, foi- the Census enumerators in 



