58 EEPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



the next year of holding some institutes for young people. This new 

 field of effort was recognized as belonging specially to the farmers' 

 institute organization, and as being in great need of immediate at- 

 tention. In aid of this movement the Office of Experiment Stations 

 has published a circular entitled " Farmers' Institutes for Young 

 People,'" in which suggestions are offered for organizing and conduct- 

 ing this kind of extension work. The papers, discussions, and reports 

 of the standing committees of the association have been assembled 

 by the institute specialist and prepared for publication. 



The use of agricultural instruction trains is growing each succeed- 

 ing year. Twenty-four of these trains were reported as having been 

 run during the year ended June 30, 1910, by IS States with an at- 

 tendance of 189,645. An investigation now being made into this 

 new method of disseminating agricultural information shows that 

 the transportation companies have awakened to the possibilities for 

 increasing agricultural production by this means, and are exerting 

 themselves to bring about this increase as soon as practicable. 



In response to inquiries sent out to over 3,000 local managers of 

 farmers" institutes in -10 different States, information of most con- 

 vincing character has been received showing approval of the move- 

 ment for sending out movable schools of agriculture, and of the ap- 

 pointment of itinerant advisers and instructors to visit farmers and 

 give them advice respecting improved and more economical methods 

 in farm operations. Appreciation of the value of the itinerant ad- 

 viser was specially emphasized. Of the whole number replying to 

 this quer3% 698 were in favor of the itinerant adviser, 99 were unde- 

 cided, and only 149 against the plan. 



The institute specialist has cooperated with the American Associa- 

 tion of Farmers' Institute Workers in the preparation of its pro- 

 grams, reporting its proceedings, and in preparing them for publica- 

 tion. He has also cooperated with the Association of American Agri- 

 cultural Colleges and Experiment Stations in collecting and tabulat- 

 inof information for the use of the committee of the association on 

 agricultural extension, and in conducting correspondence as secre- 

 tary of that committee. He also took part in the program of exer- 

 cises of the Graduate School of Agriculture at Ames, Iowa, and he 

 and his assistant have attended and addressed various other meetings 

 held in the interest of agricultural extension throughout the country. 



The detailed report of the farmers' institute specialist will be found 

 on pages 387^24 of this report. 



PUBLICATIONS. 



The publications of the office (1) review the progi^ess of agricultural 

 education and research throughout the world, and (2) report the 

 results of special investigations with reference to nutrition, irriga- 

 tion, drainage, and agi^icultural education, with which the office is 



