THE FARMERS' INSTITUTES IN THE UNITED STATES, 1910. 



By John Hamilton, 

 Farmers'' Institute Specialist, Office of Experiment Stations. 



Progress in farmers' institute work during the year has been gen- 

 eral. The number of institute sessions has been greatly increased, a 

 much larger attendance is reported, and more liberal appropriations 

 were made than in any preceding year. Institutes were held in all 

 of the States and Territories excepting New Mexico, Nevada, Alaska, 

 and Hawaii. The districts, however, in which no institutes were held 

 do not contain a very large population, the total given by the census 

 of 1910 being 665,441 ; of this number about one-half (327,301) are in 

 New Mexico. 



INSTITUTES HELD. 



The total number of regular institutes held was 5,651. These were 

 made up of 3,539 one-day meetings, 1,940 two-day, and 172 three or 

 more days, an increase over the previous year of 494 one-day insti- 

 tutes, 118 two-day, and 26 of three days. The whole number of days 

 of institutes in 1910 was 7,935, an increase of 801 over 1909. 



SESSIONS. 



The number of sessions was 16,586, or 1,051 more than in 1909. 

 Since the session is the proper unit for estimating institute progress, 

 the large increase in 1910 over the previous year is unmistakable evi- 

 dence of the rapid development of the work. 



ATTENDANCE. 



The attendance reported at all of the regular institutes was 

 2,395,908, as against 2,240,925 in 1909, an increase of 154,983. The 

 average attendance per session was 144, or 2 less than the average 

 for the previous year. 



APPROPRIATIONS. 



The appropriations from all sources in 1910 were $432,374.25, or 

 $86,707.76 more than in 1909. The appropriations from the State 

 legislatures directly for institute purposes was $372,430.48 and the 

 amount received from other sources was $59,943.77. The amount 



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