S94 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



unutilized by institutions and agencies outside of the bounds of the 

 counties in which the fairs are held. This should no longer continue, 

 but systematic effort for their improvement and utilization should be 

 begun. 



AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTION TRAINS. 



The popularity of the instruction train is growing each succeeding 

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

 fun during the year ended June 30, 1910, by 18 States, with an at- 

 tendance of 189,645. These trains are equipped with material for 

 illustrating the points that are presented by the lecturers and are run 

 at the expense of the railroad companies. Numerous other trains of 

 similar character were run during the year, but not being under the 

 direct management of the institute authorities they were not included 

 in their reports. 



An investigation now being made into the extent of this new 

 method of disseminating agricultural information shows that the 

 transportation companies are awake to the possibility of increasing 

 agricultural production by this means and are exerting themselves 

 to bring about this increase as soon as practicable. Everywhere 

 there is not only the most cordial cooperation of the companies with 

 the colleges and other agricultural agencies in this propaganda, but 

 they are urging forward the movement as rapidly as the means at 

 their command will permit. A number of the great transportation 

 lines have employed agricultural experts by the year to look after 

 the development of agriculture throughout their territory and have 

 established demonstration farms to show what can be done under 

 vSkillful direction in increasing production in some of the more back- 

 ward sections. The movement promises to be one of the most im- 

 portant in aid of agriculture that has yet been inaugurated. 



REPORTS OF LOCAL MANAGERS. 



The extent to which State directors of institutes seek advice from 

 their local managers in the several counties and are guided by the in- 

 formation thus obtained is not definitely known. That there should 

 be the most friendly and harmonious action between the State direc- 

 tors and the local managers in the management of the institutes is 

 clear if the work is to be thoroughly developed and be most effective. 

 In order to do this there must be on the part of both complete knowl- 

 edge of local conditions. In a few States general and district con- 

 ferences of the local managers are called each year at which the local 

 situation in the various districts is discussed and the work for the 

 future planned with a view to aiding the communities with informa- 

 tion adapted to their needs. 



