THE farmers' institutes IN THE UNITED STATES. 395 



In order to prepare for these conferences and to keep before the 

 State directors the needs of the localities and the changes that are 

 continually occurring, a system of reporting every month or quarter 

 by the local manager should be inaugurated, giving information as to 

 the effect of previous institutes in bringing about changes in farm 

 practice, the number of new agricultural organizations formed, the 

 names and addresses of leading farmers and others interested in agri- 

 culture, the value of farm lands as indicated by sales actually made, 

 the system of cropping pursued, the condition of the public roads, the 

 character of the rural schools, the directions along which information 

 is most desired, suggestions for the improvement of the institute work, 

 and the names of local people who could be depended upon for the 

 intelligent discussion of various topics that the institute might pre- 

 sent, together with other information that would enable the State 

 director to know thoroughly the situation in every rural district in 

 his State. 



An investigation was recently made by the institute specialist 

 through the local managers in the several States with a view to secur- 

 ing at first hand exact information respecting the farmers' institute 

 work along several distinct lines. Inquiries were sent out to 3,309 

 local managers in 40 different States, and replies, more or less com- 

 plete, were received from 998 of these managers representing all of 

 the States addressed. 



The following are the queries to which answers were solicited : 



(1) What, in your opinion, is the best system of local organization for 

 farmers' institutes? 



(2) What more economical methods for conducting the institutes can be 

 adopted? 



(3) How can the supply of capable instructors be increased? 



(4) What can be done to improve the methods of instruction? 



(5) Are the farmers in your locality ready to organize separate institutes for 

 women ? 



(6) Are the farmers in your locality ready to organize separate institutes for 

 young people between the ages of 14 and 18? 



(7) Are the farmers in your community ready for advanced instruction in 

 agriculture by means of movable schools of agriculture? 



(8) What is your opinion as to the wisdom of employing at least one travel- 

 ing expert in your county to visit farmers and give advice respecting the 

 improvement of their operations? 



(9) Do the farmers generally take the bulletins from your experiment station 

 and the National Department of Agricultvn-e? If so, do they practice their 

 teachings? 



(10) What impi-ovement of the institute work do you suggest for your com- 

 munity and your State? 



In reply to query No. 1, as to the best system of local organization, 

 95 indicated the grange; 187 advised county and township institute 

 organization; 109 were in favor of farmers' associations and clubs; 

 and 132 were satisfied with the present form of organization. 



