342 ANNUAL EEPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGKICULTUEE. 



people's institutes, railroad instruction trains, movable schools, and 

 other activities which are not regarded as farmers' institutes by the 

 agricultural colleges. Furthermore, these activities have been almost 

 entirely abandoned by the State farmers' institutes, since the coop-' 

 erative extension act makes generous provisions for these activities 

 through the extension divisions of the agricultural colleges. 



Thirty-four States report 6,992 institutes, which lasted 9,436 days, 

 comprised 18,852 sessions, had an attendance of 2,387,928, employed 

 1,420 lecturers, and cost $380,071, which was divided between State 

 appropriations of $252,296 and other funds contributed to the amount 

 of $127,775. 



As in former years, farmers' institute directors and lecturers, as 

 well as county agricultural agents, extension teachers in agricultural 

 colleges, teachers of agriculture in high schools, grang® lecturers, 

 boards of health, chambers of commerce, and other extension work- 

 ers were aided by this office in their work, not only by acting as a 

 clearing house for information respecting similar activities through- 

 out the United States but by material help in presenting their sub- 

 jects before audiences of farmers and in other ways. Information 

 regarding farmers' institute work throughout the country was col- 

 lected, tabulated, and published. The 33 lectures thus far published, 

 together with their accompanying lantern slides, have been in great 

 demand and helped in furthering the campaign for increased food 

 production. 



The following three lectures, each accompanied by about 50 lan- 

 tern slides, were published during the year: Eenovating the Neg- 

 lected Apple Orchard, Irish Potatoes, and The City and Suburban 

 Vegetable Garden. 



OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



E. W. Allen, Chief. 



In performing its functions relating to the State agricultural 

 experiment stations this office not only exercises supervision over the 

 work and expenditures under the Hatch and Adams Acts but it aims 

 to aid the stations in a variety of ways. It is the connecting link 

 between the department and the State experiment stations. In a 

 large sense it serves as a central agency for following up agricul- 

 tural research, giving it publicity and advising regarding its conduct 

 and coordination. It prepares and issues Experiment Station Rec- 

 ord, which serves as an abstract journal of the progress of agricul- 

 tural and allied scientific investigation throughout the world, and it 

 also publishes a card index of experiment station literature, which 

 has been in progress almost from the beginning of the office, and 

 indexes the publications of the stations from their establishment 

 under the Hatch Act. The office also administers the Federal experi- 

 ment stations in Alaska, Hawaii, Porto Rico, and Guam. 



As another means of assisting the stations the office maintains an 

 agricultural science register as an aid in recruiting the station 

 staffs and of bringing adequately trained men in touch with the 

 opportunities which the stations offer. A record is also kept of the 

 progress of agricultural itistitutions for investigation throughout the 

 world. 



