16 The Bulletin. 



attendance. 1906. 



Owing to the fact that institutes were held in nearly every county 

 in the State, and in many of which institutes have never been regu- 

 larly held, it was expected that the institutes this year would not be 

 as large as on some previous years. In a few cases inclement weather, 

 bad roads, and other distracting influences might be taken as an 

 excuse for the small attendance at certain institutes ; but after consid- 

 ering all the facts it is discouraging to knoAv that at too many of the 

 institutes the attendance was disgracefully small, and in some cases 

 the interest anything but satisfactory. In nearly every instance 

 where the attendance and interest failed to come up to reasonable 

 expectations the local or county committee was either lukewarm or 

 entirely lacking in interest and effort. On the other hand, where 

 there was a good active committee that cooperated with the State 

 management, good interest and a fair attendance was insured regard- 

 less of all other conditions. In view of tliese facts, it has become a 

 pertinent question whether those counties where institutes have been 

 held annually for two or three years and the attendance or interest 

 is still below a certain standard should not be dropped from the 

 institute Avork and all efforts concentrated where most good can be 

 done to the greatest number. In this class may be named the counties 

 of Ashe, Burke, Caldwell, Camden, Cherokee, Durham, Forsyth, 

 Green, Halifax, Haywood, McDowell, Randolph, Rowan, Stokes, and 

 Vance. If these institutes are of value anywhere — and it has been 

 demonstrated that they are — they may be made so in these counties, 

 and we earnestly solicit the cooperation of every farmer interested 

 in agricultural progress to join us in one last detennined effort to 

 hold good institutes in every county in the State next year. The 

 number of institutes held and the average attendance for those years 

 of which we have records are as follows : 



Institutes. A^-Se. 



1898 28 . 79 



1903 17 105 



1904 58 147 



1905 79 127 



1906— for men 115 134 



-^for women ' 21 83 



