REPORT OF FARMERS' INSTITUTE WORK. 



FOK eEASON OF 1896-97. 



BY KEN YON L. BUTTEKFIELD, SUPERINTENDENT OF INSTITUTES. 



The work of the second season, ending Jnne 30, 1S97, under the pres- 

 ent Institute law, was in the main extremely satisfactory. In but a few 

 cases was there lack of interest in planning the Institutes, and in many 

 instances there was manifested positive enthusiasm. In fact the general 

 sentiment among the farmers was of the warmest friendliness toward 

 the work. 



The attendance w^as satisractory as compared with the previous year; 

 yet thpre is room for improvement in this respect. Lack of advertising 

 probably had something to do with this. 



The details of our work have been much improved. Fewer subjects 

 on the program and consequently more time for discussion, greater 

 promptness in carrying out the program, better advertising, and in gen- 

 eral a better management of the whole Institute, have, Ave believe, char- 

 acterized our Institutes this year as compared with last. 



OUR OBLIGATIONS. 



Too much credit cannot be given to the many earnest officers of Insti- 

 tute societies, some of whom devoted days and even weeks of valuable 

 time to making the Institutes a success. 



Our thanks are also due the newspaper fraternity in general for their 

 public spirit in advertising and reporting the Institutes. With hardly 

 an exception they gave freely of their space, and were a strong factor 

 in the success of the meetings. 



We are also under the greatest obligations to the railroads of the State 

 for their grant of half rates to our workers, and for the uniform courtesy 

 and promptness with which their business relations with us have been 

 characterized. 



