51 



and a leading fruit grower. In 1804 the work had reached such 

 |)roportions as to require the entire time of a superintendent. 



The movement has steadily grown until the number of meetings 

 reported by the superintendent for the year ended June 80, 1904, had 

 reached 833, consisting of 1,()23 sessions and having a total attend- 

 ance of 10(),710 persons. The membership for the first six months of 

 1004 was 20,057. Thirty-eight lecturers were in the employ of the 

 l)rovincial superintendent last year, who spent from two to ten weeks 

 in the Avork. 



One of the special features of the farmers' institutes in Ontario is 

 the women's institute. In 1800 the superintendent of institutes ad- 

 dressed a letter to the women of the Province, asking their coopera- 

 tion in the formation of women's institutes. The response was such 

 that '20 organizations were formed the first year, and in May, 1002, 

 the number had reached 44, with a membership of 2,81(5. The move- 

 ment had now become an assured success and was regarded as entitled 

 to the same recognition and support by the Government as the regular 

 institute. Accordingly, in 1002, Parliament passed the following 

 amendment to the original farmers' institute act : 



The formation of women's institutes for the purpose of improving rural home 

 life and imparting information in regard to woman's work upon the farm shall 

 he permitted under this act. The lieutenant-governor in council may, upon the 

 reconnnendation of the minister of agriculture, adopt rules and regulations in 

 regard to the organization of women's institutes, the general guidance or direc- 

 tion of such institutions, their relation to the farmers' institutes and the depart- 

 ment of agriculture, and the grants of money to which they shall he entitled, 

 with the conditions for payment of the same. 



The result has Ijeen remarkable. The superintendent of institutes 

 for the Province states under date of September, 1004 : 



At present we have organizations in .jT electoral districts, and each of these 

 districts has from 1 to 8 branches, making a total of about LMM) places where 

 regular monthly or bimonthly meetings are held. During the past year 960 

 meetings were held, at which 1.S4S pai)ers and addresses were given. The total 

 attendance was 44,tjlt8. 



The institutes in this Province had the advantage of having been 

 organized by a leading educator in agriculture and in having had in 

 their development the active support of the faculty of the agricultural 

 college at Guelph and the provincial department of agriculture, 

 whose members devoted a large amount of their time to giving 

 instruction in institute meetings. 



]Much of the success of the work has been due to the wisdom dis- 

 played in the constructi(m of the system under which the institutes 

 are oriranized and to the choice of officers to take control of the work. 



That the system has operated remarkably Avell is evidenced by the 

 interest and success that has distinguished the work from the begin- 

 ning. Through the instrumentality of the institutes 40,000 i^ersons 



