30 



Tlie lint'f^ of work during the pa.«t yt-ar have been numerous. We have introcUiced 

 (loniestic econoniv. We have taken" an instnietor to various i)hiees in our State, and 

 tiiat plan is taking very well indeed. That is the only new line of work we have 

 taken up in the past year. 



ILLINOIS. 



By B. F. WvMAN, Sycamore. 



There were held in Illinois (hiring the last institute year 101 county institute meet- 

 ings of from two to four davs' (hiration, with a total of 635 sessions. The total 

 inunber reported in attendance at these institutes was ()9,75», and at the State insti- 

 tute the attendance was estimated at 4,000 the first day, 4,500 the second day, and 

 5,000 the third day. The amount of money expended in the State in institute work 

 was, approxiniatelv, $19,757.90. Thirtv-three speakers were employed from the col- 

 lege of agricvdture "and the experiment station, while 89 local speakers were Hsted 

 aifd useff to a greater or less extent throughout the State. There were in the State 

 •M expert corn judges, who gave instruction in growing, breeding, and judging corn, 

 and gave material assistance in many institutes. 



The process of evolving a perfect farmers' institute is one that will be long in its 

 accomplishment. Human nature is composed of so many and varie<l characteristics 

 that manv methods have to be tested, only to discard the greater number. Illinois 

 during the past eighteen or twentv years has been passing through the process. Her 

 farmers' institute'is constantly adopting new methods and as persistently passing 

 others. With our years of experience and tests we have great confidence that we are 

 making important progress. We are putting the institute on a more substantial basis. 

 We are unifying the work and getting in closer touch with the work in the counties, 

 and the counties are depending more fuUv each year upon the State institute for 

 speakers who can give ascertained facts upon the su])jects under discussion. Expe- 

 riences of successful farmers havel^een potent factors in tlie upbuilding of the llhnois 

 institute, but the experiences differ so greatly, owing to different conditions under 

 which they are gained, that nearlv all the counties now demand the results of the 

 more technical work that is being 'done l)y the college of agriculture and the experi- 

 ment station. The demand for institute speakers from th^ station is so great that it 

 is impossible to supply it, and we have to furnish the county institutes with special- 

 ists in the different branches of farm culture, in order that the most pertinent ques- 

 tions may be ably discussed. Illinois extends so far from north to south that it has 

 a great v"ariety of productions— wheat, apples, pears, peaches, small fruits, and veg- 

 etables in the" southern part; corn, broom corn, and stock in the central; corn, oats, 

 stock, and dairying in the northern, while domestic science, education, forestry, 

 soils, and a nmltitude of other subjects are demanding attention throughout the State. 

 To supplv all these demands taxes severely the ability of the State institute. Such 

 demands' show us clearlv that we are on the right track and inspire us with such con- 

 fidence that we shall m"ake the greatest efforts to supply all demands; that we shall 

 soon be able to do so we have no doubt. 



This year we have organized a boys' corn contest in corn judging, the successful 

 contestants being awarded a two-weeks' course (short course) in . agriculture at the 

 college of agriculture. University of Illinois, in January next, all their expenses being 

 paid. It is with pleasure that we rei»ort that many counties are moving in the mat- 

 ter and that some counties will send as many as eight or ten boys. We hold to the 

 theory that if we can get the hoys interested enough to want to goto the college of 

 agriculture, we have accomplished much. 



Another important move we are making is the combining of the school-teachers 

 and farmers' institutes. We expect by doing this to accomplish much in interesting 

 and instructing the school-teachers in "agriculture. We are also working with a view 

 to establishing a correspondence school of agriculture under the direction of the col- 

 lege of agriculture. 



We hojie to accomplish much through these new features, hut it will take time to 



determine. 



INDIANA. 



By W. C. L.vrTA, Ldfauetit'. 



During the past vear, 1904-5, 226 winter and 31 summer institutes were held. Of 

 the winter meetings 109 were one-day and 117 two-day institutes. The summer 

 institutes were all one-dav meetings of "two sessions each. In all, S97 sessions were 

 held, and the aggregate attendance was, approximately, 80,000, reckoned according 



