35 



local interest and makes the peojjU' feel that it is their ineetin<r to a greater extent 

 than wonld he the case if the arranirenients rested entirely in the hands of a central 

 hurean. Another factor is that Massachusetts a^rieulture is so varied that it is diffi- 

 cult to say what is the iirevailinjr subject of interest in any conununity, and if left to 

 themselves to select sul)jects they can usually arrive at a hetter solution, whereby 

 the greatest good to the greatest number may be served, than would be possible if the 

 matter were taken from their hands. 



One feature of the institute work, or perhaps it would be better to say of the pub- 

 lic meeting work of the board, which has been amplilieil during the year, is the 

 ]Hi])lic demonstration work. A demonstration meeting, calle(l a summer field meet- 

 ing of the board, was held at Lowell, at wliicii we had demonstrations of spraying 

 machines, of the preparation of Bordeaux mixture, of fruit packages, of the killing 

 and dressing of fowls for the Boston market, of the dairy and beef types of animals 

 (from typical specimens before lecturer an<l audience), and of the Babcock milk 

 test and the latest methods of sanitary handling of milk. This meeting was attended 

 by about 500 people and seemed to be a great success in every way. Work of this 

 rort was also done at the New England fair at Worcester, under the direction of the 

 board, the two demonstrations merely differing in some features and not in plan or 

 scope. Here also the demonstrations were entliusia'^tically received. Another year 

 it is the intention that this line of work shall be much amplilied and improved. 



Our tiscal year in Massachu.-Jctts has always ended on December .SI. As a conse- 

 quence our appropriations are made for the calendar year and the work in different 

 lines goes on right up to the close of December, so that it is usually sometime later 

 before accurate figures can be compiled. Next year there will be a change, appro- 

 priations being made to Noveml)er 30, instead of December 31. Therefore if I am 

 able to meet with you again, as I hope to do, and if not, in my report, which I- shall 

 send, it will be possible to quote figures for the current year. 



MICHKiAX. 



By J,. R. Takt, .{(/ririiltunil Cnllege. 



The results secured in the past sea.son's institute work have been very gratifying, 

 both in the interest shown by the county institute officers and the farmers as a whole 

 and by the attendance at the different institute meetings. In spite of the fact that 

 the weather during the weeks when most of the institutes were held was so stormy 

 that it was very dithcult for either the farmers or the lecturers to reach the meetings, 

 the attendance was several tliousand greater than the jjrevious year. 



The appropriation for a number of years has been .$7,500, from which everything 

 except the local expenses of the institutes must be paid. In addition to meeting all 

 bills for salaries and office expenses and paying the per diem and traveling expenses 

 of the lecturers, 9,000 copies of the annual institute report, containing about 200 pages, 

 have been printed and distributed, and a round-up institute, lasting four days, in 

 connection with which conferences of lecturers and county institute officers were held, 

 was carried on at an expense of about $700, for speakers, expenses of lecturers and 

 delegates, printing, and j)ostage. 



During the year 70 county institutes, for which three or four speakers were fur- 

 nished, were held. These consisted of an average of five sessions, in addition to a 

 women's congress of one session. There were also 200 one-day institutes, with two 

 or three sessions, for which one State lecturer was furnished. 



The total attendance was 92,000, as determined by taking the sum of the attend- 

 ance at all of the sessions, as determined by actual count, or about 55,000, using the 

 method adopted by the association. 



The number of institutes that we could hold is measured by the appropriation, as, 

 although absolutely nothing has been done to secure them, applications are now on 

 file for nearly 100 more than our funds will permit to hold. 



Thirty-five paid lecturers have been used during the year, in addition to forty who 

 have done more or less work without remuneration. In the latter list are members 

 of the faculty of the agricultural college and the experiment station staff, and from 

 the State university and normal schools, and various State commissions, and State 

 department of public instruction. 



After consulting with the officers of the county institute societies, who meet for 

 the purpose of selecting the places and dates for the institutes and the topics that 

 they wish discussed, the counties are grouped so as to reduce to a minimum the 

 expense for traveling, and after selecting the speakers who can handle the topics 

 desired, a skeleton programme is furnished the county secretary, who looks after the 



