38 



Aside from the work done in the farmers' institutes, the university furnished the 

 leading speakers for the various i)ure-seed special trains which traversed the State, 

 advocating advanced methods in agriculture. The number of persons who attended 

 tlic various seed-corn specials in tlie State was 41,886. 



It is probal^le that the number of i)eople reached by farmers' institutes during the 

 present year will not equal that of the past year, although the demand for such work 

 will undoubtedly increase. It is necessary to keep the expenses of institute work 

 within tlie appropriation, and this can only be done by limiting the number to a 

 point below those held during the past year. 



NEVADA. 



Bj' P. B. Kennedy, Reno. 



The past year, our third year, has been one of especial activity along the line of 

 farmers' institute work in Nevada. Nine different sections of the State were visited, 

 including ( iardnerville and Mason valleys in the west. Paradise Valley in the central 

 portion, and Star, South Fork, Lemoille, ilound, Ruby, and Clover valleys in the 

 east. Twenty-two meetings were held, with an average attendance of about 40 per- 

 sons and a total of about 800. 



A departure was made from the regular method of conducting the institutes from 

 that of previous years in that all the meetings were held in the country districts them- 

 selves, and not in the adjacent towns. The advantages gained were several. The 

 ranchers felt more at home while discussing tlie various subjects, as no restraint was 

 put upon them by the presence of lawyers and town orators. The attendance con- 

 sisted largely of ranchers and their families, so that we were talking to audiences that 

 we were interested in and who were interested in us. The spare time in the morn- 

 ing, when not taken up in travel, was used in going over the farms and becoming 

 personally acquainted with the farmers' problems. 



A great difference was experienced in the manner in which some audiences would 

 receive us. In some cases we were cordially received and encouraged to come again; 

 in other cases we received few words of thanks or encouragement. 



The distance traveled to conduct these institutes was about 1,000 miles by rail and 

 400 miles by team and wagon. A driver and three institute workers proved to be a 

 very convenient number to transport, as behind the two seats there was a place for 

 the stereopticon in a trunk, which always accompanied us. 



The main subjects talked about at the meetings this year were as follows: Types of 

 beef and dairy animals, breeding horses, duty of water, plants poisonous to stock, 

 range problems, weeds, insect pests, anthrax and blackleg, gophers and ground 

 squirrels, alkali soils, teaching the subject of agriculture in the public schools, and 

 the agricultural college. At nearly every institute lectures are given, with practical 

 demonstrations by our principal of the domestic science department. 



The cost of the institutes to the j^tation has been about $150. This large amount 

 of work could not be accomi)lished at so small an expense but for the assistance of 

 the Southern Pacific Railway Company and the exceeding hospitality of the ranchers 

 themselves, who opened their houses and gave us a hearty welcome, whether they 

 thought we could benefit them or not. 



NEW BRUNSWICK. 



By T. A. Peters, Fredericton. 



For some years up to 1901, meetings had been held for the discussion of agricultural 

 subjects under the direct supervision of the department of agriculture. In 1901 an 

 act was passed providing for the formation of a farmers' institute system. This act 

 provides, among other things, that where agricultural societies now existing, or here- 

 after incorjjorated under the agricultural act of 1888 or amendments thereto, will 

 undertake to hold meetings under regulations made ]:)y the lieutenant-governor in 

 council, under section 3 of this act, they shall, by their districts, be considered as 

 farmers' institutes. Fifty-nine institutes were established under this act and, in addi- 

 tion, 7 institutes were estaljlished in outside districts. During the year 1904, 139 

 meetings were held, with a total attendance of 5,324, number of addresses delivered 

 being 309. In 1905, 150 meetings have l)een lield, with a total attendance of over 

 6,000. The .subjects treated of include the breeding and feeding of all kinds of stock, 

 including poultry, cultivation of the soil, clover growing, soil moisture, demonstration 

 in judging live stock, spraying, ])runing, and culture of orchards, etc. The govern- 

 ment appropriation for farmers' institute work is 5;2,500 per annum. No portion of 

 this amount is used for superintendent's salary, as that work is done by the deputy 

 commissioner for agriculture. 



