60 



the institutes to local papers, and endeavors to stimulate local interest by making sug- 

 gestions regarding methods of holding a successful institute. 



No round-up institute is held, on account of the large and popular meetings held by 

 Organized Agriculture at the school of agriculture and the experiment station the 

 third week in January each year. All of the societies for the promotion of different 

 lines of agriculture meet at this time. January 16-21, 1905, these societies held 31 

 different sessions, with a total attendance exceeding 2,000, and with a program contain- 

 ing many notable men connected with the development of agriculture in other States. 

 A report of this meeting is to be found in the annual report of the Nebraska State Board 

 of Agi'icultm'c. 



The farmers' institute movement in the State has always been materially assisted 

 by the various railroads, which furnish transportation for farmers' institute speakers 

 upon request of the central office. The transportation thus received amounts to about 

 $2,000 per annum if purchased at cuiTent rates. 



In addition to assisting the farmers' institute movement, the railroads dming the 

 season of 1905 ran special pure-seed trains over several thousand miles of railroad, 

 reaching 41,886 people along their several lines. 



The director of the experiment station is superintendent of farmers' institutes, hav- 

 ing in charge only the general features of the work. The superintendent of the experi- 

 ment substation at North Platte, Nebr., Mr. W. P. Snyder, is assistant superintendent 

 of institutes in charge of all the details of institute work. The great increase in the 

 number and interest in farmers' institutes for the season of 1904-5 is due to his personal 

 efforts and energy in promoting this work. It is apparent that the farmers' institute 

 work has become so large in Nebraska that it can not be properly carried on without 

 the continuous time aijd energy of a superintendent being given to this work. 



The legislature appropriated §12,000 for farmers' institutes for the biennium, which 

 became available April, 1905. For the first time this appropriation is drawn on the 

 general fund of the State and is not charged against the university appropriation, altho 

 it remains under control of the regents. 



The legislatm-e also past a bill which became operative July 1, 1905, authorizing 

 the board of county commissioners of any county to defray the local expenses con- 

 nected with farmers' institutes in said county under conditions which they might 

 prescribe. 



NEVADA. 



The first farmers' institute in Nevada was held December 13 and 14, 1901, at Elko, 

 under the direction of the staff of the Nevada Agi'icultm-al Experiment Station. 

 Besides the members of the staff of the experiment station there were present also, as 

 lecturers, Miss Kate Bardenwerper, of the department of domestic science, and J. M. 

 Wilson, of the University of California. Dr. W. R. Dennis, Government stock inspector, 

 was also on the program of speakers. The opening address was given by George S. 

 Brown. C. B. Henderson delivered an address on agi'icultural colleges. Both of these 

 lectures were of exceptional value. 



The importance of having the first institute meeting a success was appreciated by the 

 members of the experiment station. The weather was quite cold, and there was fear 

 that it would prove unfavorable to attendance. Thanks largely to the efforts of Regent 

 W. W. Booher, of the university, the institute was fully as good as could have been 

 expected. Among the subjects discust were: The composition of feeds; The San 

 Jos^ scale and the codling moth; how to prevent the spread of infectious cattle dis- 

 eases; the value of domestic science in education; what man has accomplished with 

 plants and animals; the alfalfa cutworm; irrigation; beneficial bacteria; home dairy- 

 ing; methods of stock inspection; and nature study in home and school. 



There were about forty farmers in attendance at the various sessions of the institute. 

 The lectures upon domestic science, given by Miss Bardenwerper, were attended by 



