68 



same way with marked success. Special poultry institutes are held in sections where 

 the interest warrants it, four having been held the past winter, while seven special 

 bee-keepers' institutes were held in counties where this industry is carried on. In 

 certain sections of the State the institutes deal almost entirely with dairy subjects, in 

 another section with horticultural subjects, while in another they will treat of market 

 gardening and the growing of vegetables. 



The demand by the farmers for experts and specialists along these different lines is 

 increasing each year, and it is probable that many more special meetings will be held 

 the coming winter than were held last year. The present director, F. E. Dawley, 

 aims to secure the best men available for institute lecturers, and does not hesitate to 

 drop a man immediately if he proves incompetent, irrespective of the influence 

 behind him. The director is thoroly posted as to the needs of each community, and 

 sends as conductors of the institutes men who are also familiar with the local conditions 

 and have sound scientific knowledge and can impart that knowledge in a pleasing 

 manner. The different local requirements have been almost universally met the past 

 winter and remarkably few complaints have been heard. As a rule the same speakers 

 are asked for year after year. 



One of the newer features of institute work inaugurated by Mr. Dawley are the 

 so-called "normal institutes," which are held at the beginning of the season. Their 

 purpose is to bring all the workers together before they begin their work for the year to 

 compare notes and to become better acquainted, to give them accurate information on 

 agricultural subjects, and to bring them in direct contact with teachers and professors 

 of recognized authority along their special lines. The discussions form an important 

 part of the program at each session. The first meetings of this character were held in 

 1899 at Cornell University on November 13 and at the State experiment station at 

 Geneva on November 14 and 15. Similar meetings have been held each year since for 

 one day at Cornell and one day at the State experiment station. In the fall of 1903, how- 

 ever, Mr. Dawley made aiTangements with L. H. Bailey, of the agi-icultural college, and 

 W. H. Jordan, of the State experiment station, whereby a regular course of instruction in 

 the form of lectures could be given and the "normal institutes" be a week of regular 

 college work for the institute force. The professors of the agricultural college and of 

 the State experiment station entered heartily into the plan and spent a great amount 

 of time in carefully arranging their lectures and preparing outlines for each member 

 of the class. The latest scientific information relating to the various branches of agri- 

 cultm-e was presented and full discussions followed each lecture. The only regret was 

 that the time was so limited that the work had to he gone over very hmriedly. Forty 

 State workers were in regular attendance, while visitors were present from the District 

 of Columbia, Minnesota, Ohio, Wyoming, and Canada. 



The accompanying table gives, as nearly as can be ascertained, the number of 

 farmers' institutes which have been held each year fi-om 1887 to 1903. It will be seen 

 that in 1897 a change was made in the method of reporting the number of institutes, 

 those for a full year, from January to January, being given instead of the number for a 

 season. The growth of the institutes in interest and popularity has been constant, and 

 since about 1890 over 1,000 applications, have been received each year, while not more 

 than 300 meetings could bo held. During the season of 1902-3 312 meetings were held, 

 and in the season of 1903-4 267 meetings, at an average cost of $54. The average total 

 attendance for the winter has been 64,347 and the total number of persons present has 

 exceeded i;50,000. 



