Eeport of Secretary. 25 



other at Clinton, both largely attended, and a great interest manifested. 



The plan of holding six-day institutes, or extension short-courses, 

 has been increased and more applications are being received than the 

 funds will permit holding. One of the most valuable features of the 

 farmers' institute work has been the boys' corn growing contests held 

 in connection with a number of meetings. Two of these that deserve 

 special mention are : Carthage in Jasper county, and Houston in Texas 

 coimty. At Carthage 311 boys entered the contest and 138 exhibited 

 a ten-ear sample at the fall meeting. At Houston 400 boys entered 

 the contest and 134 exhibited. The banks and other business firms 

 have most liberally supported this movement and contributed largely 

 to the premium list, and in other ways rendered valuable assistance in 

 making this feature a success. 



Women's Institutes. — The first work for the women in connection 

 with our farmers' institute service was put on last year, and while only 

 three meetings were held they were so enthusiastically received that a 

 number of meetings have been called for this year and quite a num- 

 ber have been held with the same gratifying results. I think we should 

 be able to secure from the next Legislature a special appropriation 

 for women 's institutes and hold- these meetings in every place manifest- 

 ing any considerable interest. 



I reported last year that the most difficult thing in holding suc- 

 cessful institute meetings was to secure competent lecturers. The work 

 of the Agricultural College men has increased so rapidly that but little 

 of their time can be given to this work. The successful man who is 

 competent to do institute work usually has sufficient business of his 

 own that he does not want to leave it. I think we are coming to the 

 time when it M^ill be necessary to employ permanent institute lecturers. 



The Board of Agriculture could well afford to employ six or eight 

 men on annual salary if the funds were sufficient. Two of these men 

 might represent the dairy interest, and during the season when no 

 farmers' institute meetings are held, they could devote their time to 

 visiting creameries and private dairymen, and giving itinerant instruc- 

 tion, and to the preparation of bulletins and the organization of local 

 dairy improvement associations ; and in the same way men representing 

 the various lines of agriculture and live stock in this State could be 

 employed. 



Respectfully submitted, 



Geo. B. Ellis, 



Secretary. 



