farmers' institutes in the united states. 325 



the most approved methods of sanitar3^ construction; dairy herds 

 are more economically and intelligently fed and cared for than for- 

 merly; silos have been built; the science of breeding and rearing 

 dairj^ cows is receiving greater attention, and the preservation of soil 

 fertility is more carefully studied. The association cooperates with 

 the granges and farm clubs of the State in its meetings, and is emploj'- 

 ing the leading experts in dairying as instructors in its institutes. 



The Pomological Society has been doing a similar work for the 

 fruit interests of the State. This society held 44 sessions of insti- 

 tutes, with an attendance of 1,550 persons, and at an expenditure of 

 $325. One independent institute was held with an estimated attend- 

 ance of 2,500. The State Agricultural College and the experiment 

 stations aided in the teaching by sending 1 1 of their instructors, who 

 contributed forty days of their time to this service. Special atten- 

 tion was directed in the institutes this year to the control of the San 

 Jose scale. Institutes were held in all of the eight counties of the 

 State, most of them being in cooperation with the local granges. 

 Most of the meetings were day sessions, the attendance at the even- 

 ing sessions being found to be unsatisfactory. 



The institutes are exerting a very helpful influence upon the agri- 

 culture of the State, and they will doubtless continue for some time 

 to divide their work among the three agricultural organizations here- 

 tofore in charge. It is believed, however, that ultimately the State 

 will find it necessary to make a change in its system by combining 

 its institute forces and enlarging its efforts with a central official in 

 charge. This has been found most efficient elsewhere in institute 

 organization, and no doubt it will be adopted in Connecticut as soon 

 as educational agencies become the dominant feature in institute 



effort. 



DELAWARE. 



Institute dii'ector. — Wesley Webb, secretary of the State board of agriculture, Dover. 



Institutes were held in all of the three counties of Delaware last 

 vear. In Kent and Sussex counties the institutes were arranged by 

 the State director, and in Newcastle County by the executive com- 

 mittee of the county institute. 



The number of institutes held was 18, made up of 40 sessions. The 

 total cost for the year of the institute work was $700. The experi- 

 ment station furnished one speaker for twelve days and the State 

 director supplied seven additional lecturers. A report of the insti- 

 tutes is published each year in the annual report of the State board of 

 agriculture and about 5,000 copies are distributed. The law requires 

 that an institute organization shall be effected in each count3" and 

 appropriates S200 to each for their maintenance. The failure of any 

 county to hold an institute causes it to forfeit its appropriation for that 

 year. 



