834 KEPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



farming interests of Maryland, by which certain localities are largely 

 devoted to growing special crops, render it necessary to vary the 

 instruction to suit each particular district. About 3,100 people were 

 met and given instruction by expert specialists who accompanied 

 these special trains and the steamboat special. Forty-nine regular 

 institutes were held in addition to the railroad meetings, attended 

 by 10,762 persons and consistmg of 12.5 sessions. 



One institute for colored people was held, with an attendance of 

 about 150. This meeting was a pronounced success; the papers and 

 discussions were both practical and helpful. 



The institute undertook this year to cooperate with the agricul- 

 tural experiment station in exhibiting agricultural products at several 

 county fairs. An effort was made to mingle entertainment with 

 instruction, so as to secure the attention of visitors and take advantage 

 of the opportunity at the same time to offer some wholesome advice. 

 A tent was fitted up with comfortable seats and supplied with a 

 corps of institute representatives. Use was made of the phonograph, 

 the stereopticon, and large colored photographs. These were 

 selected with a view both to providing entertainment as well as 

 instruction. Popular airs were rendered, followed by a brief address 

 by the phonograph and the exhibit of stereopticon views, together 

 with explanations by the operator in charge. 



As an expedient for meeting the sensational fakir on his own 

 ground, the method seemed to be fairly successful. Just how far an 

 educational institution should go in this direction is a matter that 

 experience only can determine. Its value in any case will always be 

 dependent upon the judgment exercised in the selection of material 

 for presentation. 



An important experiment was conducted by the institute director 

 in the direction of introducing agriculture into the public schools. 

 A capable teacher of agriculture was sent into one of the leading 

 counties one day each week to visit the rural schools and lecture 

 before the children upon some phase of agricultural science or prac- 

 tice. The selection of the schools in which the instruction was given 

 was found, after a trial, to have been on some accounts unfortunate, 

 and the results, consequently, were not up to the expectation of Ihe 

 friends of the movement, although the great possibilities that lie in 

 this direction were quite clearly demonstrated. 



MASSACHUSETTS. 



Institute director. — J. L. Ellsworth, secretary State board agriculture, Boston. 



There were 153 sessions of institutes held last year iu ]\Iassachu- 

 setts, attended by 10,125 persons. The average attendance at eacli 

 session was 125. The work was conducted at a total cost of $1,760.44, 



