THE FARMERS' IXSTITUTHS IX THl: UXITRD STATES, 11)09. 



By John Hamilton, SitccidlisI, 



and 



J. M. Stkdman, An-sistanl, 



Farmers' Institutes, Office of Experiment Stations. 



During the past year farmers' institutes were conducted in all of 

 the States excepting Louisiana and Nevada and in all of the Terri- 

 tories excepting Alaska and Hawaii, where, although an attempt 

 lias been made to inaugurate this movement, no regularly organized 

 farmers' institutes were held. 



INSTITUTES HELD. 



Reports have been received from 49 States and Territories, and 

 in 47 of these institutes were held. Marked progress has been made 

 this year in institute activity in all directions over any previous year; 

 more money has been appropriated for farmers' institute work, 

 more sessions have been held, and the total attendance has been larger 

 than at any time since this means of carrying agricultural informa- 

 tion to the actual farmers themselves has been in vogue. 



The number of institutes held during 1900 as reported by 47 States 

 and Territories is 5,014, while in 1908 the reports from 45 States and 

 Territories gave the number as 4.043. In 1909 the reports from 43 

 States and Territories gave the total number of institutes as 4,714, 

 and in 1908 these same States and Territories reported 4,517 insti- 

 tutes, which was a larger number than in any previous year. The 

 year 1909, therefore, .shows an increase of 197 over the highest 

 previous record. 



In 1908, 43 States and Territories gave the number of one-day 

 institutes held at 2,704, two-day institutes at 1,753, and three-day 

 institutes at 90, while in 1909 these same States and Territories re- 

 port 2,844 one-day institutes, 1,720 two-day institutes, and 144 three- 

 day institutes. This shows an increase in 1909 of 140 one-day insti- 

 tutes and 48 three-day institutes, and a decrease of 27 two-day in- 

 stitutes. The total numlx'r of days of institutes held in 1909 is re- 

 ported by 47 States and Territories at 7,134 and in 1908 by 45 States 

 and Territories at 0,047. In 43 States and Territories the number of 

 days of institutes held during 1909 is reported at (>,728, and in 1908 

 these same States and Territories reported 0,498 days of institutes. 



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