328 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



SESSIONS. 



The nuniher of sessions hold diirinp: 1000 is reported by 47 States 

 and Territories at 15,535, and in 1008 it was reported by 45 States 

 and Territories at 14,084. In the 43 States and Territories report- 

 ing: botli years the nnniber of sessions lield in 1000 is given at 14,732, 

 and in 1008 at 14,G40, thus showing an increase of 02 sessions held 

 duing 1000 over the past or any previous year. Since the session is 

 regarded as tiie unit for estimating institute work and progress, the 

 increase of 92 sessions held duiiiig 1000 over that of any previous 

 year is indicative of substantial growth and progress. 



ATTENDANCE. 



The 47 States and Territories reporting give the total attendance 

 in 1000 at 2,240,925. In 1008 the number reported by 45 States and 

 Territories was 2,008,2G8, an increase in 1009 over the previous year 

 of 142,(557. A comparison of the same 43 States and Territories that 

 reported both last year and this year shows a total attendance in 

 1909 of 2,158,915 and in 1908 of 1,093,043, thus making an increase of 

 465,872 in the total attendance at farmers' institutes in 1900 over last 

 year or any previous year. An increase is also shown in the average 

 number in attendance at a session. The average number of persons 

 attending a session in 1908 was 115, while in 1909 it was 14G, an 

 increase of 31 persons at each of the 14,732 sessions. 



APPROPRIATIONS FOR INSTITUTES. 



Forty-seven States and Territories reporting gave the appropria- 

 tions for 1909 from all sources at $345,066.49, while in 1908, 47 States 

 and Territories reported $325,509.54, an increase of $20,096.95 for 

 1909. The 43 States and Territories reporting in both 1909 and 1908 

 gave the appropriations for 1909 at $331,466.49, and for 1908 at 

 $315,209.76, an increase in 1909 over the previous year of $16,256.73. 



COST OF INSTITUTES. 



Forty-three States and Territories in 1909 report the total cost of 

 their institutes at $316,765.86, and these same States and Territories 

 in 1908 reported the total cost at $289,593.29, an increase in 1909 of 

 $27,172.57. According to these same reports the average cost per 

 session increased from $19.77 in 1908 to $21.51 in 1909. ' 



AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE AND EXPERIMENT STATION AID. 



The number of agricultural college and experiment station people 

 engaged in lecturing at farmers' institutes during 1909 was 20 less 

 than in 1908, according to the reports from the same 43 States and 



