THE farmers' institutes IN THE UNITED STATES. 337 



circular" upon this subject in which there are outlined some methods 

 that might be employed in organizing women's institutes and in 

 providing for their support. 



THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STATE DIRECTORS. 



As the institute work develops the annual reports of tlie .state 

 directors become more important. When the work began there was 

 but a single form of institute activity, consequently a simple state- 

 ment of the number of meetings held, the attendance, and the sj)eak- 

 ers present was all that seemed to be required. Later poultry, dairy, 

 fruit, market gardening, and similar forms of special institutes were 

 held; the women's institute has been introduced; boys' and girls' 

 contests, the movable school, the demonstrati(m plat, the railroad 

 .special, and other features have been added until there are now in 

 use numerous branches of institute activity each rapidly expanding 

 to include a larger field and many more persons wdthin its influence. 



As the work progresses the importance of having exact informa- 

 tion respecting it is corresjiondingly increased. Each state director 

 in order that he mav intelligently direct its operations is interested 

 first of all in securing accurate data respecting the progress of the 

 ■work in his own State, and second he is interested in knowing what 

 is being done by institute directors in other States that he may 

 profit by their experience. These data in order to be serviceable 

 must be accurate. To secure such information and to get it 

 promptly, each director is under the necessity of thoroughly or- 

 ganizing his work and of preparing and i.ssuing blanks to be filled in 

 with the proper data. This recpiires that he shall have one or more 

 capable persons present at each institute meeting to obtain the in- 

 formation and forward it to the central office. 



Most of the institute directors appreciate the importance of full 

 and accurate infornuition and have organizations of more or less 

 efficiency for securing it. A few., however, are still neglectful in this 

 respect, and conse(|uently are in comparative ignorance of the details 

 of their work, so that when called upon for infornuition respecting 

 it they are compelled to resort to estimates with but little that is 

 reliable upon which to base their judgment. 



An inspection also of the annual rei)orts published in the several 

 States shows that (juite a number are chiefly nuide up of |)apers by 

 institute lecturers and lists of questions and answers, and of the 

 names and sul)j('cts of discussion. In a few instances only a para- 

 gi-aph or two in relation to the institute work is ])ubli'^hed, and in 

 others the report consists of a bare recital of statistical facts, with 



" r. S. Dept. Agr.. Office E.xpt. Stas. Circ. 85. 

 4U045°— 10 22 



