xoTES. 297 



of tlio coiHiuitti'i' toward tlio ultimate a(lo|)tion of the element system, but ex- 

 pressing the belief of the association that no State should diseontiuue the use 

 of the terms now in vogue until the diseontinuation had been approved by the 

 association. The appointment of a committee was authorized for bringing the 

 question of the use of the element system before the next International Con- 

 gress of Applied Chemistry, with a view to securing international agreement. 



Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows : Tresident, 11. Snyder, 

 St. Anthony Park, Minn. ; vice-president, W. D. Bigelow, and secretary, H. W. 

 Wiley, Washington, D. C. ; and additional members of the executive committee, 

 B. B. Koss. Auburn, Ala., and G. S. Fraps, College Station, Tex. 



American Association of Farmers' Institute Workers. — The twelfth annual 

 meeting if this association was held at the National Hotel, Washington, D. C, 

 October l2:i and 24. There were 131 delegates present, representing 25 States and 

 Territories and 4 of the provinces of Canada. The convention was opened with 

 addresses by Hon. W. M, Hays, Assistant Secretary of Agriculture, and Dr. A. C. 

 True, of this Office. 



The president, E. A. Burnett, of the Nebraska University and Station, called 

 attention in the aiuiual address to the importance of reviving the " artisan " 

 spirit among farming people, and referred to the value of local organization in 

 institute work as a means of increasing and maintaining interest by the com- 

 nuniity in rural betterment. He noted the constantly increasing difficulty in get- 

 ting a sufficient number of capable institute lecturers, and referred to tlie estab- 

 lishment of movable schools as a partial remedy, in that it would provide 

 employment for lecturers throughout the year. Federal aid he deemed of much 

 value in helping to unify the institute systems of the different States and in 

 collecting and disseminating information. In his opinion a material sei'vice 

 could be rendered by the National Government in furnishing speakers for 

 institutes, in introducing and trying out some of the newer ideas, like the trav- 

 eling institute school and other forms of extension work, and making known 

 the investigation work of tliis Department. 



Reports were read from 25 States and Territories and G of the Canadian 

 provinces. That of the Farmers' Institute Specialist of this Department showed 

 that during the year ended June 30, 1907, 11,448 sessions of institutes had 

 been held in the United States, with an attendance of 1,592,202 persons. Twenty- 

 six States reported special meetings, attended by 104,224, and G State directors 

 ran railroad specials, meeting 51,505 persons, making a total for the United 

 States in attendance upon the institutes during the year of 1,747,931. The 

 appropriation for institute purposes was $285,950. . No institutes were held in 

 Alaska, Nevada, Porto Kico, and Texas, 



Reports were presented from each of the G standing committees of the asso- 

 ciation, and there were also papers and discussions upon the traveling library, 

 the field institute, monthly meetings, field demonstration work, introducing 

 courses of study in agriculture into the institute, the woman lecturer, and the 

 annual report. 



A resolution was adopted indorsing the work already done in forwarding the 

 interests of farmers' institutes by this Department through the Farmers' Insti- 

 tute Specialist. The executive committee of the association was directed to 

 confer with the Secretary of Agriculture and this Office relative to the needs 

 of this work and to urge upon the incoming Congress the appropriation of a 

 sum sufficient to enable the Department to develop it adequately. 



The term of office of the standing committees was extended to three years, one 

 member to be elected each year. This will make available the services of the 

 members thrcjugh a longer period and is expected to increase the efficiency of 

 the committees. The officers of the association for the ensuing year are: 



