ATTENDANCE AT FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 



The following table is a summary of statistics i-egai-diiig atteiidan<e 

 at Farmers' Institutes during the past season. Reports are based on 

 records of conductors, and other State speakers. As last year, we give 

 total attendance, highest any session, and average per session. It will 

 be seen that the total attendance for the past year was 100,947, somewhat 

 less than a year ago. Figures for the four years are as follows: 



1895-6 96,122 



1896-7 84,061 



1897-8 118,692 



1898-9 100,947 



The attendance at Institutes was very seriously cut into by the period of 

 extreme cold. During the coldest week we held 12 Two-day Institutes 

 in as many counties that always turn out large Institute audiences; at- 

 tendance was easily reduced 75 per cent at these meetings by the cold. 

 Our winter One-day Institutes in some counties were also poorly attended. 

 This explanation is due, in view of the fact that our total attendance is 

 less than last year. -It will ^be observed that the highest attendance per 

 session, which is the best barometer of number of people reached, is 

 about the same as last year. 



