xviii BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Such demonstrations would form an inexpensive feature of 

 the programme of any society, and we shall be glad to advise 

 with the officers of a society caring to put on such a feature at 

 its own expense, and we are in a position to give them valuable 

 information as to the subjects that are susceptible of practical 

 demonstration and as to those who are most competent to 

 handle them. 



Farmers' Institutes. 



The institute work was conducted on practically the same 

 lines as in former years, and met with equal success. We shall 

 be able to strengthen it in various ways during the coming year, 

 as the appropriation for the "dissemination of useful informa- 

 tion in agriculture," from which the institute expenses are paid, 

 has been increased from $3,000 to $4,000. This increase was 

 in force for 1907, but came so late in the session of the Legis- 

 lature that little new work could be arranged for the year. 

 During the coming season we shall be able to supply the socie- 

 ties with more meetings than in the past, if there is a demand 

 for them, and shall also be able to pay the expenses incident 

 upon the speaker delivering a second address, where the socie- 

 ties desire to hold two sessions. This expense has formerly 

 been borne by the societies, and we feel that this has doubtless 

 deterred many of them from holding two-session institutes, with 

 dinner or lunch in the intermission, which is believed to be the 

 ideal institute, both from an educational and a social standpoint. 



We were unable to arrange many circuits of meetings during 

 the year 1907, having been disappointed in securing the speakers 

 we desired. Prof. C. L. Beach of Vermont and Dr. Geo. M. 

 Twitchell of Maine were secured for two circuits, and very sat- 

 isfactory results came from their presence and work in the State. 

 We are endeavoring to arrange at least three circuits for this 

 season, but as yet have only secured Dr. Geo. M. Twitchell of 

 Maine and Prof. Alfred G. Gulley of Storrs Agricultural Col- 

 lege. Professor Gulley is a new man to our farmers, but has 

 an exceedingly fine reputation as an up-to-date and interesting 

 speaker on horticultural lines. Dr. Twitchell is too well known 

 to require introduction. 



One hundred and twenty-seven meetings have been held 

 during the year, with 156 sessions. All the societies repre- 

 sented on the Board held 3 or more meetings, with the excep- 



