xx BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



ability and more than local reputation, in fact, institute 

 workers of the first class, addressed institutes on 68 different 

 occasions ; and that there were also 53 addresses by local 

 speakers, not necessarily men of less experience or ability 

 than those above referred to, but men whose experience in 

 institute work has been mainly local, and who are as yet of 

 only local reputation. 



After the institute season was quite well advanced, the idea 

 was conceived of sending out blanks on which the secretaries 

 of the various agricultural societies were to report the number 

 of persons attending each institute. As this was a new de- 

 parture, and was not adopted at the beginning of the year, 

 complete returns in regard to attendance were not received ; 

 but it can safely be said that the attendance reported was 

 most gratifying, and, indeed, unexpected. There were re- 

 ceived returns of attendance at 95 institutes, the average 

 attendance being 96. The largest attendance reported was 

 450 and the smallest 4. The society making the latter 

 report showed an attendance at its 3 institutes of 9, 4 and 10. 

 These 3 meetings cost the State nothing, as the society did 

 not apply for speakers ; but this can hardly excuse it for the 

 holding of such perfunctory institutes. In comparison with 

 these 3 institutes, it is possible to report two series where 

 the attendance was 200, 225 and 250. Of the 95 returns 

 of attendance received, 2 were between 400 and 500 ; 8, 

 between 200 and 300; 28, between 100 and 200; and 57, 

 less than 100. Reports of attendance of less than 50 were 

 usually accompanied by explanatory notes, calling attention 

 to some unusual condition, such as bad roads, a severe 

 storm, etc. This would seem to show that such attendances 

 were regarded as unusual, so much so as to seem to the 

 several secretaries to call for an explanation and excuse. 



Lecturers were furnished by this office for 98 institutes, at 

 a total cost of $1,469.94 for services and expenses, — an 

 average of $14.99 per institute. All of the societies but the 

 Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture, which 

 holds no institutes, held the required 3, and 7 held 4 or 

 more. As in past years, institutes were arranged for 

 through this office in certain localities where conditions 



