ANNUAL REPORT. 1 99 



Farmers' -Institute \V(irk tlinnii^-hout the L'nitcd States is 

 to-dav a recognized force in agricultural education and the 

 movement toward better and more profitable farming and 

 rural living. In almost every state and territory it is thor- 

 oughly organized and carried out. State governments sup- 

 port the work with liberal appropriations. 



The U. S. Department of Agriculture has established a 

 Farmers' Institute Bureau with an expert in charge. Besides 

 this the workers in the various states and Canada have organ- 

 ized the American Association of Farmers' Institute Workers, 

 for the purpose of mutual helpfulness and to bring about 

 more uniform plans for conducting the work. 



Our Society was represented at the Association's 1905 

 meeting held at \\'ashington, D. C, by Secretary Miles. 



The convention was composed of a most earnest and pro- 

 gressive body of men and women engaged in a grand and 

 uplifting movement for the benefit of the farmers of the 

 coimtry. Agricultural educators, leading farmers and suc- 

 cessful specialists were represented, and all seemed inspired 

 with a strong faith in the wonderful possibilities of Amreican 

 agriculture. 



The great benefit of attending such a gathering" as this 

 can hardly be overestimated. 



A report of Connecticut's institute work was called for 

 at this convention and that given in behalf of the Pomological 

 Society is included here, as showing in brief form what we 

 accomplished during the past year. 



By H. C. C. Miles, Sec'y, Milford. 

 [For the Pomological Society.] 



"For the year ending Novemljer i, 1905, there were held 

 9 institutes, i State fruit growers' meeting, and 2 summer 

 field days. The total average attendance at all these meetings 

 was 2,275 persons. 



"The total cost of the institutes was $185 and of the other 

 meetings $365. In addition the distribution of reports and 

 other printed matter will bring the total cost of our work up 

 to nearly $1,000. Fifteen sjjeakers are on our institute force. 



"In our state there is no concerted plan of conducting insti- 



