340 RURAL NEW YORK 



were transferred to the Stttte College of Agriculture 

 at Ithaca and closely coordinated with the system of 

 extension teaching in operation there. The Farmers' 

 Institute reaches into hundreds of communities and 

 carries the gospel and the inspiration of hetter farm- 

 ing. These meetings reach ahout a hundred thousand 

 persons annually during the institute season from No- 

 vember to April. With the development of other 

 forms of rural teaching, the Institute has come to be 

 looked on more particularly as tlie pioneer movement 

 in any given region to reach persons who would not 

 otherwise come in touch with the instruction for 

 agricultural betterment. But even in the older com- 

 munities, the Institute still fulfills some of the func- 

 tions of an annual get-together of the agricultural 

 interests for the discussion of local problems. 



The speakers on the staff of the Farmers' Institutes 

 are successful farmers, teachers and investigators 

 from the colleges, schools and stations relating to ag- 

 riculture, and other persons who may be called in be- 

 cause of their special knowledge and training. The 

 salary of the speakers and their expenses are borne 

 by the State. The remaining expenses are assumed 

 by the community. 



Miscellaneous lecture work is carried by the staff 

 of nearly all the agricultural colleges, schools and 

 experiment stations at such points in the State as may 

 request aid. In this way, thousands of persons are 

 given an enlarged vision concerning some phase of 

 agriculture. Some of these lectures, which are ar- 

 ranged by churches, communities, associations, com- 



