2 BULLETIN" 269, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Meanwhile a much broader system of agricultural extension work 

 has been developing in the United States through the work of the 

 United States Department of Agriculture and the State agricultural 

 colleges. In consequence of the passage of the Smith-Lever Act 

 closer cooperation between the department and the colleges has been 

 effected and the organization and scope of the extension work of 

 these institutions is being changed and strengthened in many ways. 

 This is affecting the relations of the colleges with the farmers' insti- 

 tutes and will undoubtedly modify in a broad way the future char- 

 acter and status of farmers' institute work in this country. 



This report covers the progress of farmers' institutes conducted by 

 the States and the agricultural colleges during the fiscal year ended 

 June 30, 191-1, and also contains notes on agricultural extension work 

 in foreign countries. It brings the history of farmers' institutes in 

 the United States up to the time of the inauguration of the Smith- 

 Lever Extension Act. 



GENERAL STATUS OF FARMERS' INSTITUTES IN THE UNITED 



STATES. 



Farmers' institute reports for the season of 1914 were received 

 from all the States except Iowa, and institutes were held in all the 

 States except Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. 



The total number of sessions of farmers' institutes held during 

 the year was 25,238, which is a 22 per cent increase over any pre- 

 vious year, while the total attendance at the same was 3,656,381, 

 which is an increase of 26 per cent over that of any previous: year. 

 The total number of days devoted to institutes, exclusive of inde- 

 pendent, round-up and special institutes, and railroad specials, was 

 52,354, while about 3,000 days additional were devoted to the other 

 activities. The institute organization employed 759 regularly paid 

 lecturers, in addition to which the agricultural colleges and experi- 

 ment stations contributed the services of 528 members of their staffs 

 a total of 7,142 days. Institutes especially for women were held in 

 13 States a total of 880 days and 5 States held special institutes 1 for 

 young people a total of 241 days. 



The farmers institute organization conducts its work under many 

 different forms, thus making it impossible to summarize all its 

 activities under single heads. Hence, a clear idea of all its activities 

 can only be had by consulting the detailed tables (pp. 16-21) accom- 

 panying this report. Thus, besides ordinaiy farmers' institute meet- 

 ings, the farmers' institutes in 13 States conducted a total of 219 

 movable schools, lasting a total of 1,464 days, with a registered at- 

 tendance of 112.498 different people. In 15 States they also car- 

 ried on field demonstration meetings for which purpose 185 demon- 



