FARMERS INSTITUTE WORK IN 1914. 5 



institutes with 13S sessions. Also 248 special institutes of one to two days were 

 held with granges, cow-testing associations, breeders' associations, and other 

 organizations. 



Maryeand. — Fifty-six general institutes and nine women's institutes were 

 held during the year, with a total attendance of 24,934. Three railroad instruc- 

 tion trains made 58 stops and carried 12 lecturers, who gave instruction in 

 dairying, live stock, soil fertility, truck gardening, horticulture, corn, tobacco, 

 alfalfa, and home economics. An extension department of the agricultural 

 college has now been organized, and the institute work will become a phase of 

 this department under a regular farmers'-institute director. 



Massachusetts. — During the year the rules of the State board of agriculture 

 were changed so as to require only one instead of three local institutes. This 

 resulted in a number of places holding one big institute instead of a number 

 of smaller ones. A continuous schedule for institutes increased effectiveness 

 and reduced the per capita cost. Ninety-two State lecturers were engaged in 

 institute work during the year. 



Michigan. — There was a substantial increase both in the number of insti- 

 tutes and in the attendance. Special attention was given to alfalfa in the 

 institute program. Special institutes for farm women continued to be successful. 

 Study clubs for women were also inaugurated. A round-up institute at the 

 agricultural college had an attendance of 12,300. 



Minnesota. — No farmers' institute organizations are maintained, but there 

 are over 900 farmers' clubs which cooperate in the farmers' institute program. 

 Special attention was given by the institute management to the organization 

 and maintenance of these clubs. Institute workers gave 62 days' service as 

 judges at agricultural fairs and 234 days' service as instructors in movable 

 schools. 



Mississippi. — Institutes were held in 69 counties in Mississippi. One rail- 

 road instruction train was run which gave instruction in the various phases 

 of the live-stock industry. The entire institute force was in attendance at the 

 Mississippi-Alabama Fair and the Mississippi State Fair, with an agricul- 

 tural exhibit. Very effective work was done in promoting better agriculture. 



Missouri. — Owing to a change of administration complete data for farmers' 

 institute work is not available, but silage and alfalfa were discussed at 240 

 institutes. Two hundred pounds of ground limestone were furnished free to 

 each farmer who applied to the State board of agriculture. A State-wide cam- 

 paign for the use of home products was conducted and illustrated lectures were 

 Introduced into the institutes. Much agricultural literature was distributed. 



Montana. — Institutes were conducted in each county in the State with a 

 total attendance of 20,902. Twenty-one movable schools for men and six for 

 women were held with a total attendance of 380. The county agents assisted 

 greatly in increasing the efficiency of the institutes. Local leadership is given 

 as the greatest need of the institutes in the State. 



Nebraska. — Nebraska held institutes in 71 of its 92 counties. Twenty-eight 

 movable schools, most of which wore for women and young people, enrolled 

 2,532 persons. Short courses for women are being conducted during the sum- 

 mer month:-:. A dairy train was also operated. County demonstrations, hog 

 cholera, and dairying were discussed at a majority of the institutes. 



NEVADA. No farmers' Institutes were held in Nevada during (he year. 



New Hampshire.- farmers' Institutes were held in every county in the 



Slate. The State insliliile law was revised lo provide for the holding of short 



courses in agriculture, under the direction of the Institute force. Illustrated 



lecture! ami demonstration work were Introduced in the farmers' institutes. 



