8 BULLETIN 83, U. S. DEPABTMENT OF AGRICULTUKE. 



The committee on institutes for women reported general expan- 

 sion of institutes of this character, until now most of the State 

 directors report some attention being given to home conditions and 

 woman's life and work. Others report "we are just ready to start." 

 Among the suggestions for the improvement of the work are trained 

 neighborhood visitors, the organization of home-makers' clubs, and 

 the making available of literature giving information respecting 

 home improvement. 



One of the significant features of women's work is the enlarging 

 of its scope to include the interests of young girls. In some States 

 girls' canning clubs, bread-making clubs, athletic clubs, and literary 

 clubs are being organized, all designed to arouse and hold the interest 

 and activities of young girls in rural life and its pursuits. 



The committee on boys' and girls' institutes summed up its report 

 as follows: States holding special junior institutes, 8; those holding 

 special sessions at regular institutes, 12; those having junior aux- 

 iliary institutes, 5; those holding special junior short courses, 8; 

 those having junior sessions at summer short courses, 12; those having 

 regular boys' and girls' club organizations, 36; those conducting 

 junior correspondence courses, 8. The committee reported also 

 that junior encampments seem to be growing in popularity. A 

 criticism was made of the practice sometimes followed of enrolling 

 large numbers in these clubs and requiring no service. It was rec- 

 ommended that members of these clubs not regularly reporting at least 

 once in two months should have their names dropped from the roll. 



The "program" of the meeting of the association was divided 

 into four distinct groups — a general session, a special session, a 

 women's session, and a round-table discussion. Eighteen papers in 

 all were presented at these several meetings and discussed. 



The president, in his address, spoke particularly of the need for 

 enlisting the cooperation in this institute movement of all classes of 

 citizens, the town resident as well as the people of the rural districts, 

 bankers and business men as well as farmers. He asserted that all 

 were affected directly by the condition of agriculture, and all should, 

 therefore, aid in its improvement. 



The officers elected for the coming year were: President, Edward 

 Van Alstyne, Albany, N. Y.; vice president, W. J. Black, Winnipeg, 

 Canada; secretary-treasurer, L. R. Taft, East Lansing, Mich.; execu- 

 tive committee, A. L. Martin, Harrisburg, Pa.; T. B. Parker, Raleigh, 

 N. C, and Mrs. F. L. Stevens, Mayaguez, P. R. 



EXTENSION WORK BY THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES. 



Data regarding extension work by the agricultural colleges in all 

 of the States and Territories except Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, 

 Hawaii, Maryland, Nevada, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, 



