farmers' institute and EXTENSION WORK, 1913. 19 



A very important fact is noted by the writer to the effect that there is a tendency 

 on the part of the winter schools to increase in number and of the lower agricultural 

 schools to decrease. This is attributed to the fact that the agricultural population, 

 from whom the students are mainly drawn, appreciate the theoretical education given 

 in winter, but do not appreciate the practical instruction given during the rest of the 

 year, when equally good and at the same time paid practical experience can be ob- 

 tained on farms. 



STATE REPORTS. 



Detailed information respecting institute work in the several States 

 is given in the statistical tables accompanying this report. Numerous 

 items of interest, showing the progress of the work, but which are 

 incapable of tabulation, appear in the reports of the directors. In 

 order that these features may be known by the body of workers, the 

 principal points presented are referred to in the following accounts 

 under the names of the respective States : 



Alabama. — A round-up meeting and summer school for institute workers was held 

 at the Alabama Polytechnic Institute, continuing through 84 sessions, with a registered 

 attendance of 900. 



Alaska. — The farmers in Alaska are so widely scattered and travel so costly that 

 it is impracticable to organize or maintain farmers' institutes. There are, however, 

 approximately 2,000 people in the Territory who have small gardens. In the towns 

 and in some camps are market gardeners who make a success of the business. There 

 are vast areas of wilderness that could be made into farms, but the director reports 

 that settlement can not and will not be made until railways are built. The principal 

 need at present is money to pay the salaries and expenses of traveling instructors. 



Arizona. — The special topics assigned to be discussed in every institute during the 

 season were dairying, dry farming, good roads, and insect pests. The new features 

 introduced into the institute work were the demonstration train, the farmers' fort- 

 nightly course at the university, and the farmers' institute at county fairs. The great 

 need for the development of the work is more money to increase the number of institute 

 workers. 



Arkansas. — A school for boys and girls was held at the State fair and on May 31 

 there was held what was called "Silo Day" at the agricultural college. Changes in 

 the faculty of the college and the staff of the experiment station, together with meager 

 appropriation for institute purposes, has seriously interfered with the development 

 of the work. 



California. — The new features introduced into the institute work during the 

 year were the formation of women's agricultural clubs, and the appointment of 

 itinerant and county advisors. Owing to differences in local climates and leisure 

 seasons in various parts of the State, institutes are held every month. The State 

 legislature has increased the farmers' institute appropriation per annum from $15,000 

 to $25,000. 



Colorado. — Many counties in Colorado have no agricultural interest, consequently 

 institutes are held in a limited number only. The work is so closely combined with 

 that of college extension that no well-defined line of separation exists, making it 

 difficult to report separately upon these two features of extension. The failure of 

 the State to pay the appropriation this year has prevented much that had been 

 planned. 



Connecticut. — The farmers' institute work formerly carried on by the State board 

 of agriculture, the Connecticut Dairymen's Association, and the Connecticut Pomo- 

 logical Society has been combined under a single directive head. An effort is being 

 made to bring the institutes into closer relations with the agricultural fairs. Several 



