4 8 



Island were voted in every State in which institutes were held, 

 for their development and support. 



The number of institutes held and the attendance varied in 

 the same year from 281 institutes with a total audience of 

 92,593 in Ohio, 196 institutes and audiences of 150,932 

 in Pennsylvania, to one institute and no attendance in New 

 Mexico. It will thus be seen that the greatest diversity prevails 

 in the different States in regard to the interest taken in these 

 institutes. 



The foundation idea and purpose of the farmers' institutes, 

 says Mr. John Hamilton in his Report, is educational. As a 

 means to this end public interest is excited in agricultural affairs 

 by conferences and lectures delivered by experts on agricultural 

 subjects. He states broadly that, while there will probably 

 never be uniformity of system and management throughout 

 all the States, yet there are certain essential features which 

 every State will sooner or later be compelled to adopt in regard 

 to their administration. 



First among these is competent central State supervision. 



Second, the establishment of a permanent institute organisa- 

 tion for each county, so that there may be always men and 

 women in every county personally interested in the work. 



Third, institute organisations should be sufficiently numerous 

 in every county to be easily accessible to all citizens. 



Fourth, there should be an adequate supply of competent 

 instructors, and a properly organised system should provide for 

 the education of the teaching force. 



At present the Federal Government does not actively assist 

 the institutes, its action in regard to them being limited to 

 investigation and reporting upon them. 



Mr. Hamilton' suggests that the time has come for the Federal 

 Government to take up the matter further and actively assist 

 the institutes by — 



(1) Providing for a corps of lecturers ad hoc. 



(2) Demonstrating the practicability and value of movable 

 schools of agriculture, which it is suggested should take the 

 place to some extent of the conferences and of the methods 

 hitherto followed by the institutes, as the latter seem to be 

 played out in some of the States. 



As an example of the change of interest in certain States, 



