6 BULLETIN 83, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
in this table were not wholly for institutes proper, a considerable 
amount going for instruction trains and similar activities, this appar- 
ently does not fully explain the great diversity shown. If the Michi- 
gan rate of $15.25 had prevailed throughout the country the number 
of institute days could have been 31,989 instead of 10,089. 
A much lower rate than that of Michigan is reported for the women's 
institutes of Ontario, namely, $3.16 per meeting, of which only $2.40 
was supplied by the provincial government, the rest being raised 
locally. The low cost of these institutes seems to be due in large 
measure to efficient organization and local initiative. District organi- 
zations coextensive with the electoral districts are supplemented by 
branch societies, each consisting of small local women's clubs through- 
out the district holding monthly meetings. The members pay annual 
dues, and other funds for club purposes and for local public improve- 
ments are raised in various ways. The strength of the organization 
is in the fact that the members live in the community, meet fre- 
quently, and are active throughout the year. They are not depend- 
ent on outsiders who come and go, as are the institutes in most of the 
States, but they are largely self-sustaining and self-reliant. The fact 
that 85 per cent of the women's institutes held in Ontario in 1912 
were conducted with comparatively little outside aid is proof of the 
fact that independence, the result of self-support, is possible in the 
farmers' institute work if proper organization is had for the pro- 
motion of this spirit. 
The need for multiplying the number of institutes in the United 
States is such at present that most careful attention to the whole 
matter of proper organization to supply this need is a paramount 
duty on the part of those who have control of the institutes in the 
several States, and the example of Canada in the conduct of its 
women's institutes and of Michigan in the conduct of its general 
institute operations are worthy of careful study. The county insti- 
tute with local branches in every community meeting monthly is the 
ideal organization both for economy and efficiency for which the 
institute directors should strive. 
The farmers' institute can no longer content itself with the simple 
discussion of agricultural topics. It is not sufficient that it be merely 
a debating society or agricultural lyceum. Moreover, it can no 
longer be an occasional visitor. It must live in the community. If 
it is to develop local forces, and that is its mission, it must be in daily 
and hourly contact with those forces. It must take up its abode 
with those whom it is to benefit, and teach, demonstrate, and guide 
in the things that it recommends. This means that permanent 
organizations must be formed in every community. 
The institute must identify itself with local people and get to work 
at once in the community if it is to survive as an educational force. 
