2 BULLETIN 269, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
Meanwhile a much broader system of agricultural extension work 
has been developing in the United States through the work of the 
United States Department of Agriculture and the State agricultural 
colleges. In consequence of the passage of the Smith-Lever Act 
closer cooperation between the department and the colleges has been 
effected and the organization and scope of the extension work of 
these institutions is being changed and strengthened in many ways. 
This is affecting the relations of the colleges with the farmers' insti- 
tutes and will undoubtedly modify in a broad way the future char- 
acter and status of farmers' institute work in this country. 
This report covers the progress of farmers* institutes conducted by 
the States and the agricultural colleges during the fiscal year ended 
June 30, 191-1, and also contains notes on agricultural extension work 
in foreign countries. It brings the history of farmers' institutes in 
the. United States up to the time of the inauguration of the Smith- 
Lever Extension Act. 
GENERAL STATUS OF FARMERS' INSTITUTES IN THE UNITED 
STATES. 
Farmers' institute reports for the season of 1911 were received 
from all the States except Iowa, and institutes were held in all the 
States except Louisiana. Xevada. New Mexico, and Oklahoma. 
The total number of sessions of farmers' institutes held during 
the year was 25.238. which is a 22 per cent increase over any pre- 
vious year, while the total attendance at the same was 3,656.381, 
which is an increase of 26 per cent over that of any previous year. 
The total number of days devoted to institutes, exclusive of inde- 
pendent, round-up and special institutes, and railroad specials, was 
52,351, while about 3.000 days additional were devoted to the other 
activities. The institute organization employed 759 regularly paid 
lecturers, in addition to which the agricultural colleges and experi- 
ment stations contributed the services of 528 members of their staffs 
a total of 7.112 days. Institutes especially for women were held in 
13 States a total of 880 days and 5 States held special institutes for 
young people a total of 211 days. 
The farmers institute organization conducts its work under many 
different forms, thus making it impossible to summarize all its 
activities under single heads. Hence, a clear idea of all its activities 
can only be had by consulting the detailed tables (pp. 16-21) accom- 
panying this report. Thus, besides ordinary farmers' institute meet- 
ings, the farmers' institutes in 13 States conducted a total of 219 
movable schools, lasting a total of 1.161 days, with a registered at- 
tendance of 112.198 different people. In 15 States they also car- 
ried on field demonstration meetings for which purpose 185 demon- 
