farmers' institutes in the united states. 367 



specified period opens up a field of effort and usefulness for the insti- 

 tute movement that is not occupied by any other institution. The 

 method proposes to concentrate instruction upon a single agricultural 

 operation and teach that as thoroughly as possible by means of courses 

 of study and practicums prepared specially for rural classes. By 

 attendance upon a school of this character farmers who are interested 

 in self-improvement will have the advantage of instruction by an 

 expert upon important agricultural subjects, continued for a jjeriod 

 siifKcient to enable them to become quite well informed upon at least a 

 single branch and to be equipped for applying what they have 

 learned to the actual operation of their farms. 



Into this new field the Department of Agriculture might enter by 

 selecting and sending out experts and supplying them with appro- 

 priate apparatus for giving instruction in one or more agricultural 

 specialties, doing this with the consent of and in cooperation with 

 the State officials in charge of the institute work. During the intro- 

 ductory stages of the movement this Department might act merely 

 as a demonstrator, showing the methods that ought to be pursued in 

 conducting this work and the practicabilty and usefulness of the 

 new system. The fact that this method of instruction is new in the 

 United States makes it necessary that demonstration schools shall 

 be sent out to exhibit its features and prove their value. The National 

 Department of Agriculture can very properly take the lead in the 

 introduction of a method that promises so much for the elevation of 

 agricultural people and the advancement of agricultural interests. 



(3) The Department should also prepare outlines of courses of 

 study for schools of the character just indicated. No such courses 

 have yet been prei)ared in this country, and it is undoubtedly a 

 legitimate part of the work of the National Department to secure 

 the services of experts who shall make inquirj' as to the methods that 

 have been successfully pursued in foreign countries in imparting 

 agricultural instruction by this means and adapt these methods as 

 far as possible to the conditions that prevail in the United States. 



(4) In like manner it is important that the National Department 

 should prepare and publish sets of illustrated lectures upon agri- 

 cultural subjects and also sets of agi*icultural charts for the use of 

 institute lecturers. The proposition is for the Department to secure 

 the services of experts to prepare agricultural charts in series and 

 have them printi'd in colors and properly mounted for use. Work of 

 this character is assumed by governments abrt)ad, and advantage in 

 some of these countries has been taken by colleges and lower schools 

 to secure sets for use in class-room work. The originating of lectures 

 and charts is undoubtedly a proper part of the work of the National 



