368 KEi'oirr or orncE uf expekime^'t stations. 



Dopartmont of Afrriculturc in its loadprsliij) of nfrriciiltural thought 

 and [)ro«i:ivss. 



Tlu'iv is also vcrv much needed by institute workers a handbook 

 containing agricuUural statistics, standard tables, and other agricul- 

 tural information useful for reference. If such a handbook of i)orket 

 size, i)rinted upon a good quality of linen paper and bound with 

 flexible cover, were prepared, it would be a great convenience to 

 farmers' institute workers in answering questions and in i)reparing 

 addresses. No comi)lete book of this character is in existence, and its 

 preparation, therefore, would not interfere with any existing i)ul)lica- 

 tion, but would be along new lines and would meet a special and 

 increasing need. 



The material just outlined is of such character as to be of universal 

 adaptability, and when once prepared can be duplicated at a slight 

 cost and thus be made available to all of the institute workers of the 

 coiHitry. 



(.5) The necessity for increasing the number of capable teachers 

 for institute service has become urgent. The difficulties connected 

 with the securing of such a supply is likely to prove a serious embar- 

 rassment in the prosecution of this work. The agricultural colleges 

 and experiment stations have hitherto been depended upon in most 

 of the States to supply expert instructors for institute service. Until 

 recently it has been possible for the teaching force in the colleges 

 and the men in charge of the experiment-station work to give a con- 

 siderable portion of their time for institute instruction, but the great 

 increase of students that has occurred in the past few years in the 

 land-grant colleges and the great demand that there is for informa- 

 tion at the hands of the experiment stations has made it practically 

 impossible for these men to longer spare time from their regular 

 work as teachers and investigators in the institutions to which they 

 severally belong, to devote even a small portion of it to the farmers' 

 institutes. This is withdraAving a most valuable part of the instruc- 

 tion heretofore given in the institute schools, which must be imme- 

 diately replaced or the educational work of the institutes will be 

 serioush' impaired. 



To supply men competent to give the instruction required will 

 demand that some method for educating the institute lecturers shall 

 be devised and put into effect. A plan that has been proposed is for 

 several States to unite and form normal colleges for this purpose in 

 connection with the agricultural colleges and experiment stations, 

 depending upon the colleges and stations for such assistance as they 

 may be able to contribute and upon the State l)oards of institute 

 directors for additional aid in carrying on the work. 



