198 Report of Farmees' Institutes 



any of our Eastern states, to find plenty of examples clearly illus- 

 trative of how not to do it, in tlie caro and management of wood- 

 lots. 



Riglit here is where the farm instructors can help to better 

 things. You are all busy men. Your interests for the most part 

 lie in other directions than forestry; but essentially you are 

 men who appreciate the fact that agriculture is a business in all 

 its branches, and that to succeed in it one must use the methods 

 of business efficiency. The problem is, how to make this point of 

 view sufficiently clear to your constituents so that they will be 

 aroused to feel that the ways you point out are the ways for them 

 to adopt and put into practice. 



The seed is taking root. The past score of years have witnessed 

 marvelous strides in the application of the principles of efficiency 

 in the business of the farm. But in most farm woodlots, not to 

 speak of more extensive forest tracts, there is still ample room 

 for improvement. One of the accomplishments of the next decade 

 must be such a bettering of conditions. 



EDUCATIOlSr AND COOPERATION 



What are the means ? Education and cooperation. Some of 

 the way it is a newly blazed trail, but it is one that is not hard 

 to follow. One of the principles of efficiency is to seek and profit 

 by wise counsel. How and where is the woodland owner to get 

 such advice ? From the state forest officials, from the foresters 

 connected with the agricultural experiment stations and from the 

 extension men and other members of the staffs of the forest 

 schools. One of the ways that the farm bureau managers can 

 help in the good cause is to see that their clients get advice, and 

 then to encourage them in putting the recommendations of the 

 experts into practice. 



Usually the cost of seeking counsel of this sort is very small — 

 a proportionate part of the expenses for traveling and subsistence 

 that the agent sent has to incur. If several farms are visited in 

 one section the bill to the individual amounts to very little; and 

 much advice is given free. Furthermore, often all that is needed 

 can be told the applicant in a letter. There are few investments 

 that yield so large and so prompt returns as do the expenditures 

 made in seeking the advice of agricultural experts. 



