404 BuKEAU OF Fakmeks' Ixstitutes. 



are G0,000 Grangers in the State, so that if all who do take them 

 are Grangers — but they are not — only two-thirds take them. 

 Those who do, we always meet at the institute; and there are 

 some others who attend; but, as a rule, the farmers who ought 

 to attend, and who are in need of help and instruction, stay at 

 home, or go elsewhere. The institutes are held for the benefit 

 of these men, as well as for those who are here. Much informa- 

 tion may be derived from the bulletins and the reading course sent 

 out from Cornell University, neither of which cost anything. A 

 postal card^ on one side of which is written your name and address, 

 if addressed to Prof. I. P. Roberts^ Ithaca^ or the Geneva Experi- 

 ment Station, wull bring you the bulletins from both experiment 

 stations, as well as the reading course from Cornell — and all are 

 free. But it is difficult to reach a man who has lived and'worked 

 just as his father and grandfather did. It is the same with the 

 16-year-old boy who is climbing " fool hill." He thinks he knows 

 it all and there is nothing to be learned. You cannot teach either 

 of them. The boy, by and by, will see the error of his ways, but 

 the old, hide-bound farmer, never, except, perhaps, after watching 

 his progressive neighbor, he adopts some of his methods. 



A Farmer. — Only about one-half the Grangers and heads of 

 families. 



Will you please explain what Is known as the "Cornell Reading Course," 

 how is it carried on, how is it paid for, how one Is to avail himself of its 

 privileges, and what the cost, if any, is? 



Mr. Smith. — The reading course at Cornell is carried on under 

 the provisions of what is known as the " Nixon bill." By corres- 

 ponding with the department of agriculture at Cornell one may 

 get all needful information. 



Mr. Rice. — In this reading course one may get all the agricul- 

 tural fundamentals necessary. Besides, all high-grade terms are 

 eliminated, and those which almost anyone will understand are 

 substituted. 



A Farmer. — I have been taking this course a year and have 

 never found anything more instructive. 



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