farmers" institutes. 787 



Time of Meetiug. — At the time appointed for tlie meeting of the 

 Institute the officers should be at the place promptly and see tliat every- 

 thing is in order and receive and greet tlae people as they come in. See 

 to it that everything, so far as possible, shall contribute to their comfort. 



Duties of Chairman. — As the success of the Institute largely depends 

 on the promptness and efficiency of the Chairman, he should see to it that 

 the sessions should begin promptly on time, except for sufficient reasons 

 for delay. The Chairman can add greatly to the interest and enthusiasm 

 by not allowing any of the order of exercises to drag. Change from one 

 topic to another quiclvly; keep the audience in a state of Iceen expectancy; 

 call out the experience of local men who may be in attendance and insist 

 upon their giving a little of their experience if they have a local reputa- 

 tion for success in the line of the subject under discussion. Be prompt 

 in putting motions, appointing committees, etc. In a word, put life into 

 the discussions; make few changes in the order of the work provided for 

 in the program. 



Keep a careful account of the attendance at each session and the 

 degree of interest manifested, and report the same promptly at the close 

 of the Institute to the Superintendent of the Institute work. 



Respectfully submitted, 



J. J. W. BILLINGSLEY. 



REPORT OF COMMITTEE TO RECOMMEND BOOKS FOR TEACH- 

 ERS' AND CHILDREN'S READING COURSES AND FOR 

 TRAVELING LIBRARIES. 



Your committee appointed at the meeting of the Sixth Annual Con- 

 ference of Institute Workers, in October, 1903, under the following reso- 

 lution: 



"Resolved, That we recommend this Conference to appoint a com- 

 mittee of three to confer with the managers of the Children's Reading 

 Circle of the State, also with the managers of the Teachers' Reading 

 Circle Work, in order to urge them to introduce more books on Nature 

 Study for the use of the children in the schools, and some good text-book 

 on the study of Agriculture for the teachers of the State." 



Begs leave to report as follows: 



First. After a careful survey of the subject your committee is of 

 the opinion that the present illy-co-ordinated and spasmodic efforts in 

 lines of work bearing upon practical agriculture and presented under the 

 general title of Nature Study are due to an imperfect appreciation upon 

 the part of teachers of the real signiticance and immense importance of 

 the subject. Your committee feels that if good results are to be obtained 

 it is imperative that the attitude of mind of the teachers, both as regards 

 the subject itself and its presentation, be radically changed. Because of 



