Nu. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 487 



ought to be provided with mileage bool^s and we ought uot charge 

 so as to make our expenses any more than they must necessarily be. 

 I think our agreement is to work lor so much per diem and our 

 necessary and actual traveling expenses. I have in mind some 

 instances in which I think this has been abused. If I choose to go 

 into a hotel and live at one dollar a day, I do not believe I have any 

 right to charge the Department two dollars. If I travel at two 

 cents a mile on my mileage book I do not believe I have any right 

 to charge the State three cents, because I have that mileage book in 

 my possession. It is not an actual expense. If I have to advance 

 the money for my lodging and hotel bills, I do not think it right to 

 ask a little premium off the State for advancing that money. I 

 think the State can save from one to two hundred dollars simply 

 by correcting this practice in traveling over the State. It may 

 be all done thoughtlessly, and I dont say it is wrong, but let us have 

 an understanding about it. I think the State Secretary should fur- 

 nish the principal speakers with a mileage book at the expense of 

 the State, and save at least one hundred dollars a year in this way. 



MK. MARTIN: This is all very interesting. It is really a ques- 

 tion as to whether the Department, possibly with the regular lec- 

 turers, should not supply a mileage book. That is one of the ques- 

 tions we have under consideration. 



I want to say just a word on one other point. In a few counties 

 in Pennsylvania the Department believes that it should supply 

 more than the ordinary number of institutes where they use just 

 two men, then add two additional men for the extra days of in- 

 stitute. We believe we ought to do that in certain sections, and 

 you will find the Director very amenable where the suroundings 

 justify it. 



The CHAIRMAN: The next question for general discussion is: 

 ''Should the Institute Lecturer use the Blackboard to Illustrate 

 Points in His Lecture?" To be opened by S. F. Barber, of Harris- 

 burg, Pa. 



MR. BARBER: Mr. Chairman and Ladies and Gentlemen: I think 

 this is a very important topic. "Should the Institute Lecturer use 

 the Blackboard to Illustrate Points in his Lecture?" I say, yes; 

 by all means. He should use the blackboard to illustrate every sin- 

 gle point that it is possible to make use of it. The average farmer 

 will gain more knowledge in that way and he can carry it home 

 with him. Besides that, we are not sent out, as I understand it, 

 by the Board to entertain anybody. We are not sent out to give a 

 lecture, but we are sent out just as the school teacher is employed 

 to teach public school, to teach, and if it is not necessary, if the 



