356 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS, 



aud might be supplied through a central body, such as^the agricultural organization 

 society, subsidized by the government or by the county councils employing the 

 instructors. 



(3) The qualifications of the officials mentioned in the parsigraphs above should, 

 as as rule, be as follows: 



(1) Agricultural organizer and adviser. 



Qualifications. — (a) Thorough acquaintance with the practice of agriculture such as 

 would be obtained by some years' residence on a farm or farms, and active participa- 

 tion in agricultural processes. 



(6) A three years' course of agricultural study and laboratory practice at one or 

 more universities or agricultural colleges. 



(c) Experience in lecturing and in the conduct of field experiments, with pasture 

 and arable lands. ^ 



We recognize that it is at present difficult to get men possessing these qualifications 

 with so long a training, but we beKeve that the demand will gradually increase the 

 supply. 



(2) Horticultiu-al instructor. 



Qualifications. — (a) Some years' experience in the practice of horticulture, includ- 

 ing fruit growing. 



(6) Thorough training in the scientific principles of horticulture such as is obtained 

 at an approved institution. 



(c) Experience in lecturing and demonstrating to rural audiences. 



(3) Dairying instructor. 



Qualifications. — (a) Thorough training in dairj' science, with a minimum of a 

 year's special training in dairy practice, at an approved institution. 



(6) Practical acquaintance with the processes of milking and of butter and cheese 

 making on a farm or in a factory. 



(c) Experience in teaching and demonstrating. 



(4) Poultry instructor. 



Qualifications. — (a) A thorough training in the theoretical and practical sides of 

 the subject after at least a six months' course at an approved institution. 

 (6) At least 12 months' practical work on a poultry farm, 

 (c) Experience in teaching and demonstrating. 



(5) Special instructors in veterinary hygiene, farriery, beekeeping, cider making, 

 hop growing, manual processes' etc. 



With regard to the other instructors mentioned^ in the above paragraph, we do not 

 think it necessary to define their qualifications further than that they should be 

 required to produce eAddence of a thorough knowledge of their subject, and of capacity 

 to impart instruction. 



It must be recognized that these county staffs will not be able to 

 solve all of the problems that arise in their fields of operation. In 

 such cases the difliculties are referred to the State agricultural 

 experiment station or the agricultural college for solution and thus 

 are brought to bear on the question the best expert knowledge antl 

 skill that the Nation possesses. 



The plan here outlined is being tried in part in the Province of 

 Ontario, Canada, in 26 counties, with most satisfactory results and 

 might well be tested by the directore of farmers' institutes in this 

 country hi at least one or two counties in each State in order to 

 demonstrate the workings of the system that it may be witnessed 

 and adopted generally as its value is realized. 



