r.42 UKPnlJI" <»l<' OFKK K ^>\•' EXTKlilMENT STATIONS. 



(if till' lic.'^t iiKitfiial III' llic I'XjH'rimeiit stillioii can lie linm^lit to tin- lioiin's of ex-Htu- 

 ili-iits of tlu' Ji;,'ricultnral collcirc and f)f otluT farniors; it inukt-is diicct application of 

 till- information piincd at the ntution l)y liavinj^'experinu'ntH condnctt'd on hnntlrods 

 and evi'u thousands of faniin, and it syHtoniatizcs the cooperative work in hucIi away 

 that the results of tlioso experiments, whieli liave lieen conducted with care and 

 accuracy, can be sumMiarize<l an<l made into valuaMe rejiorts for Die ^uidanc*! of 

 farmers }j;eneraily. i'erhaps tiio j^reutest advantage of tlie cooi)erative experiment 

 work is that it lielps the best farmers to help thevnselves and to help others. It 

 combines in an admirable way the training of the hands and the training of the 

 intellect, and is oni' of tht! greatest educational features which has been introduced 

 throughout the rural district.>j in recx'ut years. 



The boiu'tic'ial l•('sllU^s that have come ffom this inothod of e(hicatinsr 

 the farminjr people arc so conHpicuoii.s tlirouo'hout the locality in which 

 it has been tried as to be remarked \)y all intellij^ent travelers who 

 visit that section. That research work is the first dut}' of the experi- 

 ment station is unquestionably true. It is also true that the carrying 

 of the results to the people who need the information which has been 

 secured is likewise a dut}'. Whether this shall ])e accomplished through 

 the dissemination of literature, the sending out of station otKcers to 

 publish the information before farmers' institutes, the use of intelligent 

 citizens in cooperative experiment Avork, or all three of these, is a (pies- 

 tion to be determined by those to whom has been committed the work 

 of experimentation by their several States, and it is gratifying to 

 know that the colleges and stations recognize their duty and responsi- 

 ])ilit3' in this direction, for in 21 States and Territories the farmers' 

 institutes have been committed to the management of the agriciiUiiral 

 colleges and experiment stations, and during the past year, as haselse- 

 Avhere been stated, 106 different members of these institutions have 

 given instruction in agriculture in the farmers' institutes of this 

 country. 



THE FARMERS' INSTITUTE AND THE COMMON SCHOOL. 



The institute movement was inaugurated for the improvement of the 

 adult farmer. Its work among adults has been very valuable not only 

 in assisting the farmer in correcting defective methods and in apply- 

 ing newl}^ discovered principles in the prosecution of his art, but also 

 in showing him how much there is of information respecting agricul- 

 ture that could be imparted to the youngest child if the opportunity 

 were given and competent teachers employed. 



The adults whom the institutes have been instructing are the con- 

 trolling forces in the several localities in which they live, and have 

 power to change the methods now in use in the conduct of their public 

 schools. The campaign of the education of these men has brought many 

 to see the value of the scientific truths in agriculture that have been pre- 

 sented, and they are gradually coming to insist that this same kind of 

 instruction shall be given to their children in the rural schools. 



