'No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 31 



sti'uctioii in agiU'iiUure are now plainly seen in (he improvement 

 that has lakeu place in all sections of the State in agricultural prac- 

 tice. 



Greater care is exercised in the collection and preservation of fer- 

 tilizers, the cultivation of the soil, the selection of seed for crops, the 

 uianiimlation of milk and the food articles manufactured from it, the 

 liealth of animals, their food and shelter. Farmers are placing 

 modern conveniences in their homes, adorning their grounds, improv- 

 ing their gardens and orchards and are giving more attention than 

 formerly to the securing of better educational advantages for their 

 children. The high character and qualifications of the lecturers em- 

 ployed by the Department to give instruction have greatly increased 

 the interest of country people in the sessions of these meetings. The 

 attendance is all that can be desired, for in most instances the meet- 

 ing halls are filled. A comparison of the system adopted in Pennsyl- 

 vania with those in use in other States satisfies us that we are not be- 

 hind in this respect. Our system can be expanded indefinitely as the 

 needs of the public demand more meetings and the finances of the 

 Department justify. The w^ork here, as in other sister States, is lim- 

 ited by our ability to secure a sufficient number of competent instruc- 

 tors to properly equip the several divisions. Men of mediocre at- 

 tainments are of no use in this work. The teacher must speak with 

 authority, and to do this he must know the truth of that which he 

 asserts and its practical use in agricultural practice. Where to 

 secure skilled teachers, is the problem that is now on us for solution. 

 Some capable men are being developed each 3^ear, but the number is 

 by no means sufficient to supply the demand. The Legislature added 

 twenty-five hundred dollars per year to the Institute appropriation, 

 making the sum now |15,000. ^Vhilst this will enable the Depart- 

 ment to add somewhat to the extension of the work, it will bv no 

 means meet the needs of the farming people in institute requirements. 

 At least $25,000 per year should be devoted to this purpose; every dol- 

 lar of this sum can be advantageously expended. 



The Eound-up meeting last June was one of the most interesting 

 that has yet been held. These meetings bring the lecture force and 

 the managers of institutes together in conference. The results are 

 a better understanding of the needs of agricultural people and a more 

 systematic and effective plan for supplying these needs. Before 

 these round-up meetings were held, each institute manager was com- 

 pelled to solve all of the difiiculties which he encountered, himself. 

 Now these are presented before the meeting of managers from all 

 'iver the State, and in almost all cases a satisfactory solution is found. 



The lecturers also get to see what kind of work is demanded from 

 them. They find that old worn out theories are not wanted, and 



