No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 261 



or evening. Very frequently the expense would not be materially 

 greater than the cost of staying at a hotel, and many of us — I know 

 that I, myself would, would be only too glad to go home at our own 

 expense, if necessary. 



Now, the time lost in this way could be made up by beginning 

 Institute work a little earlier in the season, before the meetings of 

 the Grange, the Stock Breeders' Association, the Dairy Union, and 

 other similar organizations, and then running the Institutes along 

 continuously, with as little interruption as possible, allowing the 

 men to take more rest in that way. Where there are two expe- 

 rienced men, and one wiio is just being broken in, as is usually the 

 case, the new man could be given a more active part in the work, 

 and learn by practical Avork, instead of, as is loo often the case, by 

 observation alone. Now. T found this years ago. when I was travel 

 ing as a new man with Mr. Agee. and other old war-horses. The 

 tliird man usually has a good time during the week, and then leavee 

 early on Saturday for home, getting back Monday afternoon or Tues- 

 day, as may suit his convenience. This would throw him on his own 

 resources, and develop his abilities along the lines of Dr. Ferguson's 

 talk. And, if more desirable, the Saturday evening session need not 

 be abandoned in that way. He could be left in charge of it. 



SHOULD OUR INSTITUTES BEGIN EARLIER OR LATER IN 



THE SEASON? 



By J. n. Peachey, Bellevttle, Pa. 



Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: There are just two sides to 

 my question — the earlier or the later Institute; I have my choice 

 between the two, and I choose the earlier. I don't care so much 

 when they begin as when they stop; and this, I think, should not be 

 later than the first of March. March is usually a busy month with 

 our people, and in many parts of the country the March public sales 

 take away the interest of the people from Institute work. In many 

 cases they are of more interest to the farmer than Farmers' Insti- 

 tutes. And in order to close our Institutes by the first of March, 

 we should begin earlier in the season. 



I might say something about these vacations. I know what it is 

 to be c^it in the field for five weeks without going home, and I also 

 know what it is to drag my weary length into some hotel late Sat- 

 urday night, so tired that many a time I have never left the hotel 

 all Sabbath day, until Monday morning came, and I had to renew my 

 week's work. 



In reference to the time of beginning, I want to say that what we 

 want is to do the greatest good to the greatest number of people, 

 and, no matter when you begin or when you end, you can't please 

 everybody. Now, I believe it is the greatest number we should take 

 into consideration, and I believe that our Institutes should be held 

 at the time when fh(* farmer has fhe least to do. and yet in time for 



