No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 11 



The Fai'ineis' Institute occupies the position, in the system oi' agii- 

 c ultuial education of to-day, in this country, of that of a disseminator 

 of agricultural knowledge among the masses, and of a stimulator of 

 desire and respect for such knowledge, by the masses. The insti- 

 tute is not simply to reach those who are now actively engaged 

 in the business of farming, but to reach, as well, the great masses 

 of our population, who have little or no knowledge or appreciation 

 of the advantages of agriculture, as a calling in life. 



Its work is not limited to efforts to improve the condition of 

 existing farmers, but contemplates as well the creating of new, as 

 well as better farmers. It is wide extended in its influence, 

 and ought to be of the highest grade. It should accordingly be 

 planned and conducted upco lines correspondingly liberal, and com- 

 mensurate with the dignity of the Department, and the field of 

 usefulness that it is organized to fill. 



THE INSTITUTE LECTURER. 



Inasmuch as the work to be performed requires the service of 

 experts, no one should be employed who is not thoroughly competent 

 for the special service that he is expected to render. It should not 

 be an asylum for lazy persons or incompetents, and no political 

 consideraticiis should enter into the qualifications of any one em- 

 ployed, and the compensation should be sufhcient to induce the 

 best experts in the country to desire the positions. Sufficient money 

 should be appropriated to enable the Department to retain in its 

 employ some of the most capable men during the entire year. The 

 permanent employme'nt of at least a few capable men and women 

 should be the rule. Men who are competent, are, as a general thing, 

 not unemployed, and their services cannot be had and dispensed 

 with at pleasure. The institute lecturer or teacher is the heart of 

 the institute work. If competent men cannot be had, then the 

 whole system will be a failure, a«d the money that is expended be 

 thrown awav. 



The development and training of these lecturers, should, therefore, 

 be part of the v>'ork of the Department. They should be brought 

 together several times each year for conference and study. They 

 should be sent to examine and study the work of the State College, 

 so far as it relates to agricultural affairs, and of the State Experi- 

 ment Station. They should be put in the way of getting the best 

 literature upon their several specialties. In short, they should 

 themselves be students of agriculture, and be posted in all that takes 

 place in their special work throughout the world. 



