'^V2 ANNUAL REPORT OF Til 10 Off. Doc. 



analysis, avail little, simply to make liim a better farmer. The in- 

 stitute instructor who between sessions, practices at the bar, or 

 listens to, or worse still, tells obscene stories, or who, by his con- 

 duct in any way, does that which is contrary to good morals, may 

 provoke the laugh, and think himself a good fellow, but be sure he 

 will lose cast, even with those addicted to such practices. Of course 

 it should go without saying, that an institute man should be one 

 whose business transactions at home will bear the keenest scrutiny. 

 For be assured of this, so long as you are one among many, in your 

 own community, doing neither more or less than the rank and file, 

 men will expect no more of you than the average, but advance a step 

 ahead of the procession, as a man does who attempts to instruct 

 others, and you are singled out and stand in the lime light of 

 public criticism. 



SCIENTIFIC TEACHING 



There is science and science, really in essence, applied knowledge. 



The true scientist, teacher or experimenter will never make the best 

 institute worker. Such men if they be apt to teach, as some of them 

 are, are necessarily in demand by the growing class, who read the 

 bulletins, and are abreast of the times. They — the scientists — are able 

 to speak with authority. In many sections I would I had one or 

 more always with me, but they are specialists and in most cases do 

 not speak the language, or think the thought of the farmer. Let 

 me say right here, that if we are to be of the greatest benefit to the 

 hearers, we must be able to do that thing. If I have had any success 

 in institute work, it is because I have been able to place myself in the 

 position of the poor man in the back seat, from the standpoint of a 

 hard earned dollar. The young graduate, so full of science that it 

 hurts him, and also full of zeal which we admire, though often it is 

 not according to knowledge, does not fill the bill with the hard- 

 It anded and headed farmer, for in spite of Paul's admonition to 

 Timothy "Let no man despise thy youth," unless the young man 

 shows plainly that he has always been taught in the school of eco- 

 nomic experience; his youth will be despised. Yet from this class 

 are coming, and must come, the best institute workers of the future, 

 therefore with such, brethren, be exceedingly patient and long suf- 

 fering, for they should have, and often do have in them the very root 

 of the matter. 



The farmers' institute lecturer should always be familiar with the 

 latest research knowledge on the subjects he treats. It is better 

 not to teach at all than to teach that twice two makes six. As Josh 

 Billings says, ''Better not to know so much than to know so many 

 things that are not true." Gov. Hoard once remarked to the speaker, 

 "You w^ant to have a firm grip on what you know." I would, how- 

 ever, say as little about science as possible. Should one go to the 

 platform with a lot of bulletins, the inference, on the part of the 

 audience, would be that such a man is speaking from little experience 

 of his own, and I fear it is often right. Have the facts clear in mind 

 and stand by them. I know of nothing more riduculous than to hear 

 a layman get olf a lot of scientific terms intended to show his learn- 

 ing; but they leave the impression, in the mind of the hearers, that 

 "such knowledge is too wonderful for them, it is high, they cannot 



