No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 271 



reach tbeiii all. I think this method of conducting institutes is the 

 best to be found in any state of the Union, with all respect to the 

 managers in other sections. I have attended some institutes in 

 other states, but like ours in Pennsylvania better. 



I don't know that I can give you any more information in regard 

 to this matter. That is the Avay we do it, and I, as county chair- 

 man, attend these meetings to see that the program is carried out 

 as nearly as possible as arranged for. 



SHOULD THE ONE-DAY INSTITUTE BE ABANDONED? 



By Hon. T. J. Philips. Attjlen, Pa. 



I am fully aware that any criticism I may have to make of the 

 work of county managers will be immediately answered by them; 

 but I presume it is open to discussion from the standpoint of the 

 stranger in the community. In quite a number of counties, the one 

 day institute has been in vogue for years. It has been a custom 

 with some of the county managers, and no doubt these men think 

 it is the best way to reach the people in their community. Local 

 conditions in Pennsylvania have much to do with this question. 



There are places in Pennsylvania where it is diflficult to get from 

 one place to another, w^hich is really nearby. This is a problem that 

 will probably have to be worked out by the people of the several 

 local communities, but if you want my criticism, ancl this is what 

 I presume you are as^.cing for, I would say that in my judgment, 

 from the little experience I have had, the one-day institute is usually 

 a failure. It is true that in some communities they add to their 

 appropriation by private subscriptions, and hire special speakers 

 and music and they follow each other around from place to place, 

 day after day. Now, the people in Lackawanna county have done 

 this for several years, and it has been succesisful, but in most other 

 counties where they have tried the one-day institute, it has not been 

 found practicable. 



Now, the reasons why the one-day institute fails to accomplish 

 the good that it should, are easily enumerated. One is that it is 

 necessary to have a morning session. In order that a desirable 

 program may be arranged for, it is necessary to have a morning 

 session; these morning sessions are not usually very well attended, 

 and it is often hard for the lecturer to get there from the place he 

 has been speaking the day before. My impression is that it is the 

 two-day session that is productive of the greatest good. There is 

 opportunity in the two-day institute for social intercourse, and for 

 acquiring information that cannot be had in the one-day institute. 

 In my opinion, the greatest good to the farmer comes from the 

 discussion that follows the topic on which the lecturer has spoken. 

 In the one-day session there is not much time for discussions of this 

 sort. Then, too, men and women will come to the speaker between 

 sessions, and ask questions, and become acquainted with him. and 

 in that way carry away impressions that could not be gained in the 



