OFFICE OF EXFEKIMENT STATIONS. 259 



progress that is being made throughout the world in studying problems 

 in agriculture both at the experiment stations and on the farms. Such 

 men are relatively scarce, except among the officers of our agricultural 

 colleges and experiment stations whose other duties are in most cases 

 so exacting that they can not be exjjected to devote much time to insti- 

 tute work. There is need of developing a class of institute workers 

 wlio shall combine successful practical experience and scientific 

 knowledge of agriculture with the ability to address large audiences 

 of farmers in a way not only to hold their attention, but also to 

 impart to them definite information and instruction. This involves 

 the creation of a corps of institute workers who shall receive suffi- 

 cient salaries to induce them to make specific preparation for their 

 work and to enable them to keep the information in their addresses 

 up to date by studies pursued from year to year. In the task of 

 developing and training these men the Department can help b}^ fur- 

 nishing them with the Department i^ublications and information 

 through correspondence. This is already done to a considerable 

 extent, but may be more efficientl}^ and thoroughly done by having 

 in the Department a regular agency for this work. The institiite 

 workers would undoubtedlj^ appeal to the Department wiili much more 

 freedom if they felt that their work was definitely recognized there, 

 as is the case with the agricultural colleges and experiment stations. 

 They should also be made to understand that they are very welcome 

 to come to the Department, and by residence at Washington for a 

 longer or shorter time have opportunities for acquiring information 

 through personal contact with the officers of the Department, the use 

 of its Library, etc. 



This Department might also aid in this movement by sending out 

 lecturers to address representative institutes in different States on the 

 work of the Department. Thus far the Department has trusted very 

 largely to its publications for the dissemination of the information 

 which it gathers, and which has grown to be very large in extent and 

 variety. It would hardly be practicable for the Department to be 

 represented in a single year at anj^ considerable number of institutes 

 in any one State or Territory-, but it is believed that more might be 

 done to bring the work of the Department directly to the attention of 

 the leaders in this enterprise through the attendance of Department 

 officers at representative meetings, which might be held from time to 

 time in the different Strftes under such conditions as would bring 

 together relatively large numbers of farmers. In this way the influ- 

 ence of the Department Avould be extended and its officers would have 

 opportunities which they now lack for finding out what the farmers 

 really desire to have the Department do for their benefit. An organi- 

 zation in the Department to jiromote this work would undoubtedly 

 make it possible for the Department to do much more in this direction, 

 even without any considerable funds especially devoted to tlie purpose. 



In general, this Department should act through its Office of Experi- 

 ment Stations as a sort of clearing house for the farmers' institute 

 movement, as it has done in the case of the agricultural experiment 

 stations; that is, it should become the center for the focalization and 

 dissemination of information and influences which will serve to develop 

 farmers' institutes, and make them a more efficient means for the 

 education of our farmers and the improvement of our agriculture. 

 I therefore recommend that an appropriation of $6,000 be asked 

 for to enable this Office to aid the farmers' institutes during the fiscal 

 year 1904. 



