No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 287 



damp because the room probably hadn't been aired for six months. 

 Now an oil stove is the meanest thing to heat a room with that can 

 be found. I would sooner have a lamp, one of those sixty-horse 

 power lamps. 



Now that is the only complaint I have to make. I generally get 

 the best of treatment as I go from one place to the other, and the 

 county chairmen are doing better and better every year. Six years 

 ago I used to go up to the hotel or store in a town, and they said 

 to me, "Why do you leave the institute?" Well, the reason was that 

 I sat there and listened to some man's speech until I couldn't stand 

 it any longer. Now you know they used to call me a big liar, but 

 to tell the truth, I haven't had a man call me a liar for years, which 

 shows the progress that is being made in agriculture in Pennsyl- 

 vania. I went right down here in northwestern Pennsylvania and 

 covered the ground that I covered six years ago, and I know that 

 the institutes are getting better, and we are moving along and im- 

 proving in our work every year. 



I want to say to the- man on the platform who is using his voice, 

 use water externally, internally and forever. 



MR. RODGERS: I just want to say that this institute work de- 

 pends largely on the institute manager of the county just as much 

 as plowing depends on the man handling the plow. If the insti- 

 tute manager is well fitted for his place and has the confidence of 

 the people, he can control the institute work in his county and 

 make it a success. I have had the honor of being institute manager 

 of our county for twelve years, and I refer you to Deputy Secretary 

 Martin or to the figures of the Department of Agriculture of the 

 Commonwealth, and I have never yet spent the money allowed me 

 for the institute work in our county. We have had good institutes 

 and good lecturers and they have been well cared for. I have con- 

 trol of the whole management with the assistance of men that I 

 know in the different parts of the county. I draw them to me; I 

 consult with them. I begin with the June meeting and I do not 

 quit until the last meeting has closed of our institute work. I get 

 quite a good many of our local men to take part in the work. Our 

 program is loaded with local men. We want to get out the young 

 men and the ladies. We want to get out everybody that we can get 

 to help, and to get them to feel that they are doing the work. I 

 don't make a speech; I don't talk as much in my institute as I have 

 said to you since I have got on this floor. 



In regard to printing, I get it all done at once place and I get it 

 done cheap, and have saved money every year since I have been 

 at it. 



I was the first chairman of the first institute ever held in our 

 county, and the last one, too; it depends on the men who manage 

 the institutes just as much as it depends on the men who hold the 

 plow. 



MR. BOND: Mr. Chairman, I want to say a few words on the 

 question of accommodations for lecturers, and the criticisms which 

 have been made as to cold rooms, etc. I would like to know if we 

 are a lot of hothouse plants that have got to be nursed like a tender 

 plant or an invalid infant. If we are, let us stay at home and not go 



