22 The Buluetin. 



DEMONSTRATION RAILWAY CARS. 



For many years special trains or cars have been run in a large 

 number of States for the purpose of carrying institute workers and 

 materials for illustrating their work. But, with the exception of the 

 Corn Growers' Special, run by the N. & S. Ky. and the Experiment 

 Station of the A. & M. College, C. B. Williams, Director, during 

 March, 1908, no use of this means of conducting institutes had been 

 made in the work in this State prior to this season. 



The special trains are usually run so as to devote at most a few 

 hours at a place, from three to ten stops being made each day. In 

 this way much spectacular effect is obtained, but facilities and op- 

 portunities for teaching are sacrificed. While one whole day is^ all 

 too little if much real instruction is to be given, there is unquestion- 

 ably much to be gained in effective work by the facilities which one 

 or two cars offer for carrying materials, apparatus and implements 

 for demonstrations. 



During the past institute season it was determined to use two cars, 

 one for domestic science demonstrations and the other for agricul- 

 tural implements, seeds, spraying and dairy apparatus, etc., for 

 demonstrations at the men's meetings. 



The institutes were held as usual, three sessions being held, fore- 

 noon, afternoon and night, in order that nothing might be lost in 

 facilities for instructional work, but that materials might be present 

 for demonstrations. 



A passenger coach from one end of which two seats were removed 

 was fitted up as a modern kitchen with labor saving utensils and de- 

 vices. In this kitchen was an oil stove, oven, ice box, kitchen cabi- 

 net, fireless cooker, sink and necessary utensils. The remaining 

 seats of the car were utilized for seating those attending the demon- 

 strations, and when the attendance was not too large the Woman's In 

 stitute was held in this car. 



It is believed that this is probably the first domestic science car 

 ever run, but it clearly demonstrated its utility in rendering more ef- 

 fective the work of the women's institutes by offering facilities for 

 actual demonstrations of many of the things taught. 



Another car was filled with modern improved agricultural imple- 

 ments, etc., and whenever practicable the farmers furnished teams 

 and these implements were taken to the fields and their working 

 demonstrated. 



These cars were furnished and hauled free of charge by the South- 

 ern Eailway Company, through the courtesy and co-operative assist- 

 ance of Mr. M. V. Kichards of the Land and Industrial Department 

 of the company. 



