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51 



hand tlio material itself or a pietnre of the scene that is needed in order to an 

 understanding of the topic, and the only way remaining is to omit it altogether or 

 else employ the lantern slide and show the objects on a screen. 



The introduction of acetylene gas as a substitute for the oxyhydrogen flame 

 has greatly simplified the (|nestion of transportation jjiid supply of proper light- 

 ing for the display of photographic slides. The employment of acetylene for 

 lighting is now permitted by the underwriters of all of the insurance companies, 

 and thus the way is opened for its use in lantern lecture work, thus greatly 

 reducing both the cost for gas and the bulk and weight of tJie apparatus needed 

 for generating light over the unwieldy and heavy gas tanks necessary in former 

 years. 



OVEKCOMING OBJECTIONS. 



The other objections to the use of the lantern in institute work still remain. 

 but the advantages of this method of teaching are so great that the National 

 Department of Agriculture in its institute ortice is endeavoring to overcome the 

 two chief difficulties hitherto encountered — that of maintaining order in a 

 darkened hall during an hour's lecture and the other equally important one of 

 interesting a general audience in subjects somewhat technical and of jiractical 

 importance chietiy to farming peoi)le. 



A number of experts who have each given s[)ecial attention to some phase of 

 agriculture have been engaged by the Department to prepare sets of 40 to 50 

 photographic illustrations of their subjects, representing each subject in its 

 early stages of development and continuing in jti'ogressive series until the 

 finished product has been obtained, these photographs to be exhibited i)y a 

 lantern on a screen. The illustrations are accompanied by a syllabus treating 

 of the subject in all of the phases exhibited by the photogi-aphs. to be used as 

 a guide by the lecturer in his presentation of the subject to the audience. The 

 syllabus contains references to the literature of the subject so that anyone 

 desiring to pursue the study further and discover what is known upon that topic 

 will have at hand the names of the i>ublications bearing upon it and the places 

 where these publications can be had, together with the price of each. An 

 appendix, with taldes for reference, is also a featvire of the syllabus. These 

 printed syllabi are to be distributed through the audience, to be retained as 

 memoranda of the lecture for future reference. 



By selecting for discussion subjects of interest and by ])roviding for the fre- 

 quent change <jf the illustrations, it is hoped that the difficulties that have here- 

 tofore been experienced in lantern lectures before institute meetings will be 

 overcome, and by presenting each person with a full outline of the lecture, with 

 interesting additional data attached in the appendix, it is lielieved that perma- 

 nent iienefit will result fntm the presentation of the subjects. 



The lantern slides are to be loaned to institute lecturers without cost except 

 the exjn-ess, and the syllaln are to be sent out for free distribution. If upon 

 trial any lecturer is satisfied that any set that he has used is of sufficient advan- 

 tage to him in his work as to make him desix'e to secure a set for permanent 

 use, such set will be furnished bj- the Department for the nominal cost of the 

 preparation of the slides and the expense for tran.sportation. The syllabi will 

 be supplied free of cost. 



THE ABUSE OF II.LtiSTRATIONS. 



It is perhaps unnecessary to call attention to some of the almses of the illus- 

 tration method that exist. Most of you have witnessed instances for your- 

 selves. It is seldom that vulgar or sacrilegious stories are told in farmers' 

 institutes, and yet instances have occurred where questionable allusions have 



