85 



vision, coupled with close attention to detail, is necessary. And this applies to 

 the institute worker as well. 



Life itself is a problem. Each new life connnitted to i)a rental care is to 

 them a problem. What will be its tendencies, where its place? How shall 

 they direct its choices and educate its mental activities so as to make a grand 

 and useful career? 



Aijain, to the develoiiing mind of the observant child; what a j)robl('m of 

 mysteries and wonders is this new world of marvelous activities to it. Ah I my 

 fellow- workers, even we who are older have not solved all of life's problems. 

 To-morrow may brini; new complications and present problems hard to solve. 

 And what of that far-distant, mystical soul future, encircled by the term 

 " innnortality." For the solution of all life's problems, let us use the light we 

 have, and ever press forw^ard assured that success will ci-own the efforts of the 

 faithful workers. 



Discussion. 



Mr. W. L. Amoss, of College Park, Md., called attention to the success of the 

 practice followed in ^laryland of sending out, at the expense of the institutes, 

 representatives of the local institutes to visit and report on representative farms 

 in different parts of the coiuitry. " In selecting such men, of course, there is 

 some danger. I ask that a committee of five be named to select a man and 

 report at another session." 



PROBLEMS IN THE WEST. 



M. F. Greeley, of South Dakota. The selecting of speakers for the work is, 

 it seems to me, the paramount issue in the institute work, especially in our 

 northwestern coinitry. The problem is to get men competent to go on the plat- 

 form and tell what they have done and how they did it in a sympathetic, earnest 

 way that will appeal to the farmer. If I could say one word about the selection 

 of the speakers it is this: If possible, have them come to the platform from 

 their own farms and barnyards and have them talk on problems they have 

 solved. The farmers are not suspicious of that class of men. The selection of 

 conductors of farmers' institutes is another problem in this northwestern 

 countiy. In the West we need men with broad connnon sense w'ho have been 

 intimately associated with farmers and have heard them discuss the unpaid 

 mortgage and the bad crops and that sort of thing. Such a man can take hold 

 of an institute and get right down close to the farmers and help them in tlieir 

 everyday life. From such a meeting every man will go home better able to 

 handle the i)roblems that confront him. 



In conducting these meetings it increases the interest to bring in live ques- 

 tions that are particularly local in their application. 



Above everything else we l)elieve in the West in short tallcs. We feel that we 

 must have vigorous talks that will send the people back to their homes and farms 

 discussing what they have heard. 



Discussion. 



J. B. Thoburn, of Oklahoma, spoke of the importance of interesting the boys 

 by means of comjietitive exhibits, etc. 



PROBLEMS IN THE CENTRAL STATES AND PROVINCES. 



Mr. A. B. HosTETTER, of Illinois. In the Central States we find the largest 

 number of w'ell-improved farms and the highest priced land. Here is the center 

 of the pure-bred live-stock industry ; here is the center of the dairy industry ; 



