r 



8 



dodger simply stated where the institute was to be held, the time at which "the 

 meetin,!j;s would opeu, nud iuvited everyoue to come aud briusjc the fauiily. These 

 were distributed among the business men of the town, and for a week or ten 

 daysbefore the institute every farmer purchasing a bill of goods found one of 

 these little dodgers wrapped up nith it on reaching home. It was very effective 

 ill making known the institute and bringing out a good attendance. 



The postal-carol invitation is a very good idea, and where there are plenty of 

 funds the superintendent should have them printed and sent to the local com- 

 mittee for addresses and mailing. At the same time, it is an excellent idea 

 to have the local committee get out their own invitations, as it shows they are 

 interested and will work to make the institute a success. At one place last 

 year I know of $140 being subscribed by the business men for the institute. So 

 far as I can learn they adopted every scheme that I could suggest for advertis- 

 ing. It is needless to say they had a successful meeting. 



I thoroughly believe in having the locality assist the superintendent to the 

 extent of furnishing a ball and paying for some of the advertising. If there is 

 not enough interest in the meeting to attempt this nuich assistance it is <lonbt- 

 ful if the institute will be a success. 



I have found that four-fifths of the places where institutes have been held 

 send in applications for meetings the next year. This is sufficient evidence to 

 me that that ])articular locality believes in the institute and is willing to render 

 some assistance to make it successful. 



Discussion. 



Mr, Menges, of Pennsylvania, stated that in Tennsylvania the institute is 

 usually advertised in about the way Mr. Kaufman had suggested, with probably 

 the exception that the newspapers take quite an interest in advertising. Nev- 

 ertheless the attendance is not as large as it used to l>e or as is desired. He 

 thought sufficient attention was not given to advertising the lectures. 



Mr. Kaufman, of North Dakota, stated that the papers in bis State were quite 

 ready to help in the institute work, but they did not know what to do or how to 

 do it. They need assistance in advertising the meetings. The assistance of 

 railroads in the way of reduced rates had heljied greatly in the attendance at 

 the institutes. The feeling toward the agricultural colleges and experiment 

 stations is one of respect aud confidence. 



Mr. Dye, of New Jei'sey. thought the iiroviding of luncheon added an attract- 

 ive feature. 



The competitive idea was condemned l)y Mr. Gregg, of IMinnesota. He held 

 that a good institute would advertise sul>se(inent meetings. 



Mr. Ellis, of Missouri, had found the competitive feature of value in Missouri 

 when kept within limits and not allowed to overshadow the strictly educational 

 part of the work. He thought this was also true of all entertainment features, 

 although the tendency was for them to detract from the main object of the 

 institute. The educational side of the competitive exhibits should be kept 

 prominent. 



" In INIissouri we have no round-up institute meetings, but we have a number 

 of State associations that hold annual meetings, and we coojierate with each of 

 those associations. We arrange to pay from our institute fund the expenses 

 of one representative from the agricultural club in the college to attend each of 

 these meetings, and to I'oad a paper on some subject. We also seek out our 

 best graduates that go back to the farms and try to arrange for them, the first 

 year after they graduate, to do at least one week's institute work, paying them a 

 small salary and their expenses. We put these young men forward as the 



