6 



No more interesting or significant feature is brought out in tlio study 

 of the agriculture of foreign lands than the fact that in ever}' country 

 all of the people — the peasantry, the landed proprietors, as well as 

 those who administer the laws — now look to their agricultural educa- 

 tional institutions not only for the solution of present problems in 

 production, but also for the discovery of new facts and new methods 

 that will insure increased and more profitable crops in the time to come. 



The sincerit}^ and strength of this sentiment is shown in the meas- 

 ures that have been adopted b}^ the governments of these countries for 

 the perfecting of their systems of agricultural education, as exhibited 

 in the statements which appear in this bulletin. State departments of 

 agriculture have been established and equipped with expert officials 

 who devote all of their time to the interests of agriculture. Univer- 

 sities, colleges, normal schools, academies, secondar\^ schools, common 

 schools, and numerous special classes are everywhere in operation, 

 and in almost all of them the giving of instruction in agriculture is 

 made obligatory. In most countries these institutions are aided and 

 in a number are wholl}^ supported by the State. The governments 

 also encourage the formation of local agricultural organizations, such 

 as cooperative associations for special purposes, societies for holding- 

 agricultural shows, credit societies, agricultural insurance companies, 

 etc., and in most cases grant them financial aid. 



The attention 'of farmers' institute workers is particularly called to 

 some features of the work abroad that are characteristic and specially 

 worthy of careful consideration. 



The first is the extreme care with which the itinerant instructors 

 in foreign countries are selected. In two countries the age qualifica- 

 tion is an important item, no one being accepted under 25 years. In 

 several a competitive examination is required to be held by a commit- 

 tee of experts, and only those passing are permitted to be employed. 

 In every country some special qualification is necessary before the insti- 

 tute teacher can enter upon this service. 



Another point worth}" of attention is the method of supervision that 

 exists in every country. There is everywhere a central supervisory 

 authorit}" which holds the local officers and institute teachers and 

 workers to strict account for the efficiency and success of the work. 



A third important item is the system of personal visitation by spe- 

 cialists made to farms and communities for the i)urpose of giving 

 assistance through expert advice. In France particularly this feature 

 of the work is emphasized, and its effect is seen in what that country 

 has done since this form of aid was undertaken. 



Attention is also called to the various methods in use in disseminating 

 agricultural information. There is, first of all, the itinerant lecturer, 

 who meets audiences of fanners and delivers one or more addresses, 

 much as is now done in the farmers' institutes of the United States. 



