318 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



DEPARTMENT AID IN PROMOTING AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION 



EXTENSION. 



A most pressing and important need just now in agriculture is a 

 more effective method for imparting that which is already known to 

 those who are to use the information. The discover}^ of a practicable 

 method by which the truths of science relating to agriculture can be 

 taught to farmers is fully as important to agriculture now as many 

 of the investigations which are occupying the time and attention of 

 scientists and requiring large annual appropriations to conduct. 



The farmers' institute has heretofore been devoted to awakening 

 agricultural people to an appreciation of science as it relates to their 

 occupation. The more important work of imparting these truths to 

 the working farmer in form and in sufficient quantity to be most 

 helpful has scarcely been undertaken, due chiefly to lack of knowledge 

 of the methods best to be pursued in their presentation. 



For the discovery of these methods there is needed a force of experts 

 who shall devote their time to researches in this direction. The 

 discovery of pedagogic methods logical in arrangement and adapted 

 to rural conditions through which to impart agricultural information 

 is just now as important to mankind as the discovery of new truths 

 in the physical world. Without new and improved educational 

 machinery for disseminating information, much valuable physical 

 truth, secured at great cost, must lie unused, or if utilized at all be 

 so to only limited extent. 



To do this work thoroughly it would be necessary to do more than 

 merely organize for the study of pedagogic forms. It would require 

 first of all systematic study of the social, educational, and economic 

 conditions of agriculture with a view to discovering and suggesting 

 methods for their improvement. 



To organize for this it would be necessary to first classif}^ the 

 various interests to be aided and then to employ experts to study 

 the conditions that exist in each class, to recommend methods of 

 improvement, and to urge the adoption of the methods recommended 

 by the classes interested. 



The following outline is suggested as a possible classification of 

 institutions whose work would furnish the subjects for a broad 

 investigation of the requirements of agricultural education: 



Institutions Concerned in Agricultural Education. 



Glass I. Farmers' institutes, embracing the work of — 



(1) State farmers' institute directors. 



(2) State farmers' institute lecturers. 



(3) Local managers of farmers' institutes. 



