302 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



are applied in anything like a general way. The difficulty is to reach 

 the large body of men effectively through the i>rinted word. 



The trouble is not that we have too little work which is on a 

 practical basis, but that the results never reach the large body of 

 farmers in such a way as to influence their j^ractice. The condition 

 is much the same the country over. Although the farmers of some 

 classes and in some sections are more progressive and less conserva- 

 tive than in others, the need is generally apparent of a much more 

 efficient means than we yet have of getting at the practical farmers 

 through the living teacher, and thus placing them in position to profit 

 by the results which are being secured in their interest. 



A strong plea for the instruction of the great body of farmers was 

 made by Prof. E. A. Burnett in his presidential address before the 

 recent convention of Farmers' Institute "Workers. He declared that 

 " education upon the farm, as elsewhere, is more and more necessary 

 if the farmer is to keep abreast with the progress of this generation, 

 and if the rural community is to furnish the incentive for progi"ess 

 in country life. Agricultural progress demands, not alone that a 

 few in a county or a township shall be successful farmers, but that 

 every man and woman who lives out on the land shall be efficient and 

 successful in his particular vocation.'" 



To this end he laid special emphasis on relating the institute work 

 to " the common man who is Idbated upon the small farm with a lim- 

 ited capital and without special advantages of education," for he is 

 the man who needs help along agricultural lines more than any other 

 man. To him the question of profit appeals especially, and he needs 

 to be shown how he can improve his financial condition through the 

 use of methods which have been wrought out by successful farmers 

 and by the experiment stations. There is no other agency now at 

 work, he declared, which can reach this average man like the farmers' 

 institute. " The presentation of the work of the experiment stations 

 through bulletins and the agricultural press is effective in reaching 

 a limited number of the intelligent class of farmers, but the promo- 

 tion of any new idea, to be effective, requires a living advocate before 

 the people." 



There is much truth in this, and the " living advocate " has been the 

 main strength of the farmers' institute. The scope of its teachings 

 and influence, it Avas urged, should include all that pertains to the 

 fanner's life as well as to his vocation — the improvement of home 

 surroundings, construction of convenient and sanitary houses and 

 barns, education of his children, and the development of the social 

 life of the country. The influence which may be exerted by personal 

 contact in arousing interest and stimulating pride in these matters 

 was believed to be ver}- potent. " The establishment of a well-ordered 



