EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Vol. XIII. No. 10. 



The recent successful meeting of the American Association of 

 Farmers' Institute Workers in this city demonstrates the widespread 

 interest felt in this form of popular education, and the earnestness and 

 enthusiasm with which it is ])eino- carried on. The meeting was quite 

 a representative one, delegates })eing in attendance from the Pacific 

 coast, the Gulf States, and Canada, as well as from the Middle and 

 Eastern States. 



The discussion of methods employed in difierent States brought out 

 many valuable suggestions, and altogether the sessions Avere full of 

 interest and encouragement for those engaged in this work. The 

 breadth of scope which the work has taken in some of the States, and 

 the practical results which it has already achieved, were an inspiration 

 to delegates from States where the work is not so well established. 

 The personal contact and the mutual sympathy and inspiration which 

 come froiu such a gathering are among its most important results. 



The association indorsed the plan for the National Department of 

 Agriculture to act as a central bureau for the promotion of institute 

 work, to assist it in organization, by publications, and in various ways. 

 An account of the meeting will be given in the next number of the 



At various stages of the meetings the discussion turned on the per- 

 sonnel of the institute force — the kind of men best adapted to the 

 work and those available. At the present time this is probably one of 

 the most important problems. Success in farmers' institute work 

 requires a special order of ability. It is undoubtedly one of the most 

 difficult forms of educational work, calling for intimate knowledge of 

 both theory and practice, abilit}' to command the attention of farmers 

 and to present a su})ject with clearness and force, and the exercise of 

 originality, fiankness, and tact. The piactical and the scientific or 

 theoretical must be blended so thoroughly as to appeal to the unread 

 farmer without repelling his better-posted neighbor, and, al)ove all, 

 the institute should set the average farmer to reading and thinking 

 more for himself. 



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