1110 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



Convention op Fakjieks' Institute Workers. — The American Association of 

 Farmers' Institute Workers held a three-day session in Washington, D. C, June 

 24-26. About 70 members were present, including representatives from Canada and 

 nearly all parts of the United States. Assistant Secretary J. H. Brigham, of this 

 Department, delivered the address of welcome. 



The annual address of the president of the As.sociatioii, W. L. Amoss, dealt with 

 the purposes of the convention, the improvement and possible unification of 

 methods, and the general progress of farmers' institute work. Following his address 

 five-minute reports ))y the different members were presented, showing the work of 

 the various States and provinces during the jireceding year along farmers' institute 

 lines. 



During one of the evening sessions of the association, Secretary Wilson delivered 

 an address on the work of the U. S. Department of Agriculture and its relation to 

 agricultural education, especially as calling attention to the need of it. Secretary 

 Wilson insisted that agricultural education must begin with the child. He com- 

 mended the plan observed in Missouri of summer meetings in which many teachers 

 were given instruction in agriculture at the college. 



W. J. Spillman spoke on The farmers' institute worker and his methods. One of 

 the essentials of an institute worker is that he be practical. It is not necessary, 

 however, that he be a worker on the farm. The best man to send out in the begin- 

 ning is a scientific man who is practical. Ability is worth more than experience. 

 In the discussion of this subject, Mr. G. McKerrow stated that in Wisconsin they 

 wanted a man that stood high morally in the community and who stood out promi- 

 nently as the best corn, potato, or clover grower, or the best breeder, dairyman, or 

 all-around farmer. Wisconsin also required that its institute workers keep in close 

 touch with the work of the experiment stations and of this Department. Extensive 

 use is made in that State of charts showing good forms of farm animals, buildings, and 

 appliances, and models of these when possible. More can be taught in a few minutes 

 from an object lesson than from a long talk. Feeding and fertilizer charts are also 

 used. Prizes are offered at many of the institutes for certain farm products and these 

 judged and criticised in the presence of the audience. Hon. John Hamilton stated 

 that in Pennsylvania their ideal corps of institute workers consisted of (1) a good all- 

 around scientific and practical man, (2) a man who thoroughly understood the scien- 

 tific side of agriculture, and (3) a successful practical farmer of high moral standing 

 actually engaged in farming. 



In presenting the subject of the farmers' institute as a factor in creating a desire for 

 an agricultural education, Hon. John Hamilton, of Pennsylvania, stated that the need 

 of such an institution must first be felt. Farmers' institutes can help in creating this 

 desire by securing institute workers Avho are superior to the audience in the things 

 they discuss. Thej' must then present superior matter in a sujjerior way. It was 

 urged that abstracts of the latest bulletins should be read at farmers' institutes, and 

 farmers encouraged to write for these publications. The great need of the i^resent is 

 to create a desire in the child for agricultural education. 



Dr. E. B. Voorhees discussed the farmers' institute as a promoter of closer intimacy 

 between farmers and experiment stations. He brought out the point that station 

 work must be practical in order to inspire confidence in the farmer. Larger j^lats 

 must be used— large enough to be called a crop. Station workers also often get ideas 

 as to lines of work to follow at farmers' institutes. 



Director A. C. True, of the Oftice of Experiment Stations, discussed the subject of 

 the farmers' institute as a medium for developing the mutual interests and relations 

 of farmers and the U. S. Department of Agriculture. Doctor True urged the neces- 

 sity of a permanent organization in this Department whose purj^ose should be to 

 work to secure a more thorough organization of the farmers' institutes in the States 

 and- Territories and of the pi-esent association of farmers' institute workers, so that it 



