EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Vol;. XV. September, 1!)(>3. No. 1. 



The place of the fanners' institute among the agencies for the 

 advancement of agricultufe and the assistance of the farmer becomes 

 better defined over}' yeav. The results have stamped it as a highl^^ 

 important factor. Experience is demonstrating- its proper tiold and 

 scope and establishing its relations to the other agencies in the system, 

 and its special mission and the means of accomplishing it are becoming 

 clearer. 



Like all movements of its kind, it has had to pass through an exper- 

 imental period, ni which it has been alternately a social gathering, a 

 political rail}', a lyceum, and a lecture course. It is now in a most 

 important stage of its development, in wliich it is taking on more defi- 

 nite and logical form and being considered in its relations to other 

 agencies for the moral and material uplifting of farm life. 



The meeting of the farmers' institute workers at Toronto this year 

 is a good illustration of the earnestness with which some of the funda- 

 mental problems relating to it are being considered, and of the change 

 of sentiment which is taking place in the minds of man}- of the leaders 

 in this work. Questions invohing the future development of the 

 work, of organization, and of providing a corps of trained institute 

 specialists occupied a prominent place in the deliberations. The pre- 

 dominating sentiments and the approval with which they were received 

 show a deeper conception of the purpose and possibilities of this work. 



The president of the association, Prof. W. C. Latta, emphasized 

 the high aun and purpose of the institute work in his annual address. 

 He said: ""The farmers' institute should be something more than a 

 means of making agriculture more profitable. It should be made the 

 means of uplifting the people morally and socially. To tell how to 

 earn a dollar is a good thing, but to instruct in the wise use of the 

 dollar when earned is better. The institute should be made the means 

 of forever ])anishing the farmer's low estimate of himself and his 

 calling, and be made the means of ridding farmers of the petty jeal- 

 ousies and suspicions which prev(Mit them from intelligently cooper- 

 ating with each other for nuitual protection and advancement." 



In other words, it should strive not only to increase the productive- 

 ness and qualit}' of the staple products, ])ut to elevate the id(>als of 



