KEPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT. 



Pi-esidciit J. L. Snyder: 



I submit, below, a report of the Fanners' Institutes for tJie season of 

 11«H-()l!. There will be othei* one-day institutes carried on before June 

 80, ]{)()2, but it seems wise to issue now a report of the Eound-up Institute 

 and a statement of fhe attendance at the county and one-day meetings to 

 date. 



This report ^\■ill include, first, a full rei)ort of the State Kound-up Insti- 

 tute, and, later, statistics as to the work done in the several counties. 



No radical changes have been made in methods. The speakers have 

 been chosen from the college faculty, from successful farmers who can at 

 the same time present iheir ideas in coherent form and in language that 

 is readily understood, from the faculty of the University', from the faculty 

 of the State Normal Schools and from the several dej^artments of the 

 State government. In nearly every case the speakers sent out have given 

 satisfaction. In some cases there have been occasion for just criticism 

 because the s]>eakei-s were unable to answer technical questions or in 

 their addresses oi" answers to (juestions have exhibited a lack of perfect 

 knowledge of scientitlc questions involved. Ha})i)ily, these occurrences 

 have been few. and in the main the work done by the s])eakers has been 

 eminently satisfactory. It has occurred to me, however, that it would 

 be well in the future to insist upon some systematic reading on the part 

 of the speakers who are to take part in the programs. For instance, if a 

 man is to sjieak on soils and crops he should Inive liecome acciuainted with 

 several of the best text books on these subjects, text books which bear in 

 condensed form the exj)eriences of the best thinkers, ]>ractical farmers. 

 The same way in fruit and live stock lines. It is hardly safe to send men 

 to instruct fanners who are not conversant with what is written on the 

 topics which they ])resent. It is to be regretted tliat the l>urdQ*i of the 

 work heaped upon the faculty of the college prevents its members from 

 taking a more active part in this branch of the college extension work. 

 There is demand for our men, and frequent journeys into the different 

 parts of the State and intimate contact with the people cannot fail to 

 benefit both the institution and the farmers. 



I wish to speak in terms of highest commendation of the work of the 

 county officers. No one not intimately associated with the institute move- 

 ment as carried forward in this State can appreciate the amount of work 

 the county secretary, especially, and his associates are called upon to per- 

 form. Much of the institute work is still distinctly missionary work. We 

 are carrying knowledge to many peojde whose hunger after knowledge 



