FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 127 



of our farmers. We asked ourselves what can the college do to help the 

 older bojs and their fathers who cannot go to college? Must we wait 

 for the college graduates to take the lead in better farming? To solve this 

 question we started co-operative experiments. These as you know are 

 experiments conducted by the farmers themselves, under the direction of 

 the college. We are very careful that these experiments shall be along 

 the lines of great practical use. At first we had only 12 of these experi- 

 ments. Today we have in Ontario 7,000 young men who are conducting 

 co-operative experiments in connection with the agricultural college. We 

 have the advantage of possessing a man peculiarly qualified to direct 

 this work in the person of Prof. Zavitz, who keeps close track of all his 

 7,000 boys. You can readily see the value of these experiments. You will 

 agree with me that the difference between the average crop that the farmer 

 grows and the possible crop is too great. I doubt if it is too much to say 

 that the average crop is only half of what it ought to be. What is the 

 trouble? Prof. Zavitz says that for one thing we do not select our seed 

 carefully enough. Some farmers sow^ screenings, and only a few select 

 seed with care. In fact I believe no class of people allow as many chances 

 to get aAvay from them as the farmers do. Of course, you cannot figure 

 out the cost of production as exactly as the manufacturer can, but that 

 is all the more reason why you should master general principles and so 

 take advantage of the small but important points. These co-operative 

 experiments are destined to teach our young farmers not only better 

 methods but also the value of studying their business carefully. 



FARMERS^ INSTITUTES. 



I had modestly left this to the last because the management of this 

 work is my particular business just now in Ontario. We try to make 

 the institute work a more extensive work than is done by the other asso- 

 ciations I have named. We try thus to put on the cap sheaf to the other 

 associations. This year we held 800 meetings and had an attendance of 

 140,000 people. Our meetings are mostly one-day institutes and we carry 

 them into every nook and corner of the province. We are especially 

 anxious to reach the farmers in the back districts and the farmer that 

 is non-progressive. Our institute societies charge a membership fee of 

 twenty-five cents per year and we have this year 20,000 paid members. 

 Each member is entitled to the printed reports of all these associations 

 which I have named. These reports are printed by the government and 

 comprise about sixteen volumes a year. These are mailed free to members 

 of the institute societies who are paid up, and only to such members, so 

 our people are coming to feel, as you will see by this large membership, 

 that to keep abreast of the times they must read more, observe closer and 

 think harder. 



In closing permit me to thank you heartily for your cordial attention 

 and your apparent interest in the work Canada is trying to do for her 

 farmers. 



