MISCELLANEOUS NEWS 1 7 



Everything connected with these clubs is eminently practical ; for the 

 pupils do not in this way derive a merely theoretical knowledge of agriculture, 

 but are brought into direct and immediate contact with it. Besides, as 

 regards the organization of the clubs and fairs, the scholars, are left the 

 greatest liberty of action, so that they may early develop such qualities 

 as may prepare them for future difficulties. 



The clubs are also an excellent means for combating rural exodus. 

 When the children have already obtained good results from their farm 

 work, they are less Hkely to abandon the country to try their fortune in 

 the cities. They, finally, will be a potent influence for technical improvement 

 of agricultural systems; a knowledge of new methods, new seeds, new 

 breeds of livestock, of which it is improbable trial would otherwise be made, 

 is diffused in the country by the authorities through these clubs. Older 

 farmers, considering with sympathy the attempts and successes of these 

 children, have more than once profited bj' their experience. 



3. MISCKIylvANEOUS NEWS. 



Recent work of the women's institutes. — Although we have 

 already once before dealt with the Canadian Women's Institutes in this 

 Bulletin (i), it will be well to give some further particulars with regard to 

 them, especially as in our former article we were only concerned with the 

 Province of Ontario. And also these Women's Institutes — the very name 

 indicates their eminently educational object — have powerfully contributed 

 to improve the position of the Canadian farmwomen, while also 

 raising their intellectual level, and therefore justify the interest they 

 have aroused, even beyond the limits of the country in which thej' had their 

 origin. They have been copied with excellent results, especially in the 

 United vStates, where similar associations have arisen and have made 

 abundant progress (2). 



For the internal organization of the Canadian " Women's Institutes", 

 we refer our readers to the article above mentioned. 



(r) See our number for May, 191 3. 

 (2) See our number for April, 1912 



