ELEVENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART XI 645 



of the bulletins as issued, and study their contents carefully. The farmer 

 of the future is not going to be contented with the methods of his 

 forebears, and I just sound a note of warning here to the young man 

 who contemplates agriculture as his life work, if you neglect these great 

 opportunities and fail to study these plain lessons, you will not be tol- 

 erated among the ranks of the coming farmer, no more than will the 

 botch carpenter, blacksmith, mason, or other skilled workman be tol- 

 erated among those who have fitted themselves to be leaders and teachers 

 among their kind. We live in a progressive age, and the farmer who 

 does not understand crop rotation, who does not understand the select- 

 ing and raising of better seed, who does not understand the method of 

 feeding and breeding better stock, will not be able to compete with his 

 more progressive neighbor. 



Illinois is forging to the front along the lines of improved methods, 

 and if we go to sleep she will outstrip us in the race. The agricultural 

 college, of that state is sending out special trolley cars under the super- 

 vision of the professors in the extension department. This train will 

 have the cooperation of the county superintendents, and the superinten- 

 dent of the county through which the train is traveling will be one of the 

 party of instructors. At the different points visited talks and demonstra- 

 tions will be given, and each subject handled will be in the hands of an 

 expert in that particular line. He will be provided with samples and 

 equipment to illustrate the real thing, which will add to the importance 

 of the lectures. This train is being operated for the benefit of the children 

 of the rural schools. 



Now, if we cannot have a train, with speakers from our agricultural 

 college, visit the rural schools of our county, why can we not have com- 

 munity clubs — Granges, if you please — where we can meet for social 

 functions. Our annual fall meeting should be broadened in its social 

 aspects, and I urge upon the women of this community the importance of 

 allying themselves with the work, especially along the lines of domestic 

 science, civic beauty, cookery, and other departments of work. There is 

 a great work for the mothers in this farmers' institute movement. Too 

 many young girls are growing up who have too much nonsense in their 

 heads and too little practical, hard, common sense to become the mothers 

 and teachers of the coming generations, and it is time steps were taken 

 to interest them in other subjects. "We should organize for effective 

 work along every line that offers an opportunity for an uplift, and I believe 

 there is no more effective way to accomplish great work than to organize 

 community clubs, auxiliary to this institute, and spend as much time 

 as possible in studying methods by which we can make the fall meeting 

 one of the most notable and helpful events in the year. We need to in- 

 terest the young folks in this work, and nothing will be more potent for 

 good than a social organization where the young folks can assemble at 

 frequent intervals and enjoy a real "play spell." Yqu will be surprised 

 how much fun they will get out of it, and how much good they will do 

 you. Once you get the young folks thoroughly interested, you will be 

 again surprised at the real talent you have in your neighborhood that is 



