February, '17] CROSBY and LEONARD: FARM BUREAUS AND INSECTS 21 



tices into their business as will prevent the greatest amount of loss 

 from insect attacks. 



Experience has shown that this result cannot be satisfactorily at- 

 tained through the distribution of bulletins, circulars and leaflets, or 

 by means of the popular lecture at farmers' meetings. The bulletin is 

 laid aside and the lecture is soon forgotten. In order to induce farmers 

 to modify their practices, it is necessary to convince them of the prac- 

 ticability and profitableness of such action. In most cases this can- 

 not be done except through local demonstrations. With the small 

 staff available for such work, even in the larger agricultural colleges, 

 such demonstrations must be limited to relatively very few communities 

 in the state. However, by cooperating with the farm bureau manager 

 in each county, the extension worker from the college will be able to. 

 have demonstrations conducted in any community where conditions 

 are such as to make them desirable. Not only does such an arrange- 

 ment greatly increase the number of persons reached, but the college 

 representative can learn much of local conditions and needs through 

 the farm bureau association and its local committees. 



In New York state, the Farm Bureau first of all consists of an or- 

 ganization of farmers joined together so as to act as partners with the 

 College of Agriculture and the United States Department of Agricul- 

 ture for the development of agriculture in their country. This asso- 

 ciation elects an executive committee which, jointly with the College 

 of Agriculture, hires the farm bureau manager and decides along what 

 lines work should be undertaken. In addition to this executive com- 

 mittee, each county has an advisory council composed of one to three 

 association members from each community. It is through the mem- 

 bers (^ this advisory council that the needs of each locality are brought 

 to the attention of the executive committee. Under this method of 

 organization the college extension worker can count on the cooperation 

 not only of the farm bureau manager but also on that of the members 

 of the association and its committees. 



The farm bureau manager is usually a graduate of some agricultural 

 college who, since his graduation, has had several years successful ex- 

 perience in conducting a farm business. He has had thorough training 

 in the fundamental sciences of agriculture and his years of practical 

 experience have tempered his enthusiasm and seasoned his judgment. 

 He has a greater appreciation of the value of scientific work than the 

 farmer, and he usually has a better knowledge than is possessed by the 

 college extension worker of the difficulties and limitations experienced 

 in attempting to incorporate the results of scientific investigation into 

 a system of farm practice. He functions as a differential between the 

 scientific wheel that tends to run too fast and the practical wheel that 

 is inclined to go too slowly. 



