102 CHAPTERS IN RURAL PROGRESS 



iy- form of agricultural education has contributed 

 in a remarkable degree to better farming. The 

 best methods of farming have been advocated 

 from the institute platform. Agricultural col- 

 lege professors, and agricultural experimenters 

 have talked of the relations of science to prac- 

 tical farming. The farmers have come to de- 

 pend upon the institute as a means for gaining 

 up-to-date information. 



And if institutes have informed, they have also 

 done what is still better — they have inspired. 

 They have gone into many a dormant farm com- 

 munity and awakened the whole neighborhood 

 to a quicker life. They have started discussions, 

 set men thinking, brought in a breath of fresh 

 air. They have given to many a farmer an 

 opportunity for self-development as a ready 

 speaker. 



Other educational agencies, such as the agri- 

 cultural colleges and experiment stations, have 

 profited by institutes. No one thing has done 

 more than the institutes to popularize agricul- 

 tural education, to stir up interest in the col- 

 leges, to make the farmers feel in touch with the 

 scientists. 



Farmers' institutes are a phase of university ex- 

 tension, and it is as a part of the extension move- 



T 



