TEACHING AND INFORMATION GIVING 41 



that a true demonstration calls for proof and not merely 

 illustration. 



The material which is demonstrable and therefore ready 

 for the county agents' use may be drawn from several 

 sources: (1) What the federal Department of Agricul- 

 ture may have learned through its research work, (2) 

 what the state experiment stations know to be the truth, 

 (3) what the best farmers have proved by their own suc- 

 cessful experience to be good practice in their own locali- 

 ties, and (4) facts which county agents and specialists 

 may themselves gather by survey or other means in their 

 travels and visitations among farmers throughout their 

 counties or states. The experience of farmers often gath- 

 ered by definite surveys may be quite as important as the 

 results of scientific research. The chief difficulty in the 

 use of the experience of farmers usually lies in its lack 

 of definiteness or exactness of statement and in the ab- 

 sence of the proof of its truth. 



WHAT CONSTITUTES A GOOD DEMONSTRATION 



A good demonstration from the point of view of exten- 

 sion workers in agriculture is characterized by several im- 

 portant qualifications. It should (1) be well chosen as to 

 need and importance, (2) be applicable to the needs of the 

 community, (3) be convincing, and (4) reach as many 

 people as possible. An example of such a demonstration 

 is the growing of a good field of alfalfa in a dairy region 

 where little is grown and where much concentrated feed 

 is bought. It should be located on a main highway and 

 be plainly marked so as to show how it was obtained and 

 at what cost. It would probably be desirable also to hold 

 a "demonstration meeting " of the farmers of the neigh- 

 borhood on the field at or just before cutting time, when 



