102 CHAPTERS IN RURAL PROGRESS 



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- 



