FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 193 



State Teachers' Institutes. As there are about thirty societies, per- 

 haps ten a year would be sufficient, which would give to each society 

 an institute once in three years. Of course I would not suggest all 

 the details usual at a Teachers' Institute, nor anything like the num- 

 ber of lecturers. I would say, let the Secretary of the State Board 

 plan the arrangements for such meeting, and have the charge ; or, 

 in case he could not attend, appoint a substitute. Perhaps one or 

 two lecturers besides the Secretary, or other person having the 

 charge, would be all-sufficient. Have all the farmers of the district 

 who can, come together, and let the sessions be for two, three, or 

 four days, as should be judged best. Let the lectures be on prac- 

 tical topics connected with agriculture and horticulture, but mainly 

 the former ; and following each lecture, let there be the most perfect 

 freedom given to the audience to propose questions to the speaker, 

 and to enter into discussion on the matters presented. To give still 

 greater variety and interest, a part of the sessions might be occupied 

 in discussions upon subjects previously assigned, speakers from 

 among the citizens having been appointed, and others, with the 

 professors, freely participating. Covering the time in these vari- 

 ous ways, sj^iced, occasionally, with music, and graced by the pres- 

 ence of the ladies, if they please to attend, it is believed the farmers 

 would feel a great interest in such gatherings, and could but be 

 greatly profited. All the teaching should be plain as well as prac- 

 tical, the more so the better. 



Our agricultural college is a noble institution, and should receive 

 every needful support and encouragement. It is doing, and will do 

 a good work. But at present, at least, the number of educated far- 

 mers it sends out must be small in comi^arison with the great masses 

 of the people who need light, and it probably can never siipply, fully, 

 that service to the masses which such gatherings as I propose would 

 render. Bringing instruction down to their door-stones, and so in- 

 timately connecting it with their interests, they would feel that the 

 Institute was their own institution, and would prize it all the more 

 for that fact. 



The only objection of any weight to the plan may be the expense. 

 It may be ui-ged that we want to appropriate all we can to the col- 

 lege. Very well. But the expense for this would be trifling com- 

 pared with what we expend on the college. While fifty or a 

 hundred thousand is asked for at a time for the latter, some two, 

 three, or four thousand a year is all that under any circumstances 

 could be needed annually for the former ; while for the present, to say 

 the least, the institutes held as I have suggested, would be far more 

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