THE farmers' institute. 57 



educated, eitlier are or rapidly become fairly well versed in 

 elementary agricultural science, and are able to solve most 

 questions of that kind that arise. 



On the Pacific Coast, however, where the institute season 

 extends over most of the year, and in most states where the 

 system is new, the conductors of institutes are usually of the 

 university staff, who get away from their college duties for a 

 few days at a time for this work. At such institutes the 

 strong feature is apt to be popular presentations of agricultural 

 science, with an effort thereafter to draw out the practical 

 experience of those present, for comparison with the general 

 doctrines advanced. At first thought the latter form would 

 seem more desirable, and the tendency is to regret that the 

 number of university instructors must always be too small 

 to do any great part of the work whenever the demand calls 

 for a large number of institutes. I am inclined, however, 

 although I have never attended institutes where the university 

 work was not the prominent feature, to believe that-the best 

 results are secured by non-professional instructo"s. In the 

 first place, they are pretty sure not to talk over the heads of 

 their hearers, which, with all their care not to do so, university 

 professors are not always able to avoid. The set lectures are 

 more apt to deal with details with which all present are per- 

 sonally familiar, and, therefore, more readily draw out discus- 

 sion from local men, which after all is the chief end of the 

 institute. There is less shyness in asking questions as to 

 detail of some one who is known as a successful farmer, than 

 in cross-questioning a "i)rofessor" on statements of general 

 principles. There is also the general prejudice of farmers 

 against " theorists," by which they mean all persons who do not 

 live by manual labor on the farm, and yet presume to discuss 

 agricultural questions; and this prejudice although unfounded 

 and irrational, must be taken into account in estimating 

 probable results. It therefore seems probable that the best 

 results in institute work will usually be achieved by non- 

 professional, but competent, lecturers when those can be had. 

 Here, however, lies a difficulty. At the beginning they are 

 seldom to be had at all. The best farmers are apt to be busy 



