4 BULLETIN 83, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



initiative vitality and capacity for service to the great body of farm- 

 ers that no other institution for agricultural improvement in this 

 country can boast. 



ADMINISTRATIVE METHODS. 



During the past year a request was sent out to the State farmers' 

 institute directors for complete sets of their forms in use in conduct- 

 ing their work — for copies of their instructions to their lecturers and 

 local representatives, advertising posters, postal-card notices, etc., as 

 well as forms of reports by the local managers and institute lecturers 

 on the progress of the work. 



There was a very general response to the request. As was to be 

 expected, the methods in use in conducting the work varied in the 

 several States. Where the States were small and all localities easily 

 reached the methods were extremely simple. Where, on the other 

 hand, the States were large and the work correspondingly extended 

 the administrative methods were more elaborate. 



An examination of these reports would seem to show that the fol- 

 lowing facts underlying all institute work should be recognized in 

 planning for conducting it : 



(1) That all local people should be fully informed as to the places, 

 dates, and character of the institutes to be held in their community, 

 and that this information should be given widely enough and far 

 enough in advance to enable proper preparations to be made for 

 holding the meeting successfully. 



(2) That it is due those furnishing the funds for institute support, 

 whether derived from private or public sources, that the general 

 public, in whose interest the money is given, should have opportu- 

 nity to enjoy the advantages of the institute. In order to do this, 

 the institute must be thoroughly and effectively advertised. 



(3) That this advertising can not be left to chance, but must be 

 systematically undertaken and be prosecuted by individuals directly 

 interested if the meetings are to be a success from the point of view 

 of attendance. 



(4) That in order that the State institute director may be informed 

 as to the progress of the work, reports upon the following items are 

 necessary: On attendance, interest manifested, officers selected, ex- 

 pense of conducting the work, plans for the ensuing year, the capa- 

 bility and acceptability of the lecturers, the capability of the pre- 

 siding officer, the names of influential local people in attendance, 

 subjects discussed, results obtained, amounts contributed by local 

 people, as well as amounts received from other sources. 



(5) Detailed information is also needed respecting instruction 

 trains run, movable schools held, round-up institutes, independent 

 institutes, schools aided, local assistance rendered, demonstrations 

 conducted, special institutes, etc. ■ 



