i»;. r ) 
The man who is forming to-day is beyond such gentle influence. With each most 
promising work may be done through cooperative experimentation. The number of 
instances where knowledge of improved methods now rest stored bevond the reach 
of the average intellectual inerl farmer is manifold. It was to test the efficiency of 
cooperative experimentation as a means of \\ holesale demonstration that experiments 
were initiated two years ago in North Carolina with the oat-smut treatment I out- 
line the method of conducting these experiments, realizing that human nature is a 
reasonable constant quantity, and with the hope that my experience may be of use 
to others working along similar lines. 
In selecting observers t<> cooperate with me for the year idol'-:; the following plan 
was adopted: First, the names of a large number of influential, reliable farmers were 
secured through the director of the station ancLother sources. Letters were sent to 
these inquiring whether they were troubled with the oat smut and offering to fuY- 
Dish directions and materials for treatment of their oat fields, if they desired. If no 
answer was received to this letter a second letter was sent on the loth of October. 
In this letter attention was called to the serious inroads and the insidious nature of 
the oat smut, and a circular was sent giving directions for the treatment. The chief 
object of this letter was to call attention to the seriousness of the disease and the ease 
of its prevention. In response to these letters 51 people, scattered overthe state, 
responded, requesting the material for the smut treatment. To these 51. formalin 
varying in quantity from 1 to 7 ounces was supplied, and circulars giving full direc- 
tions for the treatment were also sent. In February a third letter containing a self- 
addressed postal card was sent with the request that the experimenter signify the 
probable time of his harvest. At this time it was the hope of the writer to make a 
visit to as many of the fields as was feasible. A fourth letter was sent out in April 
to those who did not respond to the third letter. The replies elicited by these third 
and fourth letters numbered 36 out of the possible 51. They were in every case cor- 
dial and expressed the hearty cooperation of the worker. 
The year, however, was exceedingly unfortunate Owing to the attacks of the Hessian 
fly ami the rust. In many cases the crop was not worth harvesting and in man} cases 
the observers stated that the growth was so poor that they could not report at all 
upon the results. The fact that the year was so unfortunate may account for the 
falling <'ff from fifty-one to thirty-six in the number of correspondents. 
Later in the season a fifth letter was sent giving explicit directions for the record- 
ing of the results and inclosing a blank on which to record them. Fifteen observers 
responded more or less in detail on this blank. Some of the letters received showed 
extremely well-trained powers of observation and accuracy of recording, others were 
very meager indeed, while several were valueless on account of the failure of the crop. 
Further study of the problem convinced me that more satisfactory and extensive 
work might be accomplished through the aid of the country schools. During the 
past year, at farmers' institutes and country teachers' institutes and at many country 
meetings, I have taken the names of all people who might be interested in the pre- 
vention of oat or wheat smuts, and have offered in every case to furnish 1 ounce of 
formalin, sufficient for approximately 2 acres of oats, gratis, if the recipient would 
see that this formalin was administered under the supervision of the district school 
and was used to present an object lesson to the school. In order to be sure that 
interest was not lagging and that the teachers were still willing to abide by this 
agreement, I directed a letter to all of these people early in the fall, calling their 
attention to the fact that I expected of them a full and accurate report, and that they 
were to use the formalin before their schools, and that the whole school was to take 
part in making the experiment and recording the results. J also sent a letter to all 
of the county superintendents permitting them to extend this offer to all their teach- 
ers. In this way 2(ih' letters have been sent, and 45 replies requesting formalin have 
been received. Many others will doubtless be heard from as the schools have not 
yet all opened, and many do not sow - until spring. 
It is of course too early yet to state what results may come through the aid of the 
schools. Whether the results rep >rted are accurate or not, it is practically certain that 
the formalin treatment in this way will be brought before a large number of people, 
and that it will find people, possibly in a more receptive mood than do the bulletins 
or the farmers' institutes. 
At a cost of less than 15 cents, 2 acres of oats are treated in a given school district 
The attention of all the pupils, and therefore all the residents of the district, is called 
to the experiment, lender the guidance of the teacher, and with the experiment 
conducted under the auspices of one of the leading farmers of the district, the success 
of the treatment can not fail to attract the attention of all the district and should 
tend to a saving of the crop now lost through smut, which for the year 1809 
amounted to about S247,000. 
