St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-31
INSTITUTE METHODS.
Some Hints as 10 the Best Wavs of
Conducting These Educational
GATHERINGS


Gatherings.
/ believe the institute work now being
carried on in several states of the Union
to be of great benefit to the farmer and
full of promise for the future, says an
OHIO correspondent of The Country
Gentleman. As many of your readers
will remember, l assisted for a time
last winter in the institute work in Wis
consin. and for some years have at
tended more or less of these meetings
in Ohio ane Indiana.
About 100 institutes were held last
winter in each of the states of Ohio and
Wisconsin. and smaller number in
several other states.
Mr.. Morrison. the superintendent Of
the work in Wisconsin, is thorough
organizer. and first. by thorough ac
quaintance with the farmers of his
state, learned what they needed, and
such assistants as enabled him 10 sup
ply their needs. Several hundred topics
were discussed, and all the lecturers
were instructed to make their lectures
short and to be ready to answer any
questions the audience might ask. 1t
was very common for one to be kept an
swering questions for half hour after
his lecture was completed. 1t was
easy to
TRAIN AUDIENCES
to ask questions, and know of 20 other
way in which the instruction needed
can be brought out SO well. 1t seems to
me that this should be the method in
every institute, and j suggest not only
to managers and lecturers, but to all
who attend these meetings, that the
more practical questions they ask the
greater benefit they will probably re-
ceive.
While the institutes are now to a GER
tain extent pioneer work. there is evil
dence accommodating that out of them
will grow permanent and self sustaining
organizations, which shall carry on the
work in the future without assistance
from the state. Mr.. Morrison writes
me that already there are 200 applica-
tons in his state for institutes this WIN
ter, and that he expects fully as many
additional meetings will be held as
those regularly assigned by the state
authorities. and that it is his ambition
to continue the work until Wisconsin
shall hold 500 of these meetings each
winter.
In private letter to me he makes a
suggestion which | should like to see
thoroughly discussed in the agricultural
press. 1t is that the money now spent
Tor seed distributed by the agricultural
department at washington be devoted
TO INSTITUTE WORK,
national institute department eStab-
liShed, and band of workers sent to
hold three days meeting in each con-
gresSional district, and that Northern
men be sent South and Southern men
North, so that they may study each
others methods and learn the habits
and ways of the different sections.
Now, hardly approve this suggestion,
for know that the money spent for
seeds is largely wasted. | do not be-
lieve there is eSpectable gardener in
the country who would risk the success
of his garden for a year on the seeds
sent out by the government Seed-Shop.
] do believe that If the money were
spent as suggested it would be pro-
ductive of great good, for we of differ
ent sections need to learn more of each
others methods.
As there will be systematic institute
work the coming winter in several states
where The Country Gentleman circu-
lateS. | wish to Offer some hints as to
how they can be made most profitable.
In every county there should, early i'll
the winter, be an organization formed
for the purpose of cooperating with the
state authorities in helping forward the
work. This may be done by farmers
clubs, or oranges, If any exist in the
county, committee being appointed
consisting of one or more members of
each such organization. If there are no
agricultural organizations, then let a
few
FARMERS MEET
and organize themselves into a commit
tee. First, write to the secretary of
your state board, or whoever has the
institute work in charge. and he will
send You a list of subjects, and may be
able to name the lecturers who will be
sent to you. You ought, however, to
arrange your own programme, for no
one else can tell so well what sub
jectS will be the most profitable for you
to discuss in your locality, and you
ought to adapt the subjects to the wants
of the community. Second, arrange
YOUR business 50 as to be on hand in
good season at the first session of the
institute, and stay and see it through.
1t is often the case that the first session
of an institute is practically failure
because of the want of punctuality, and
while there is but handful in attend
ance the first day, the hall will be
crowded the second. and many who
come and greatly enjoy the exercises
wish that they had been there from the
start. Third, go to the meeting deter
mined to take some part and add your
mite to the general fund of knowledge.
There Is no farmer of years of expert
ence but has learned something which
many OF his neighborS do not know, and
which will be helpful to them. In al
most every community there are expert
enced farmers who stay away from
these meetings because they have an
idea that they
CANNOT LEARN ANYTHING.
They are the very men who ought to
go, for if they have mastered the science
of agriculture they should impart
their knowledge to their neighbors who
are less successful than they. Fourth,
in arranging your programme give Suf-
ticient variety to relieve it of tedious
ness, but keep in mind the agricultural
idea. \ brass band is all right at a po-
litical meeting, but think out of place
at farm gathering. A little vocal mu-
sic will be helpful, and an occasional
spicy selection or recitation will give a
pleasant variety. Avoid putting men
on your programme who have hobbies
to ride. or those whose lectures, while
perhaps good, are unsuited to the
audience. | have heard doctors give
lectures at institutes which would have
been profitable TO convention of pnysi-
clans, but which were unintelligible
and wearisome to an audience of farm
ers. Fifth-Much of the interest and
success of the meeting depend on hav-
ing a good presiding officer. He should
be man with some knowledge of par
liamentary usage, and of quick wit and
sympathy, and with nerve enough to
call speaker to order when he gets off
his base. In the Wisconsin institutes
it has been found the best way for one
of the lecturers from a distance, or the
superintendent, always to preside, as
experience showed that it was not safe