Morris tribune., 1906-12-15
FARr1ERS' INSTITUTES.
Wallaces' Farmer Gives Timely and
Valuable Suggestions.

Valuable Suggestions.
| The institute committees are now
making up their programs for the sea-
| son and we venture to make some
suggestions based on pretty large
experience in attending Institutes in
Iowa and adjoining states for the past
ten years.
| One of the most serious mistakes
that committees make is not having
the institute properly advertised and
not having the hall comfortably heat
ed and we'll lighted. Farmers are not
likely to attend Institutes unless they
know exactly when and where they
are to be held, nor can they give close
attention when the room is not COM
fortably warm. A very little attention
given by the proper parties will secure
these favorable and desirable condi-
tons. In order to secure this adver-
Using and the support of the towns
people at all meetings in which they
are interested, it is important to
secure the cooperation of the editors
of local papers. The great bulk of the
patronage of these papers comes from
the farmers and the interests of the
papers themselves as we'll as of the
managers of the institute should lead
them to give good deal of free adj
vertising, showing their entire sym
pathy with agricultural Improvement
and advancement.
| Another serious mistake which in
stituUe managers make is in having
too full a program; that is, program
covering too many subjects. The time
given TO discussion of papersEshould
be at least two or three times the
length of time required for the sread-
ing Of the paper, sometimes more.
The real value of any paper lies in
the discussion which 1t elicits. This
fixes the main points in the minds of
the audience and enlists their closest
attention Better have one subject
thoroughly discussed at session than
to have the time wholly occupied in
reading papers on different subjects,
no matter how carefully prepared
they may be.
Again, we think that many man
ayers make mistake in depending
too much on speakers from abroad.
One, or at the most two, is all that is
really necessary and they should have
subjects which interest the farmers
not theoretical but intensely practical.
Most Of the papers should be written
by farmers in the neighborhood and
on subjects in which they have mani
tested unusual intelligence and skill.
These papers should be short and
bristling with points so as to elicit
discussion. The same is true with
regard to addresses by lecturers from
abroad. The main object of all this
institute work is to awaken the at
tention of those present and start
them to thinking for themselves. They
are not buckets into which information
can be poured like water Or milk. I'm
less their own gray matter is set
working, the information given,
whether by speakers from home Or
abroad, is of comparatively little
value. The greatest teacher IN any
line is the man who sets the student
to thinking clearly and correctly.
Another grave defectin many insti-
tutes is in not giving the women their
full share of the time. IF you get the
| best farmers wives to attend an in
stitute, you will get the girls; and il
you get the girls, you cannot very
we'll keep the boys away; and it is
the boys that should be found at insti-
tutes. Better a dozen bright, farm
| boys than hundred retired farmers
who may attend only to kill time,
| This may be roundabout way of
getting at the matter; but, at any rate
we have never yet sem an institute
that was failure where the women
| had their fair share of the discussion.
Besides, affairs that particularly in
terest women are quite as important
as those that particularly interest the
men. How can farmer do good
work unless he is made comfortable
| in his home by good cooking and