St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1909-05-22
SOURCE OF INFORMATION
Thrss Hundred and Thlriy.Flys Travelling
Agents and InspsetoFs Engaged ID the
W0Pk-~Was First COmmsneed ID 1908.
METHODS N OBJECTS.

Government control was established
at Terrell, Texas, on the farm Of w.
c. Porter, and was visited By many
of the reliable farmers and BUSINESS
men of that section. Such was it's
success that several thousand such
farms were established in 1904 in
the State Of Texas, and . few in
Western Louisiana. From that date
the work has expanded By reason Of
its uniform success in increasing
production per acre, and decreasing
the net cost of cotton per pound, and
corn per bushel until it now covers
a large portion Of eleven states: the
Atlantic States south of Maryland,
the Gulf States, and two interior
States, Arkansas and Oklahoma.
In 1909 the Demonstration and
Cooperating Farms, under our in
struction, will probably exceed fifty
thousand. Our methods have COM
mended themselves SO fully to obser-
wing people that additional commune
ties have demanded the work more
rapidly than We could secure Agents,
and means to pay them.
In the past two years it has been
orr main effort to retard the extern
sion and intensity the work in the
sections where commenced. In this
We have been only partially success
full.
The object Of the Demonstration
Work is to promote good farming,
which always has il view the best
results, with the largest net profits,
without depicting the soil. Whether
the work is for the best in
terests of the farmers, must be
judged By the results.
It may be of interest to know how
our instructions are prepared.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION.
/. Many thousand Demonstration
Farms, representing all the varieties
Of soil and the climatic conditions in
the territory worked. These farms
are owned and managed BY reliable
farmers, who report all material
facts about crop production. They
are visited monthly by our Special
Agents, and written reports made By
them to the central Office. At the
close Of the season a detailed report
Of the Demonstration Farms is made.
In this large list Of farmers are
many Of broad education, with spe-
cial training in the sciences Of Id
schools Of agriculture. They have
been very successful il their farm
operations.
Their reports cover all essential
details Of preparation of soil, seed,
fertilizers, cultivation and costs in
production Of standard crops.
2. The Demonstration Work has
325 travelling Agents and Inspectors.
All of them are practical Southern
farmers, and most Of them owners
Of farms, on which they have proven
the success Of The Farmers Cooper
alive Demonstration methods. This
force is thoroughly organized and
supervised by District and State
Agents. Agents are appointed be-
cause Of their knowledge of farming.
their high character, and their sue
cessfuI work.
8. In the central Office at Washing
ton, every man in charge of any Of
the field operations, or Who has any
voice in shaping the instruction Of
the work is q practical Southern
farmer.
A. A complete file Of all the Bul-
letins issued BY the State Experiment
Stations is kept in our Office, and it
is the duty Of our men to be-
thoroughly posted as to what they
have proven.
The published researches Of ths
States Department Of Agri
culture are available, and With for
Investigations are studied so
far as they bear upon our work.
D. From this mass of information
our Instructions are compiled, and
reviewed with care at the annual
meeting Of the State Agents at
Washington il September.
S. No other body il the world IS
ID touch with sO MANY Unnd farmers