The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1912-02-22
Demonstration FARM
WORK IN TENNESSEE

Washington, d. c., Jan. 2l.- -Secre-
tary Wilson has received the following
report from the farm demonstration
agent of the department in Tennessee:
During the past year, eight demon,
stration agents have conducted total
of 155 demonstration farms. These
were divided as follows: ll6 cotton
demonstrations and y corn. Some
farmers conducted both cotton and
corn demonstrations, while others
conducted only cotton or corn, as the
case might be.
The interest shown by the farmers
has grown and we find the farmers
appreciating the work that is now be-
ing done. The demonstration work,
however, was not we'll understood at
the beginning of this year and we
necessarily had TO overcome good
many wrong impressions about this
work. During the past season we had
some thirty-two demonstration field
meetings with total attendance of
750 farmers At these field meetings
general instructions were outlined as
to the preparation of the soil, cultiva-
tion of the cropo, ETC., and neighboring
farmers in some instances were enlist
ed as co-operaters.
We have received reports up to the
present day of 103 of the cotton demon
stration farms and Il of the Y corn
demonstration farms. The general
average for cotton is 100 per cent. over
and above that of ordinary land near
by with the old methods of cultiva-
tion. The general increase in the corn
cropi is about so per ceut The largest
yield of corn that was made on sim
gle demonstration farm was 116 bushels
and the largest yield of cotton was
3,050 pounds of seed cotton per acre.
The greatest progress that has been
noticed in Tennessee aside from the
actual results, has been the attitude of
the farmer himself. Last winter the
farmers did not take readily to the
demonstration work, and thought it
was mainly theory that could not be
put into practice, but their point OF
view has been changed because of the
fact of the large increase in yields over
those of the ordinary methods of cul-
tivating crops and in those counties
where we have denomination work,
we have several times a. many appli-
cants for demonstration farms as we
are able TO accept, when in fact year
ago it was difficult matter TO secure
euough demonstrators to keep an
agent busy. Besides, the size Of the
demonstration farms this year was
comparatively small, though we have
some demonstrators who cultivated as |
many as 20 acres of corn with an aver
age yield of from 45 to so bushels per
acre.
1t has been thought in the past that
the farmers were very indifferent and |
could not be persuaded to change their
method of farming, but do not find |
them so. The average farmer does not
get in hurry about adopting methods
entirely different from those he has al
ways practiced, but when once shown
that by adopting the Improved
methods of farming, his yields can
actually be increased 100 per cent. and
more, he will adhere to advice. 1t is
necessary, however, to prove the re-
suits in the field.
The general outlook for the demon
stration work in Tennessee during the
coming year has much brighter
prospect than it bad year ago. We
now have twelve men at work in West
Tennessee and one located in Middle |
Tennessee besides one state agent If
the department is able TO carry out the
present plans, it expects to have $50 or
400 demonstration farms in Tennessee
in 1912. The interest is growing in the
boys demonstrations also and num-
Der of boys corn clubs are being or
ganized.
The best that can be said as to the
progress of the demonstration work in
Tennessee is that il has been uniform
ly satisfactory in the increase in yields
over the land nearby with ordinary
and a gro wing interest ex-
lists among the farmers in those Sec
tions where we have conducted demon
stration work.