The Green Forest tribune., 1914-10-23
OUR WEEKLY LETTER
 FROM JOHN H. PAGE
Interesting Letters for
 the Farmers
ALL PARTS OF THE FARM WILL BE DISCUSSED IN THESE
 INSTRUCTIVE LETTERS

on in Arkansas under the direc- tion of the Agriculture Depart ment at Washington. Most of the counties have had one of the local County Agents at one time or another during this time, and thus the people have been able to learn the nature of the work. A great many farmers have cul- tivated crops under the direction of these agents and have profit ed by it. A great many have misunderstood the work, and were led to believe that the plan was for the local demonstration agent to visit the farmers and teach them how to farm, accord ing to the idea of the local dem- onstrator. AS l understand it this is not the case, but on the other hand the agent explains in detail the improved methods of the Department of Agriculture in seed selection, land prepara- tion, planting and cultivation, and will undertake to visit the farm of any farmer who will agree to cultivate a certain portion of his crop accordingly, these visits to be frequent enough to meet all emergencies and give all infor- nation that may be required about the government methods. In addition the agent supplies bulletins and procures any infor- mation and service from the government that is available, and gives his services free to those who undertake to try out new methods of new crops. The government plan is not one of experiment, but the result of many experiments made by the government in many parts of the United States.
 There is always questi on in the minds of some whether the government methods will produce better yields for less labor and cost than individual methods. Sometimes they do not, for some of the individual farmers have as good methods as the govern ment, or at least produce as good results. But when compared with the average, there is shown to be an absolute positive increase under the government methods. To illustrate this more forcibly I will refer to the result of the de- monstrrtion work in this State in 1913. More than 1900 men tried the demonstration work in 1913. They cultivate about 13, ,OOO acres of corn, that made an average yield of 35 bushels per acre; and about 10000 acres of cotton that made an average of 1048 pounds of seed cotton per acre. These demonstrations were made in all parts of Arkansas, on all kinds of land and under all of the different prevailing weather con- ditions. The government crop statistics for Arkansas for 1913 show that the average yield of corn was 20 bushels per acre, and 583 pounds of seed cotton per acre, or a difference of 15 bushels of corn per acre and of 465 pounds of seed cotton per acre. These figures make their own argument.
 know personally all of the County Agents. I never met a more faithful and earnest set of workers. 1 do not know what they have done this year, but I feel that each one has done his best, and will continue to do so if you will keep him in the work. The farmers can derive great benefit from the demonstration work and l hope to see the work continued in all the counties that have it, and to see it extended to others. Continue the good work and cooperate with the local agent. He is good agricultural