The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-01-23
Federal Agricultural
Expert Discussed
County Demonstration
Supt. J. Z. Mcdowell of Farm Management Division, De-
partment of Agriculture, Spoke Last Night
Superintendent Mcdowell Paid High Tribute to Pres. John
H. Worst of North Dakota Agricultural College
Spoke of the Needs of North Dakota's Agricultural Devel-
opment--Speech Was Highly Pleasing

J.. c. Mcdowell Of Washington, D
agement division of the department O.
agriculture, was one of the three lead.
ing speakers at last nights session o.
the Tri-State Grain Growers conven-
ton.
Superintendent McDowell's topic
was County Demonstration Work ir
Farm Management. He spoke from
years Of practical experience in coun-
ty work through the medium of the
federal department of agriculture and
from five years experience right in
North Dakota.
In high terms of praise did he refer
to h splendid work of Pres. John H
Worst of the North Dakota Agricul-
tural college, under whom he said he
lad worked in North Dakota. Refer
ence to President Worst was greeted
by prolonged applause, showing the
great popularity of the noted North
Dakota agriculturalist.
The speaker also congratulated the
people of North Dakota on obtaining
the services of Thomas Cooper as di-
rector of the North Dakota Expert
ment station. Mr.. Cooper, he declared.
was a live wire and a young man Of
exceptional ability. In handling his
subject. superintendent Mcdowell
said in part:
The Types of Work for the County
Agent, the subject of J. G. Mcdowell, OF
the farm management bureau Of the
department Of agriculture and the ag-
rlCulturlSt in charge of north-centraI
states. was among the best heard al
the convention this year. In part Mr.
Mcdowell said:
zone hundred and ninety county
agents have been appointed and are
now at work in northern and western
states. and we have on file requests
for about 800 more.
"The county agent may classify his
work under w heads: First. he tries
to increase the material prosperity of
the farmers of his district. Second.
he works to improve living conditions.
The leading purpose Of the first type
Of work is to increase the net income
from farm lands and at the same time
maintain their fertility. Economical
production, high labor income. and the
successful marketing Of farm products
must ever be kept in the foreground in
this type Of county work. The county
agent. however, who stops with the
material prosperity Of his people. has
fallen far short of the possibilities be.
fore him. Coordinate with increased
income we desire for every agriculture
Al community, practical education, CO.
operation, improved social conditions.
and higher, truer standards of living.
Theoretically the county agent
shout begin his work by spending sew
eral weeks or months making farm
surveys and studying the systems Of
farming most common to his district.
An impatient public will not wait for
this but demands, and in my opinion
justly demands, immediate practical
results as a guarantee Of future &C
complishment. The farmers and BUSH
ness men believe, and have every rea-
son to believe. that the colleges, ex.
pertinent stations, and the United
States Department Of Agriculture,
have accumulated a large fund Of val.
liable information that a thoroughly
trained. intelligent, and practical field
man should be able to apply readily