The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1914-01-09
Farmers oo-o9erative Demon.
stration Work in Maryland.

Two years ago this system of practical
education was introduced in the five
counties south OF Baltimore. Last year
Baltimore County raised the necessary
fund and a County Agent was installed in
cooperation with the U. S. Department
of Agriculture. The Department now
has a fund which will enable it to paw
half the salary of local agent to work in
any county of Maryland where the peo-
pie raise the other half. There is not
enough money for all the counties, but
ii will be applied on the above basis in
the counties that first comply with the
conditions. In some counties the neces-
sary six or seven hundred dollars is raised
by private subscription. In Baltimore
County the School Board has a fund for
agricultural education, part of which has
been applied to Demonstration Work.
/ Most people seem 10 think that it would
be best and most equitable to have the
County Commissioners appropriate the
money, but there is question as to
whether they have the authority without
the passage OF an enabling act, as 1t sim
| ply empowers the County Commissioners
| to appropriate not exceeding $1,000 per
county for Demonstration Work in coon
Grafton with the U. S. Department of Ae-
rculture. In twelve counties of the State
! petitions are being circulated by leading
citizens requesting their representatives
IN the Legislature to endeavor to pass an
enabling act or if not possible to secure
an act tor the whole State, then 10 put
! through local measure for each county.
! The petitions are being very numerously
signed by the largest land holders and
capitalists of the respective counties.
The Department of Agriculture wishes
to get its funds 10 work as soon as posi-
bic and Is willing to pay the Agent for
the first six months in any county where
responsible citizens will raise a guarantee
| fund to cover his salary for the last half
OF the year.
In Talbot County on December 2ott,.
the guarantee fund was largely over-sub-
| scrlbed in less than "a hours after the
| proposition was presented in a public adj
dress by DIR. Augustus Staber, who is in
| charge of the work in MARYLAND. In that
| county an agent VIII be installed at once.
| Dr. Stabler explains the plan of The
work as follows:
The objects sought are Better Farm
| ing, Better Business, Better Living.
Better farming il best promoted bv
/ showing the farmer on his own farm how
to get better results with the means at his
command. Ii is impossible to visit all
| the farms in any county, but we try to
! ee,t 80 to so men well distributed over
the county and SO situated that the agent
may reach them easily and that other
| people may see the crops. These men
are called Demonstrators. Each one
agrees 10 grow definite area in some
staple crop in The best manner as an ex.
| ample of good farming. The agent
agrees to visit these Demonstrations once
month, and keep in touch with the
progress of the work At these visits.
he pays particular attention to the con-
dition of the demonstration plat and
makes certain that the demonstrator I'M
derstands fully just what he is expected
to do next. Thus we furnish not only
advice. but supervision of the work till
resultS.are Obtained
When a man succeeds in doing some
thing well. he can do it again, and can
and does tell his neighbors how to do it
Thus the Demonstration becomes a cen
ter of progress in his vicinity. Around
HIM will be other farmers who desire to
follow the same directions, obtaining
them through the demonstration or direct
~ hO'i thC dSClIt, - lue Case may be.
These are known as co.oferators. They
do not receive regular visits from the
agent, but he gives them all the assist.
| ance, that he can when he meets them
1T has been found best to begin thus
with the adult men. When interest is
aroused. it is always found that there are
/ certain boys who wish to become demon.
stratorS, and The boys in our Corn Clubs.
&c, are all enrolled as demonstrators
who are setting an example OF better
farming and receive visits from the
agent, who gives them the instruction ON
The farm about growing the crop. har-
vesting it, and saving the seed, &c. In
cooperation with the schools, he aids in |
organizing these boys into clubs Before |
a boy can belong TO club, he must be |
a demonstrator. i. e., must agree to do |
definite piece of work according to di |
rectlons and report on it.
In the girls Canning and Poultry I
Clubs, the same idea is dominant. The |
glrls are demonstrators, but the object is |
better living conditions. and they are in !,
sructed by women who visit the homes |
OF the girls. These women are usually |
teachers who spend oart Of their time Wis
ting and organizing the girls under the
direction OF State Organizer
Or. Stabler stands ready to visit the !
leading people of county or address |
meetings Of forward looking men,"
whenever invited by some one who is
willing to help secure the necessary local
aid.