Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1915-01-08
HOW THE FARMER MAY UTILIZE
THE FACILITIES OF THE UNITED
STATES DEPARTMENT or A0RI-
CULTURE.

cultural college. The States, coun-
ties, other colleges and schools, agn-
cultural and commercial organiEs
ito Is, railways, and other agencies
within the States also cooperate with
the department and the agricultu, al
college IN paying salaries OF county
agents, and in many other ways.
This work was begun in Texas in
1904 as a part Of the departments
campaign against the Mexican cot
ton-boll weevil. 1t rapidly develop
ed into a comprehensive system for
giving agricultural instruction to
farmers and their families on their
own farm. At the present time
thsre are employed in this work, out
side Of the District OF Columbia, l.
1872 agents, working in 100 counties.
OF this number, s33 are men, work
ing with adult farmers and boys, and
359 are women, engaged in the girls
canning club and home economies
work Approximately 100000 adult
farmers and about an equal number
OF boys, women, and girls on the
farm received direct instruction and
lid definite work Of some kind under
the supervision of this office and its
cnrps of agents during the year 1914
The work is carried on largely
through personal contact with farm
ers and their families, on the farms
ard in the homes; by means of def
mite object lessons, called demonstra-
ton farms, and through local organ
nations, such farmers clubs and
bows and girls clubs.
This is one office of the Bureau u
Plant Industry which does not CEN
duct experiments or do any kind OF
research work. Its sole object !. to
disseminate among farmers, and yet
into common use, the store Of agti-
cultural information already sccu
minated at the colleges, the depart
ment, and b, the best farmers. Co
operating with all other bureaus and
Offices of the department and with
the experiment stations and colleges
it has grown to be, to large extent
t.. field-serviee arm of these institu-
tions in this territory
Il is impossible TO enumerate all
the activities Of a county agricultural
agent. A partial list may show how
farmers can utilize the facilities Of
this office Of the department.
DEMONSTRATION FARMS. These
are fundamental part OF bis work
and vital to it's success. They are
Tracts usually from 8 to so acres in
extent, on which the farmer, with his
oV n labor and entirely at bis own
EXPENSE, undertakes to grow some
particular crop under the agents
careful supervision. Any crop may
be grown, the selection depending on
the need of the community and the
lesson to be taught. Careful account
is keps Of all operations and expenses
and full report made 1t the end OF
the season. Each agent ia required
10 arrange for as many Of such farms
IS he can properly>snpervise. Th.
usual number in county is from rs
IL 30. They must be well dis.ribut-
ed and as publicly localed as il is
possible to get them.
Each farm Is an object lesson, in
tended to show some definite, con-
crete achievement; is calculated 10
arouse interest and friendly rivalry
among farmers in tat community.
and to gain the confidence of indif-
ferent farmers by proving that the
agent knows what he is about, and
that it pays to follow bis instruction
Such farms afford an especially ei-
fsctive way for teaching better cul-
tural methods and the value OF and
how to grow hilbert, untriei crops
such as alfalfa, the various legumes,
etc. In the same way, livestock
demonstration farms are established
to promote this industry in the South.
Cooper ating with the teachers in
rural school and other agencies, he
also organizes bows corn clubs, cl ,ver
clubs pig clubs, or other ia iior clubs
suited to the agriculture of the parti-
cular section. Definite instructor
and assistaoce is given The member.
OF such q abs at meetings and b,
letters and personal visitation.
FIELD MEETINGS. On such dem
onstra;ion farms meetings are he'd
at convenient times TO which farmers
in the community are invited. With
the agent they go over the farm and
informally discuss the operations in
p'o yress and the resa'ts expected or
secured. Ar such meetings with the
help of cooperating farmers various
farm operations and processss are
s,mstimes demonstrated. T b .
novelty Of farmers meeting together
oft on farm to discuss actual con /