Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-05-18

pending Of considerable sums of money
| in order to carry the work forward
and a careful study of the needs OF
| the county or district, the best means
of meeting these needs, and well
| thought out execution of the plans
when once decided upon
The most of the initiative in this
| movement must come from the peo-
pie themselves. The whole success
aside from securing properly trained
people to act as agents, depends on
local interest, After the movement is
ganized, its work must be supported
and controlled largely by the people
of the region themselves.
These agents demonstrate the most
approved agricultural methods and
farm practices. Being in intimate
touch with local conditions they ris-
cover why certain things have failed
on some farms and succeeded on 9TH
ers, give publicity to the successful
method, and try to supplant the poor
er way with the better.
A part of an agents work is to
give advice to those who ask for ii
on cropping systems, fertilizers, linn
ing, farm management, dairy breed
ing and feeding, orchard management
care of poultry, and in fact nearly ev-
cry line of farming. Some Of these
lines, such as pruning or spraying
may be comparatively easy, but 1t
must be realized that others are far
more complex and require very care
full consideration.
But an agents work is much broad
er than simply the productive side of
farming. He should stimulate inter-
est in. and assist in organizing CO.
operative societies for the purchase of
fertilizers, feeds. lime, etc, and for
the sale of farm products. He should
keep farmers informed as to the pre-
dities and others, the state of the
markets so far as the information is
available, and other matters pertain
ing to farm business.
The county agent should arrange a
large number of demonstration plots
on farms, or demonstration tests in
diaries, poultry plants, orchards, etc.
The whole neighborhood could then
see the good or bad results of these
methods. He should help to arrange
extension schools lecture courses,
Farmers institutes, and other meet
ings
He shold arouse interest in Boys
and Girls clubs, crop contests, and
other competitions.
He should help promote the organ
ization of Dairy Improvement associ-
ations. Fruit Growing societies, Poul-
try clubs, societies for the prevention
of hog cholera, and other similar or
CARNATIONS which have for their pur-
pose the building up of specialized in
dustries.
It is impossible to enumerate all
lines of work which may fall to a
county agent to do. When he can
not furnish the information himself
he should apply to the state agencies,
such as the Agricultural college,
State Board of Agriculture, Highway
Commission, Commission on Public
Health. Free Public Library commits
sion, Federation of Churches, state
forester, ETC., or to the several bureaus
fthe United States Department of
Agriculture at Washington.
The position of a county agent is
no small Job" at requires persons
of large calfbre and broad vision No
one person can answer all questions
that may be asked, but he should
know where this information can be
secured and then get it. The Farm
Bureau and the county agent thus be-
come clearing houses or Rural
Chambers of Commerce through