South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-12-30
MUCH GOOD WORK
DONE IN COUNTRY
John S. Bordner a Busy Man
in 1915-MuCh Inter-
est is Shown.


nual report Of County Agent John $.
Bordner, which has been compiled
for the benefit OF the United States
department OF agriculture Although
the report with its statistics does not
show the result Of expert advice
and scientific demonstrations afford
ed the farmers of the county
through the cooperation Of the de-
Tartment Of agriculture and the state
agricultural school at Lafayette Ind.
so we'll as would a visit among the
farmers OF the county. yet it is ap-
parent from the report that scien-
tihc agriculture has become a vital
part OF the county's rural activities.
Any one Of the opinion that the
only work OF the county agent is 10
sit I'm his office and give advice 10
callers. may realize that such Is far
from the case by considering the fact
that Bordner visited 179 different
farmers on their farms during the
last IL months This figure, how
ever. does not tell the whole story
OF the time and gasoline Che travels
by auto) used in this end Of the
farm visits to say nothing Of innu-
merable community center meetings
and other activities visited.
Addresses Many Meetings.
There were 1923 calls made upon
the agent during the year for ad
vice on the work OF scientific farm
ing. The meetings held under the
auspices OF the agent or Of farmers
organizations numbered 90. while
the total number Of meetings adj
dressed by the agent was 12S and
the total attendance at all such
meetings was 1882. With 100 farm
ers in the county this indicates that
the gospel OF scientific farming is
being brought to the attention of all
concerned.
Following Is part Of the story of
the county agents activities as told
by figures In the report: Associations
for adults organized. two, with total
membership OF 1874; boys and girls
home project clubs organized. 10.
with a membership OF 119; agricul-
tural articles written by the agent
and published in the local papers.
1919; copies OF bulletins distributed.
629: extension schools given aid, So;
days devoted 10 such work. %; en-
rollment at such schools 1892; num-
Der OF farmers attending short
course at college, 20; schUo! visits
made by agent. 2S: schools assisted
in developing agricultural instruc-
ton, 1902: school grounds improved,
two; agricultural observation parties
conducted five. with attendance Of
220; library books distributed, 20;
meetings or demonstrations held at
which assistance was rendered by
specialists from Purdue or the de-
partment OF agriculture. 20
This supervising OF the work OF
agricultural extension in the county
required BOrdner to spend a per
cent OF his time in his office and Sc
per cent in field work. OF the time
spent in the office. 81 per cent was
used in answering correspondence.
% per cent in conference with farm
ers and a. per cent in miscellaneous
Office work. OF the time spent in
field work. 81 per cent was used in
arrar ging and supervising demon
STATIONS. q per cent in caring for
miscellaneous farm visits and ~ per
cent in attending meetings and
short courses This field work re-
suited directly in the improving OF
one farm building. the construction
Of three silos the Improvement of
two water supply systems the install
latino OF two heating systems and
the planning Of four crop rotation
systems
Use Modern Methods.
So far as the figures can tell the
story OF the result OF the years work
IL Is shown that so acres of wheat on
three farms was grown according to
suggestions OF Bordner, seed oats
were treated for smut on two farms,
and so acres were sown with such
treated seed. 81 acres Of alfalfa on
eight farms were grown according 10
the expert advice and 10 acres OF
sweet clover and L acres of soy
beans were similarly grown.
In relation 20 livestock the work
OF the agent resulted in COWS being
tested for milk production by three
farmers. the organization Of one live
stock breeding association with a
membership OF 20 the adoption OF
balanced rations on two farms. the
testing for tuberculosis of four ami
mails and Improvement on tvyo farms
In the control OF poultry diseases.
There were eight farmers induced
during the year 10 keep farm ac-
counts. An impetus was also given
20 the use Of fertilizers and FIVE
farmers were induced to reinforce
manure as a fertilizer with acide
phosphate or floats: there were q
tons Of chemical fertilizer used al
the suggestion OF the agent on 4
different farms. Further work in
conserving the fertility OF the soil
as the direct result Of Bordner's
work was done by the blowing under
OF 10 acres OF vetch and IFS acres
OF rye for green manure.
WII ppECENT DIhV