The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-01-29
COUNTY AGENT PROPOSED.
To Further the Agricultural Interests Of
Washington County.

A movement looking toward coun.
ty organization OF farmers for the uti-
mate purpose Of securing for the agri-
cultural interests of Washington coun.
| ty a trained advisor, or county agent,
will be started in this city on the even.
ing OF Tuesday, Feb, 8. Invitations
have been extended by the Barre Saw.
ings Bank and Tust Co. to masters Of
the 10 granges in the county and If any
number OF these invitations are accepted,
as they surely will be- many farmers,
representing every township in the coun-
| ty, will be present to hear the plan dis
cussed by Governor Charles w. Gates,
Thomas Bradlee of Burlington, director
of the extension service with the state
agricultural college, and Ebert s. Brig
ham of st. Adams, state commissioner Of
agriculture.
For the past few years the matter of
obtaining the SERVICES OF an agricultural
advisor for Washington county has been
frequently discussed There is scarce.
ly grange in the county that has not
heard the project mentioned, but 1t has
remained for the Barre Savings Bank &
Trust Co. to pave Fhc way for the first
tentative steps by Inviting Gov. Gates
and Others to coma to Barre and meet
the farmers and anyone else who is in
terested in the development of Washing
ton eounty's agricultural possibilities.
The meeting win BE- held in Rowland
hall and anyone who reads these lines
and who has not been invited already |
may consider that his presence is desired |
at the get-together meeting. An equal |
ly cordial invitation * extended TO wom-
en-. In addition to the speechmaking |
there will be music and other entertain /
ment.
Since the county agent plan was first
adopted nearly three years ago, eight
counties have engaged trained ag7icuI.
tural advisors and two others, Chitten- |.
den and Addison are falling into line
near neighbor, Orange county, is high
" satisfied with the county agent pro-
gram and the testimony of farmers in
every county where an agent is EN-.
1loyed proves that the plan has passed
,he experimental stage Wherever the
'est results are 20 be secured, strong
,ounty organization is necessary and il
entiment at the meeting one week from
Tuesday il strong enuogh TO warrant
nrther steps IT, Is altogether probable
hat tentative Organization, at least,
will b. attempted. K
One promising feature in any move ]
nent that contemplates the county ad-
isor plan in Vermont is found in the q
act that the government, as fast as s
unds are available, contributes sl,2VJ i
oward the yearly salary of the agent I
fhen certain conditions have been com. j
lied with by the farmers of county. '
iriefiy, these conditions are: The rails. !
1g of an equal sum by the county and a
he formation of a county organiEa ton d
I which at least 20 per cent of the T
lrmers shall be members. No methods
raising the sum necessary to realize z
n the governments offer are open 10 I
he county. The sum may be raised
Y subscription on the ,one hand, or
y asking the towns OF the county at
he first annual tawn meeting after the 6
ovement is started to vote their pro. =
ortion of the 81 200. the proportions =
} be based on the grand list Of each :
'wn. No. l2l of the acts of 1919 en- I
bles towns to appropriate money for =
'unty agricultural work y
IL has been said that the county agent
the connecting link between the farm =
and the scientists emploved by the 4
ate and national governments in max :,
< researches along multiplicity OF II
nes. Mr.. Bradlee is the state leader a
the work and he collaborates with II
e United States agricultural depart.
ent The county agent performs his Ia
rviees 10 the farmer through the me. =,
um Of lectures, institutions, short sr
urses, personal interviews and the dis. "
Ibution of circulars. he il an advisor, 20
4 in a larger sense he is practical, ps
aimed reporter Of what the very best p,
ricultural experts in the country are in
ding out about agricultural improve. er
mt.