The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-02-25
COUNTY AGENT
His Function Explained To
Pomona Grange
And The Method Of Securing
His Sci vices
tey Kathryn S. Anderson)

At the regular meeting OF Knox
County Pomona Grange, held Satur-
day, Feb. 10, in the G. A. X. hall, Mr..
G. w. Bush, state leader of county
agents in Ohio, told the members of
the Grange of the work county agents,
how they could be secured, and how
they could help the farmers Of the
county.
There are 1900 county agents in the
U. S. Twelve of these are in Ohio and
the number is rapidly increasing wher-
ever the people are anxious to use the
most approved methods for economic,
and social betterment, and are willing
to work for it, the county agent is not
long in coming.
He is not man who comes into the
community to criticize existing meth
ods and force his own ideas, but he
is rather clearing house where all
may bring their problems and work
them out together. He is in situa-
ton where he may know the conditions
in all parts of the county and may
bring this knowledge and his own ex-
perience to the people to help them
He is the leader of the farmers in the
county who compose the Farm Bureau
association, as Mr.. Bush call
ed it. Membership in this association
would be $100 per year and there
should be $50 members at the begin
ming In addition 10 the regular Of
ficers, there would be standing ex-
ecutive committee, who. with the
state leader of county agents would
outline the first years work of the
agent and see that this plan was car
ried out.
Any county that desires such an as
sociation, may have an appropriation
of $3.50 from the federal and state
governments, $1,000 going to the
agents salary and $500 towards the
maintenance of his own automobile.
The county commissioners, if they so
desire, may appropriate $1,000 to-
wards this fund. Membership in the
!
and $3.50 more should be secured from
interested individuals or organiza-
tions. For instance, in many counties
the banks donate $25 each, the cham
ber of commerce, etc. All this would
amount to $3,S90, a sum sufficient to
hire a good man, rent central office,
unless one be donated, pay stenograph-
ic help, telephone and telegram ser
vice, etc., and perhaps leave margin
for the next year.
Mr.. Bush told of trip he took last
summer with one of his agents to see
if they could discover any results OF
the work. They started at IL a. m.
and ended at sun down after visiting
some six or seven farms actually work
ing under the supervision of the coun-
ty agent. One man was cutting tim
othy nay. Different sections of his
field haG been treated with different
kinds of fertilizer or none at all, and
he was discovering what was most sat
isfactory and cheapest for him to use,
considering the fact that he was not
keeping live stock. Farther on, big
oats field, overrun with wild mustard
had been sprayed with two mixtures
with an unsprayed space between.
The weeds were killed, the oats unin-
jured, and the farmer learned that the
iron mixture was cheaper than the
copper Another man they visited that
day had a farm on which there was a
large mortgage and an old worn-ont
the county agent, the first year he
pruned, enriched and sprayed three
rows, clearing 5000. The next year he
reclaimed more trees and i'll three
years made $1,000.
Cow testing associations, fairs, in
stitutes, short courses, contests for
boys and girls greater interest in farm
ing and farm life, conveniences for the
women as we'll as the men, and great
er economy to the farmer, are some of
the results of farm bureau associa-
ton. There are many more.
The Knox County Pomona Grange,
as an organization of farmers, is in
, terested in this modern step. When
the farmers are ready for a Farm Bu-
reau Association and a county agent,
the Grange will stand ready to help
the movement. Why should not the
farmers of Knox county stand togeth,
er to get all out of their farms and
= their farm life that is possible? Why
5 not have one soon? Farmers, think il
over, and talk it over. Let us be pro
gressive and keep up with the times
/ Joseph, Sellers left Tuesday fol
:. Bethany. w. Va, where he Will re