Evening star., 1916-11-11
PREACH GOSPEL Of
MODERN FARMING
Advice in Paper Read Today at
Conference of Agricultural
Agents.
OTHER TOPICS DISCUSSED

tween agriculture as practiced on the
average farm and agriculture as car
ried on scientifically by the Depart
ment of Agriculture. the county agents
of the country are bringing "the gos-
pei of modern farming to the average
farmer declared George II. Afford.
state agent of Maryland. speaking at
today's session of the annual confer
ence of county agent leaders at the
New willard Hotel
Mr.. Affords paper was the feature of
bama to Michigan. the first section Of
states to give brief reports, the second
section. from Nebraska to Wyoming, to
be heard at the Monday morning ses-
sion.
Although Mr.. Afford told merely OF
the work beng done in Maryland for the
$50 delegates present from all the states
of the Union felt that his summary of
the case expressed the ambitions of
every state official in the cooperative
Department of Agriculture, and the at
titude of the department itself, in its
great work of bringing the average
farmer from thirty years behind time
up to date in scientific agricultural
methods
Work to Be Widened.
Outlining the formation Of the Coun-
ty Agents Association Of Maryland,
Mr.. Afford said that the members OF
the association, who will soon be To-
Gated in every county in the state
have ambitions to put Maryland al
the head of county agent work" Every
farmer who gets only half the yield
from an acre which he should get is a
| burden to the community, the speaker
said. and this man must be taught how
to better his yield, as the poor man
pulls down all his neighbors and 80
helps to hold back the industry and
prosperity, not only Of his community
but the state and the nation. largely
speaking.
Something must be done for the far
mer that had to work in the field as a
boy and has never had the chance to
educate himself in the latest phases of
scientific farming" Mr.. Afford said.
And it is just this work the county
agents are doing, carrying the gospel
of modern farming to the average far
mer.
The county agents are educating the
out modern methods.
1.-The old system OF education were
from the top but the commonsense
scientific county agents of Maryland
are beginning at the bottom to educate
the mass of average farmers, and ul-
timately these farmers will control the
agricultural destinies of the state.
Man Behind the Plow Benefited.
"The average man behind the plow
handle is getting the advantages of the
latest agricultural knowledge through
the work Of the county agents. We are
creating a new hope in our farmers an6
farm boys in thus carrying the gospe
of right farming to the man in the
field''
Talks on the various aspects OF
county agent work in various states
were made by J. T. Watt. Alabama; E
P. Taylor, Arizona; c. W. Watson. Ar.
kansas: B. H. Crocheron. California: A
E. Lovett, Colorado: H ]. Baker. Con
neeticut; Harry Hayward. Delaware: c
X. McQuarrie, Florida; G. B. Cunning
ham. Georgia; H. W. Hochbaum. Idaho
G. N Golfer, Illinois; T. A. Coleman. In
| diana: Mr.. Mcdonald. Iowa; II. j. c
| Cmberger, Kansas; Geoffrey Morgan
| Kentucky: NJ. Snowden. Louisiana: Pau
| w Monohon, Maine; S. r. Parker
/ Massachusetts. and Even Mumford
| Michigan.
| Mr.. McQuarrie told how the county
agents of Florida started a campaign
! on "drone" fruit trees. which were
! bearing small fruit. and eliminated
| thousands of these Improbable "drone
| trees" The county agent leader from
| Idaho told of the myriads of rabbits in
that state which became nuisance and
menace to the state. and the steps
! taken toward their eradication.
Variety of Themes.
/ Road improvements, methods of fight
| ing the boil weevil, the work of vari-
Gus farmers associations. corn cam
| paigns and scores of other activities o.