Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-31
SPLENDID RESULTS OF
DEMONSTRATION WORK
Agents in Fifty-One Counties of Vir-
ginia Show Gratifying Figures
as Sum-Up of Labors.
SYSTEM GOES WELL IN VIRGINIA
Brief Review of Things Accomplished
in fifty-Onc Counties In Past
lcar-Women's Department and
Girls Canning Clubs DO Well.

Girls Canning Clubs DO Well.
BLAcKSBCRC. VA. December 30
The development OF the demonstration
and extension work in Virginia marks
Il .rea, industrial stride of the year
1916. In compliance with the Smith
Lever act of the General Assembly OF
Virginia at it's 1914 session directed
that ali departments OF the work
should be centralized nj the Virginia
Polytechnic Institute and, for two
years. President EgSlcston. of tho lat
ter institution. was acting director.
July of this year Jesse NJ Jones
assumed the duties OF director Of the
agricultural extension work in Nir-
ginia. with headquarters at Blacks
burg. Because of the permanent ma
turc OF the work. much Of the time
during the past six months has been
devoted to building on the foundations
already laid. tn the adjustment of
the relations Of tho workers Ia the
various phases OF tho work. and the
bringing together Of all the agencies
for agricultural work to form Il uni
fled system
The purpose Of the extension work
is to aid in difusinS useful and prac-
teal information on subjects relating
To agriculture and home economies.
and Ia encourage tho application Of
the same. MI the work is done in
co-operation with tho United states
department Of Agriculture aud the
counties where il is done. and. while
the duties Of those engaged in the
extension WORK arc clearly defined.
each is a unit in an cffcctiy. system
which. it il believed. viii bring the
state and Federal agencies for the
bettcrmcni Of conditions Oh tn" farm
and in tn" home into harmonious re-
latious and result in an economical.
as well rs official. use Of the money
Is To- ni,,tIt N q
MORE THAN HALF or riIE
STATE. Is NOW OCCUPIED
The farmers cooperative demon
Straton work in Virginia was started
in lao1 i'm two or three counties. with
T. o. Sandy. of BurkevilIc. as state
agent. and has grown steadily in pop
ularity. until il is now being carried
on iii hfty-onc counties of the state.
The smith Lever act provides for dem
onstra ton and extension work in homo
economics. as we'll as in agriculture.
and definite work along lines of home
Improvement for the women Of the
State has been carried on since $40?
under the direction Of Miss Ella q.
Agnew. Women home demonstration
agents are employed to conduct the
gardening and canninE-club work for
the women and girls. and work similar
to that for the white people is being
conducted for the negroes
10 ASSIST nlin IN carrying OIL the
extension work. Director Jones row
has lbs workers. including forty-niuc
county agents in farm demonstration.
twcnty-ninc women employed IL home
demonstration and canning club work.
seven district agents and seven spc-
cialSts: while eighteen negro men and
thirty women are putting forth
their best efforts to improve conditions
on the farm and IN the home for the
colored people. Poultry. live stock.
fruit. cheese making. home economies
and drainage arc the lines along which
the spccia lists are working now. and
i State agent for boys club work has
recently been added TO tho extension
force. Charles &. Burr. OF Farmvillc,
u graduate Of the Virginia Christian
College, LynchhurE, aud FOR the past.
three years demonstration agent for
Prince Edward County. has been APP
pointed to this position. with head
quarters mt Blackshurg.