Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-05-19

duetion and farmers receipts. says
editorially: Those who doubted the
success OF the county agent movement
hnd small consolation in the way il is
working out in most counties. In
stead OF proving the failure predicted
by them, 1t is daily gaining in impor-
taEce and popularity. The reason is
that 1t is accomplishing a real service
one that is needed and bound to be
appreciated by progressive farmers.
ne county agent is making good
mere, and there is no mistaking the
Iact He is returning value received
to every community he serves. and in
most instances this return EQUALS the
expenses incurred many times over
VIII county, Illinois, presents a good
illustration of how the county agent
idea Is proving out. This Improvement
association has more than doubled
during the last year and is still grow
ing at a rapid rate. In two years the
alfalfa acreage has been increased
three-fold, more than $500 tons of
/ limestone and phosphates have been
used by members, and other good re-
suits are plentiful. This showing in
VIII county represents very well sim
liar situations relative 10 the pro-
nounced success of the county agent
work in other counties in Illinois and
other states"
Farmers Backing Scheme.
In another edition, the Farmers Re-
view, commenting upon the remark
able success and spread of the county
agents movement, says: ut is new
and its growth has been extremely
rapid. but it continues to be popular
among the farmers where it has been
started. From nothing just a few
years ago it has grown until now we
have more than one county agent to
every three counties in the United
States. and if their salaries average
more than 81 400 a year, they are be-
/ ing paid in salaries alone more than
81 500, 900. The majority of the coun-
ty agents are in the south and their
salaries are lower than in the north
and west The future of the work no
man can tell We can see no reason
why, if it is carried on in a practical
manner. it should not grow until prac-
/ tically the entire country is covered.
We believe that the good county agent
! is a mighty useful citizen, and we
shall endeavOr to say anything that
viii make him more useful. If any
minor mistakes are made we can af-
ford to overlook them It is surpris-
ing that a good many mistakes have
not been made in this new field that
has grown in a few years beyond any
mans dream
Results In Two Counties.
During the last spring Lee and
Mercer counties of this state have en-
ployed farm advisors and both are at
work now. l.. S. Griffith of McNabb
| county agent for Lee county, is a
graduate of the University of Illinois,
with the class of 1900, and since that
+ time has been actively farming in
Henry and Putnam counties, giving
much Of his time to production of
farm seeds
G. H. Gillmor is the Mercer coun-
ty advisor and next month he will
complete his required five years prac-
tlcal experience on the farm. qualify
ing for association and recognition OF
the Illinois State university For 16
months previous to his contract with
the Mercer county organization Mr.
J Gillmor had been farm advisor in
Marion county, Missouri, where his
work was so successful that the farm
erS there made a determined fight to
retain him and for a time it seemed
that Mercer county would be forced
! to look about for another agent The
Illinois county farmers, however. held
him to his contract and have secured
, his services. Mercer will soon be or
gained on the three-year basis.