The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-14
I65,O26 Farmers of State Have Been Instructed on Methods to Improve Their Land and Crops
INCREASED YIELD
 AT MARKET PRICES
 WOULD NET S64O,OOO
During Year 40OO Head of Pure-Bred Live Stock I'm ported Into State-15,000 Hogs Inoculated
Rr HUGH VI. RoRrRTs

Washington, February 13.-(Special.J Tn anticipation of the annual report of the department of agriculture deal- ing with the farmers cooperative ex- tension work. Bradford Knapp, chief. has furnished Senator Bankhead with synopsis which tends to prove that Alabama. during the past year. as 8 result of the aid of the government. became better agricultural state than previously it had been.
 Mir. Knapp declares that figuring in creased yields in cotton, corn, and oats, at average farm prices, the work in Alabama amounted to s640,O00. He de- clares. also that during the year, s5,02s Alabama farmers were instructed on their farms.
 The following figures are interest," ing: Four thousand head of pure-bred live stock was imported into Alabama, 10000 acres of hillside land were ter raced; 15.000 hogs were inoculated to prevent hog cholera and 254 silos were constructed.
 THE COTTON DEMONSTRATIONS
 In part. the letter of MT. Knapp to Senator Bankhead, follows:
 "The work, through county agents has been conducted by cooperative arr rangement between the Alabama Poly technic Institute at Auburn. your state board of agriculture and this depart ment The work has been conducted in practically every county in the state, while work with women and girls in home demonstration work and girls canning club work has been car riei on iii 21 counties of tie state
 Through this force, 14s1 demonstra- tions in cotton were conducted with total acreage of 13,319 acres, show l ing an average yield of 1o77 pounds of seed cotton per acre. These dem- onstrations were carefully supervised 1 by agents who visited the farmers reg ularly Two thousand and ninety-nine farmers grew cotton under the general directions of the agents. but not so carefully visited, on 27,4es acres. yield ing an average of ss7 pounds of seed cotton to the acre.
 "The average yield of the corn dem onstrations. amounting to 20,574 acres. was 36.25 bushels per acre. Two thou sand seven hundred and eighty eight other farmers. receiving instructions in work not so carefully supervised. grew corn on 25.624 acres, yielding z2.7 bush els per acre.
 There were 1154 demonstrations in oats on 22.122 acres, yieldging an avN. craze of 32 bushels per acre. One thou sand two hundred and eight other farmers carried on work not so carefui- ly supervised on 12.031 acres, welding 19 bushels per acre.
 $64O,O ,O0O NET RESULT "Figuring the increased yield on the acres mentioned at average farm prices. l the value of just this portion of the work amounted to s64o,O0o.
 "A large amount of this work was devoted to two purposes First teach ing of farmers how to raise cotton under boil weevil conditions, and, Sec ond, growing of home supplies such as corn. oats, hay. pastures. gardens, and other food crops. Sixty five thousand and twenty-six farmers were directly reached by some part of this service on their own farms.
 Through these agents. also in oul general demonstration campaign, the following items might be mentioned -Four thousand and sixty-nine head of pure bred live stock have been brought into the state. and bought by farmers through the influence of this service.
 Thirty mine thousand. six hundred and thirty acres of hillside farmlands 1 have been terraced.
 Two hundred and fifty four silos have been constructed.
 Fourteen thousand. three hundred tCantinuss Page rsD.,