La Junta tribune., 1917-08-30
COUNTY AGRICULTURAL AGENTS
.cont'nued from First Pare,

the differences In silos, climates and
precipitation and the effect OF these
agencies on crops to be grown. He
knows that both the crops and the
methods producing them must be
adapted TO the country being farmed.
He can learn. from farmers in the
county and through the use Of
knowledge thus gained. can assist
In Increasing the profits and improv-
ing the conditions on all OF the farms
In the county.
Qualifications for appointment %
. county agricultural agent in Colo
RADIO must include graduation from
an agricultural college, several
years practical experience in farm
Ing. usually at least one or two
years OF practical experience after
graduation from college No arbi-
trary age limit has been fixed at
present. but men OF mature age are
preferred and selected where possi-
BILE. He must be a man OF pleasant
Temperament. and with infinite tact
and judgment. He must have per
sonality" and common sense
Under normal conditions the
money available from state and ma
tional sources amounts to only 5000
for each county. and under this
appropriation four new county
agents were added to the list work
ing in Colorado annually. All of the
funds available for the fiscal year
beginning July I. 1917. were taken
up by new counties. who started the
work before this date by appropri-
ating all necessary money for carry
ing on the work to July LIST next
year. Delta county on July LIST OBJ
tained the services OF a county az
ricultural agent by appropriatfng
all OF the money necessary for the
work for one year. The sum which
Delta county appropriated was 49,
200. besides furnishing an automo-
bile and office. T:ie sum which this
county appropriated was a little
higher than the average county ex-
pends, inasmuch as they desired TO
obtain n man who had county ag-
ricultural experience. and he was Sc
cured from county in New Mexico
by increasing his salary sufficient
ly to cause him to move from that
county.
Right now, however. there Is an
opportunity for Otero county to Sc
cure the services OF an expert coun-
~ agricultural agent by making an
appropriation OF $1,000 for the per-
iod ending July I. 1918. and furnish
Ford automobile and an office for
the agent The recent passage Of
the Emergency Food Bill by con-
gress places s51. 200 at the disposal
OF the State Agricultural College for
use In its extension work. This fund
will be used In placing additional az
ricultural agents in the field. The
State Agricultural College will assist
those counties interested by allot-
ting to them the sum OF $500 to
assist In the employment OF an ag-
ricultural agent. this sum to be
used In the employment OF man
TO July I. 1918. II Is necessary.
however. tina, n memorandum OF un-
Outstanding be drawn up between
the county commissioners OF the
county and the Extension Service Of
the Agricultural College that II Is the
Intention 10 continue the work In
succeeding years. II is possible to
make arrangements so that this
emergency money may be used the
fore part Of the term. and this will
allow the county commissioners TO
make the necessary arrangements
In their budget this fall for the
money necessary TO carry out the
agreement. Before the work is
started. however. Il Is best that the
county commissioners. the farmers
OF the county. and the representa-
tlvcs from tho extension service Of
the State Agricultural College meet
and understand fully the work to be
Undertaken and the methods to be
used.
The editor Of the great family
journal recently wrote TO A. Y. Low
EFT. Of the Cooperative Extension
Work IN Agriculture at Fort Col
Inns. and State leader Of county
agent work. relative TO the probable
cost Of securing . county agent for
otero county. aad the information
given II this article was secured
from data ssat b. him. The con-
ciudine paragraph Of bis letter 10 -
foilows:
The county agricuitural assat
work 4 enPPioA a tAnouRh \ -.