The Ocala banner., 1917-06-15
OCALA, FLORIDA FRIDAY, JUNE IS, 1917
AGRICULTURAL CENSUS OF MA
RlON COUNTY BEING TAKEN

This agricultural census is being
taken to find out the situation local
ly in regard to labor and crops. That
Marion county is able to feed herself
is a debatable question. 1t is hoped
that this census will give some def
mite information upon the number OF
mouths to feed and what there will
be to feed them.
1t is expected that the census will
discover how many there are to feed
and how many of them are too young
or too old to assist in the production
of food. The months when the most
labor is required will be determined
and the months when the least is
needed. A rather complete labor cen.
sus will be included with an idea that
it may be possible to make a more
equal distribution of labor. The
amount of live stock and the number
of acres of different crops will also
ba taken.
If the people of the county will as
siet the men taking this census all
they can, it will be much easier to
work out plans whereby the greatest
efficiency can be reached in our ag.
riculture. The results will be tabu.
lated and a seasonablv correct esti
mate will be made as TO what foods
we will lack and of what we will have
a surplus.
The following letter from the coun.
ty agent to the director in each pre-
cinct will give an idea of how the
census is to be taken:
Our country has asked every coun-
ty in the south to be selfsustaining,
and, if possible to produce some ex-
ira to help feed cur own soldiers and
sailors, with some left for our allies
in Europe. This means that the peo-
pie Of Marion county must take
stock" as the first step in making
their county sustaining. Before
we can say tnat Marion county is able
tc feed herself, we must know how
many mouths we have to feed and
how much food we are now producing
To make certain that Marion coun-
ty can do ner part il has been decided
that q complete census is necessary
ard a blank has been prepared for
this purpose. Tc make the census OF
real value, it must be as complete as
possible so that house to house sys-
tenn has been decided upon. 1t is nee
e>sary that every house in the county
he visited and a blank filled cut. This
includes both white and colored, as
We desire 10 get the labor census as
we'll as the food census.
The voting precinct has been taken
as the subdivision from which to
work. One man will be appointed as
director in every precinct, and he will
be expected to get the census taken
in that precinct. He is to secure
what assistance he may need and to
arrange the work to suit himself. The
following plan has been suggested as
one which will give good results. The
director to divide his precinct into
small subdivisions which can be
completely covered by one person in
one day. These divisions are to be
bounded by roads. The director to
get some one to work thoroughly each
and report to him. The
will report to the county
agent, who has general charge of the
work.
This work is all voluntary, as there
are no funds available. The members
of the Marion County Agricultural
Committee have agreed to direct this
census and serve without pay. 1t is
only reasonable to expect that they
can find enough patriotic people to
help them out.
We want the returns by the 18th of
June, so let US all get busy and do it.
Remember, we want the census COM
plete, so skip no one. The country
demands this of US as a part of the
service we owe in times like these.
Don't say it can not be done, but say
it will be done, and do it. Remember
it is easier to take this census than to
serve in the trenches.
Yours very truly,
R. W. Blackjack,