Maryland independent., 1917-02-16
Why hid. FARMERS
SHOULD ORGANIZE
CLEARLY SHOWN IN ANNUAL RE.
PORTS OF COUNTY DEMON
sTRATloN AGENTS.
ESSENTIAL TO DEVELOPMENT
Enables Farmers To Aid Themselves
and Each Other In solv-
ing Their Prob
lep,a

College Park, Md, Jan. 1s-The i'm
provement Of farming methods and
conditions in Maryland during the
year past as indicated through the re-
ports Of the several county demon
stration agents has been measured to
a large extent by the growth Of farm
ers' organizations in their various sec
tions. Although steady and consistent
Improvement has resulted in most sec
tons where the individual demonstra-
tor has carried out his work success
fully, the best results are being OBJ
tanned where the progressive farmers
Of a neighborhood have Joined with
the County Agent in forming a local
farmers club, grange, or community
association. Through cooperation with
such farmers organizations the infu-
enee of the County Agent is much In
/ creased. There is a better understand
ing Of his work, questions are freely
asked and answered, and the average
farmer goes home to hfs own labors
knowing better how to make use OF
the services OF his County Agent and
along what lines his fellow-farmers
think improvements in his farm opera.
tions should be made
In Hartford county. for instance,
through the influence OF the county
grange organization and the several
local farmers clubs. the farmers OF
that section are progressing rapidly in
improving farming conditions Where
here and there. an individual or q
neighborhood showed commendabla
progress. whole communities. and. in
fact, the agricultural interests of the
entire county are awake to the needs
Of their section. Following the or
ganization Of various communities in
the county into clubs, oranges, and as
sociations, the farmers OF Hartford
county have organized other associa
tons for the promotion of special in
dustries to which the county is adapted
such as COW testing, corn breeders
and milk producers associations thai
are already bearing practical fruit IL
/ making farming better paying bust
ness in this section.
The presence and growth OF thes,
organizations has been especially help
full in enabling the farmers OF Hartford
county to make the most intelligen
use Of their County Agent, T. E. Nc
Laughlin, who has accomplished som'
most helpful work during his frs
years employment. The most recen
step in which he has actively cooper
ated has been in the organization o
eleven boys agricultural clubs in con
uection with the schools OF Harfort
county and with the consent and sup
port OF the school authorities In TAX
ing this advanced step, Hartford count,
has taken another long stride towar,
settling the question OF how we shal
keep the farm boy on the farm. Ye
without the strong backing Of loca
farmers clubs and oranges, such a for
ward step could not have been takel
or thought OF. The best support tha
any county demonstration agent re
ceives comes from the progressiv,
farmers clubs and oranges OF his coun
ty whonls5s. has convinced of the valu
Of his services and the most practica
method of developing the agriculture
interests Of his territory On the ot','
hand, the Maryland farmer who
making the greatest profitable prom
and at the same time getting the mos
healthy enjoyment out OF life for hi
family and himself Is the member o
the local farmers club or grange o
community association made possibl
through his efforts and intelligent CO
operation with his County Demonstra
ton Agent and his State College o
Agriculture.