The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1917-06-07
STATE COLLEGE, ". NJ.

One Of the important things done
by the social session of the Legislature
recently adjourned was the passage
Of n law which makes IL very simple
for any county in New Mexico to OBJ
tain the services of a county agent.
Under the provisions Of Senate Bill
No. 8, Chapter One, Of the Special
Session Laws of 1917, County Com
missioners are authorized upon q petit
: ton Of 100 bona fide tax payers to
make a special levy for the support
of the county agent work. This Jaw
also provides that the state shall con-
tribute dollar for dollar with the
ty in the support of the said work. As
a result of the passage of this law, 1t
is believed that the county agent work
in New Mexico, will receive a very
great impetus. There are employed
in New Mexico at the present time,
eleven county agents, who are experts
in their line, and devote their entire
time and attention to helping the
farmer help himself. President Grille
of the State College has been success
full in obtaining sufficient funds to
place a paid worker in every other
county in the State not already m
ploying n regularly paid expert.
Announcement is made that eleven
women will be placed in the field at
once as agricultural assistants. The
women workers will be employed in
working among the women, teaching
them up-to-date methods in canning,
preserving, preparation Of food and
home economics generally. 1t is be-
lieved that the work of the women will
be especially effective in the rural
communities which do not offer the
facilities available in cities and towns
such as ice, electric power and gas.
The county agent work in New Mex
leo is very well organized up to the
present time. The Federal Govern
ment has co-operated with the State
College in a very substantial manner
and in a number Of counties, the
pioneer work is over, and the work Is
on a substantial, permanent basis.
The county agent work, while it is
only a part of the cooperative ex-
t~ention work undertaken by the State
College of New Mexico, is deemed to
be highly important. This has been
, demonstrated in a great many in.
stances in the present campaign fol
greater food production for New Mex
leo. The county agents have been re.
, markably active in furnishing the
channels for the distribution of seed
in advising financial boards as to the
worth of individual farmers, and II
suggesting the crops that should bs
planted to assure the greatest profit
I to the county and to the state in gen
I eral.
A county agricultural agent is no
a farmers adviser, but rather q col
lector and distributor of valuable in
formation along agricultural lines. HI
5 is a general carrier of the best farm
u practices from one farm to another
e He stands ready at all times to fur
e nish or secure for his farmers ant
others information on agriculture
problems which may arise. He aid
his farmers in securing better market
for their products, better seed and bet
! ter livestock, in eradicating livestocI
diseases. treating seed against smut
\ testing seeds, in constructing silos an
| other farm buildings, in pruning an,
/ spraying. He conducts with the al
/ of specialists from the College, farm
\ ers' short courses; perfects organiZa
| tions fer his farmers and also for tn
|. boys and girls of the county, for tn
& purpose of giving practical instruc
l. tons and demonstrations in agricul
h ture in order that the net income fror
( the farm may be increased.
X A county agent is a man well train
ed, both in the science and practice
of agriculture, and one who has man
sources of information at his dispose
Is He is the connecting link between tn
farmer and the State Agricultural Co
lege and the U. S. Department of Az
riculture. He works solely for tn
best interests of the farmers then
selves. County agents are joint r,
representatives. of the U. S. DepartmeI
of Agriculture, the State Agriculture
College, and the counties in which the
work, and are supported by thes
three institutions. The mar is selec
ed by a committee appointed by ii
board of county commissioners, an
a representative OF the State Agricu
tural College from nominations mad
by the College, and the work is supeI
vised by the Extension Service of Il
Agricultural College. 1t is customar
for county agents to have their hea,
quarters at the county seat. The
spend on the average one day a wee
in the Office and the balance Of Il
time in the field rendering service
their constituents.