The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-05-07

lem. one of the biggest in the world,
and 1t was Necessary to attack 1t IN
a large way. 1t has been attacked
in a large way, on a scale SO much
bigger than any other nation Is at
lacking it that the plan had all the
characteristics of a first experiment.
But it works.
The farmer Is a conservative citi-
zen. 1t is hard to make him adopt
new methods. The system of send
ing him printed booklets and printed
directions is all right, but 1t has It's
limitations. The best way to con-
vince him is to send practical man
to his farm and show him how to DO
it. Let him see the process and the
results with his own eyes and put
the profits in his own bank account,
and he is an enthusiastic convert.
The method of teaching by actual
demonstration is better than all the
other methods put together.
This fact has long been recognized,
and demonstration work was no new
thing when the Smith-Lever act pro-
yided for an increasing annual ex-
penditure by state and nation for the
purpose that will eventually total
$1O,000,000 or $12,000,OOO a year.
But the system will effect demon
stration work on a new scale. 1t will
mean that every one of the 1851
rural counties of the United States
will have two county agents for dem
onstration work, probably a man and
woman in each. Already more than
1900 rural counties have such
agents. Every agent is in touch
with all the work that is being done
on farm problems in all the different
states and in the federal department.
If farmer in Oregon or an expert
ment station in Florida works out a
new method, the farmer in Iowa or
the farmer in California can learn
how to use it a week later. Without
such a system he might not even
hear of it.
How to Convince Skeptics.
The demonstration method has the
great merit of convincing the most
skeptical by piling up results before
their eyes. For instance, there was
q county agent out in Arkansas who
came to a community that laughed
at the idea of new methods. The
agent got one farmer to plant
demonstration acre of corn. That
farmer was an object of public pity.
Neighbors implored him not to waste
his time and money. Later they
came to sit on his fence while he
worked his land in the new way, and
laughed at him, calling him a gov
eminent farmer" and "book farm
err" and predicting disaster. ABOUT
three months later they were driving
over again, but this time to wonder
at his corn. He harvested so bushels
to the acre, while the average for
the neighborhood was 20 bushels.
That neighborhood was converted.
The first farmer became a volunteer
co-opertor with the department., one
Of an army of 10000 enlisted in
the same way.
Demonstration work is not by any
means confined to crop work. 1t
covers every detail Of rural life. The
women county agents work in the
household, helping IN matters OF
cooking and preserving, saving
labor, teaching sanitary methods,
taking up the social side of life, and
doing much to render the country
more ttractive as we'll as more profit
able. The work with boys and girls
has become we'll known all over the
nation, thru such features as. pig
clubs and corn clubs. Often the boy
Or girl is the best way to reach the
father or mother. 81
There was a farmer in Tennessee
who was raising many acres of corn,
and not raising it right. The coun-
" agent was anxious to get this man
o adopt the right methods, but the
'armer would have none of him.
Then the agent talked to the mans
ION, and got him enthusiastic over