Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-11-15
WITH GEORGIA AGRICULTURAL
AGENTS

In order to show our readers the va
.ied exacting duties the county agent IS
called upon to perform, 1 shall give you
the record of the work OF a county
agent as reported to me. The agent
was called from his bed at 4. o'clock IN
the morning of December :, 1917, to go
five miles into the country for the pur-
pose of making an examination of hog
that had died suddenly. After making
this call he was requested by neigh
boring farmer to help drench mule
that was suffering with collie ard TINS
he did. on his way back to town he
was stopped by farmer who wanted
TO know what particular grade of fertil-
iZer he should use on his land and
seemed rather surprised when the agent
could not tell him the chemical analysis
OF the soil. though il takes an expert
chemist several days in a special labora-
tory TO make such an analysis. On his
return to the office these questions were
asked of the agent: Can / success
fully grow crop of Irish potatoes fol-
lowed by sweet potatoes? If so, when
must ! plant the Irish potatoes. and
what kind of fertilizer must ] use? How
much will the application of fertilizer
cost me per acre and when must IL be
applied? VIII the sweet potatoes need
any extra fertilization
This same agent went by the market
later in the day to purchase some beef
and these questions were asked him by
his butcher. who had a number of hogs
in cold storage and wanted TO give them
the suSar-cuTe treatment: How long
must l let this meat remain in cold
stOragC2 What is the proper recipe for
making the sugar-cure preparation ana
how long should / let the meat remain
in cold storage before 1 apply the prep
aration?' Then 10 finish the days work
he received the following requests from
the College of Agriculture and the Unit
ed States department OF agriculture IN
lac nVrnra inc ms
please supply us with a labor sur
vey of your county. Send list OF those
who buy and sell hogs in your county.
Please report to US on the adVisabillJy
Of putting on a demonstration of Sat
suma orange work in your county This
is the actual work laid before county
agent in one day. grant you that it is
out of the ordinary, but ii will give you
some idea at least of the many varied
kinds of service work the county agent
is called upon to perform.
The duties of the county agent are
usually divided into two classes. First,
he is expected to carry on with num-
Der OF farmers. whom we term coop
orators" specific and definite lines of
farm work in general farm crops as &c
the best methods OF planting, fertiliZinC,
In south Georgia where the boil weeVil
was present these demonstrations with
cotton were of inestimable value, for IL
gave the agent the opportunity to- carry
home the lessons of good seed for earli-
ness. thorough fertilization and Guilt
walton, and finally the blowing under of
the stalks as early in the season as pos
sible
Records of demonstrations in general
farm crops and OF miscellaneous DEM
onstrations are given here for your in
formation:
Demonstrations in General Farm Crops
Corn-demonstratiops 5.S25: acres
planted, 55,15S; average yield, 80 bush
els.
Cotton-Demonstrat 5.S25. acres