Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-01-08
AGRICULTURAL AGENTS
DID FINE WORK IN 1917
Only % Counties in State Are
Now Without County
Agents

That the work of the county agri-
cultural agents in Georgia during 1917
resulted in vast improvement in the
compilation of official reports received
from every one of the 125 agents scat
tered throughout the state.
Only twenty-eight counties are now
without county agents and the excell-
ent results accomplished during the
past twelve months is expected to cause
many of these to avail themselves of
the privilege of securing expert advice
on agricultural questions.
The report shows that during 1917
there were 283 meetings held for the
purpose of urging increased production
of food crops, business men and farm
ers to the number of $1,000 attending
these gatherings.
The anti-boll weevil campaign, as car
ried on under the supervision of the
county agents and the United States
department of agriculture, included 223
meetings which attracted $1,000 farmers
and business men. In the summer and
fall of 1917 there were go meetings
held in the interest of food conserva-
ton and 4S,450 persons attended these
assemblies.
When the second Liberty Loan cam
paign was at it's height, the county
agents devoted one week to the holding
of special meetings in the rural dis
tricts, stirring up interest in the great
war fund drive.
A total of 21,150 acres of land was
drained during the year by the use of
tile or open bitches, this work being
under the direction of county agents.
while an increase of more than 800 per
cent was shown in the number of or
chards and home gardens. Farm build
ings to the number of 500 were con-
structed according to plans furnished
by the agents and home conveniences,
such as water systems, lighting plants,
and other improvements, were installed
on more than a thousand farms
throughout the state.
Through the efforts of the county
agents 1,5oo dairy cattle were bought
by Georgia farmers and so dairy herds
started. while 1901 beef cows were
purchased and 1O4 beef herds started.
There were 1928 pure bred hogs bought
during the year and county agents in
oculated 129,99S animals for hog chol-
era, while 4,444 cattle were treated for
disease.
An average yield of 80 bushels per
acre was secured on 55.15S acres OF
corn planted for demonstration pur-
pose and an average yield of IA bushels
to the acre on 10000 acres of velvet
beans. Demonstrations were also given
in the production of soy beans, tobac-
CO cowpeas and other crops.
One of the most important features
of the agents work was the demonstra-
ton of cotton production under boil
weevil conditions. The records show that
during 1917 the average yield of seed
cotton per acre under boll-weevil con-
ditions was 495 pounds, while outside
of the weevil territory the yield per
acre was LOO pounds.
The work of the county agents and
home economies demonstrators with the
boys girls, and women's clubs was
particularly productive of results. The
pig, calf and corn clubs showed mark
ed increases in membership, while
total of 641, 597 jars of vegetables and
fruit were preserved by the girls club
members. The value of these products
is S106, 95471. The womens club mem
bers put up 2,1s5,223 containers of home
grown products valued at 1865, $500.
There are now 1900 members of the
women's canning clubs, while 5,124 girls
enrolled in their organizations.