The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1920-03-26
COUNTY AGENTS
Men Who Put Farm Work On a
More Intelligent and
Profitable Basis
By W. NJ. Goodman.

Notwithstanding the rapid develop
ment in manufacturing and other in
dustrics in the southeastern states
since 1880, and the wonderful possibis-
tiles for the expansion of such enter
priseS, which are now SO plainly appar-
ent, ii was out of the soil that we made
the greater part Of the wealth which
was ours in the past, and out OF the
soil will come the greater part of our
wealth in the future. This section is
essentially agricultural, and farming
will always be its leading industry.
Therefore we should make the most of
opportunities offered for the advance
ment of farming interests.
Even under old methods of farming
methods which have caused our
lands to become less productive year
by year-the farm incomes OF each
county have run into millions of dol
lars annually. In counties where com.
petent demonstration agents have been
employed, rapid progress is noted in
the change from one-cr0p systems and
consequent depletion of soil fertilit;
to diversified farming and soil improve
ulcnt.
Where this change has occurred.
farm incomes have been largely in
creased and the cost of operation de-
creased BY reason Of greater produc-
ton Of food and forage crops.
When the agricultural interests Of
whole counties have been furthered in
this way, as a direct result of the
work of county agents farm incomes
will be more than doubIed-mllli0ns OF
dollars will be ADDED each year TO the
circulating capital OF each county aud
to its permanent wealth.
Figuring Costs and Profits.
When we figure costs and profits
allowing $500 or $1,000 as the amount
paid by u county for a compeien.
agent (the Federal and State govern
ments paying the balance) we will lind
upon estimating the population Of
counties that the average cost to each
individual. viii be in the neighborho0d
Of four or five cents, and that the work
Of the county demonstration, as shown
by actual results in many sections, will
add many dollars to the per capita
wealth.
county's Best Asset.
Tie county demonstration agent who
makes increased soil fertility the basis
If all his efforts, is one OF the best
business assets a county can have,
md it is a shortsighted policy not TO
rive him proper financial and moral
support. On the leadership of such
agents depends the success Of all move
nents toward better farmIng-ths
prosperity which we may have in re-
urn for intelligent well-directeI eff
.arts to promote soil and crop improve
ment work.
Science is applied common sense.
The demonstration agent is a scientist,
md should know how to impart to
1thers the knowledge he has acquired.
He should show the farmer what TO
10 aud how to do it, and lead hi1
away from p4A plANtAeS9 SAN - Wv
Methods to higher efficiency and sue
.ess. This is what Re is doing in most
asses. The Federal government knows
his value and pays large proportion
# the cost of his work. The cost to
he county is small-much less than I
should be-inuch less than it viii be
when che county knows his value-not
nore today with cotton selling around
hirty-hve cents a pound than when It
brought only ten cents. He should
save better pay, and the cooperation
Il all classes of workers-farmers,
| tusiness men and all others who share
the general prosperity Of agrlcus'
Iral sections.