Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-06-11
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION
~ DR.. ANDREW M. SOULE

broadening the vision, the under
standing and the appreciation of club
members of the opportunities which
rural life affords. Is this work not
progress of every county in our
| state?
The agent also aids in the promo
| tion of sanitation as it relates to
the welfare of farm animals, to the
clearing of lands, the drainage Of
| family. from fever and disease
! through the screening of houses and
the construction of sanitary privys.
This work of itself has paid back
to every locality in which an agent
has worked far more than the appro-
seems to me that further argument
along this line is unnecessary. Those
who will not be convinced by the
facts presented cannot be reached by
reason, and l am not attmpting in
this article to overcome deeply-fxed
and ingrained prejudiceS.
In concluding this discussion, how
ever it seems to be appropriate to
point out what club work has meant
to Georgia. This work really start
ed back in 1910 on a formal basis.
OF course considerable effort had
been expended along this line pre-
vious to that date, but nothing of
really definite character had been ac-
complished. In that year 1000 boys
were enrolled, >and they raised $780,
600 worth of corn. The next year
5000 were enrolled, and they har-
1914 the number enrolled had reach
ed 10000, and they grew $275,0O0
worth of corn. In 1919 the number
enrolled was $2O,570, and they pro-
duced $1,247.969 worth of corn. Since
the inception of the work 123,945
boys have participated therein, and
the corn crops grown by them totals
record of achievement in which the
county agent has reason to exhibit
justif1able pride.
L find from Il study of the record
that a summary of the work of the
county agent for the years 1910 to
have been achieved: Service work
Of value to Georgia farmers has been
promoted along forty distinct lines.
Twenty-one thousand eight hundred
and tWenty-siX meetings have been
held in the interest of our farmers.
The ATTENDANCE has aggregated q
148,869 individuals. The demonstra-
tions conducted on our farms totaled
277,743. There have been 2,338,500
bulletins distributed, 123,945 club
boys instructed. and 1,015,167 hogs
inoculated. Cooperative buying and
selling has been promoted on basis
which aggregates $24, 427,835 in gross
values. The saving effected to farm
ers by this effort has totaled $685.
442, which is many times over and
above the total cost of the extern
sion service to Georgia. In accom-
plishing the ends indicated above our
agents have Travelled 3,617,586 miles
in Georgia. These facts apply only
to the work of the men agents.
The county agent is a public serV-
ant. He is ubiquitous and he has
an Unsuitable appetite for service. He
is leader and dissemination of
fundamental knowledge. He is a
friend in time of need. He holds
up the torch of friendship and CO.
operation as a beacon light to guide
the footsteps of our farmers over
many dark and stony trails He is
the indispensable right hand of our
agriculture. His work is essential
to our correct economic progress;
Get behind your county agent and
help him to evangeliZe and recon-
struct our farm practice along safe
and sane lines.
Preparing Land for Seeding to Grass
S. M. r., Hartwell, Ga, writes:
I have about four acres of river
bottoms subject to overflow to a
small extent. I want to sow
Red Top and Alsike clover but
cannot get the seed. Would you
advise putting the land to soy
beans, and then after taking the
soy beans off this fall SOW Red
Top or AlSike clover? The land
is rather wet for corn.
We think the season entirely too
far advanced now to plant Red Top
or Alsike clover. 1t would be better
to put the land in soy beans. as you
suggest, and then seed the Red Top
and Alsike this fall. The soy beans
should be planted Immediately. We
would suggest that you use an early
maturing variety so as to get them
off the land as soon as possible, such
as the Extra Early Black. In some
sections they are called Black Eye
brow, or Wilson's Early Black. This
strain will make a good yield of
grain and is a prolific producer. The
average height on good land is about
three feet. AS a combination crop
for hay and seed production it is one
of the best with which we are &C
quainted. 1t natures in say 115 to
100 days. You could therefore har-
vest the crop in time to prepare the
land and put it in ideal condition for
the planting of Alsike and Red Top
clover about the list to. 18th of Oc-
tober.
If seasons are at all favorable or
if the land contains a fair amount
Of moisture this would be the best
time at which to plant fine seeded
crops like grass and clover The land
should be prepared very carefully
and fine seed bed obtained. The
grass and clover seeds may then be
distributed with a harrow seeder and
covered into the soil with a brush
harrow. The grass and clover men
toned should do we'll on land such
as you describe