786 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



man and beast alike during winter months. The wood- 

 land serves as a protection to farm buildings, livestock, 

 and crops and increases the sale value of the farm. These 

 things entitle it to consideration at the hands of agri- 

 culturists and all others interested in better farming and 

 better farm conditions in general. 



A great and growing interest of late years been taken 

 by the individual states and the nation in rural affairs. 

 Through their agricultural colleges and experiment sta- 

 tions the states have been wrestling with local agricultural 

 problems and sending useful information broadcast to 

 farmers within their borders ; the national government 

 has also been helping agricultural affairs largely through 

 the organization of the United States Department of 

 Agriculture, but also through giving direct aid to State 

 Agricultural Colleges in the form of Federal appropria- 

 tions. A number of acts for this purpose have been 

 passed from time to time, but the one known as the 

 Smith-Lever Act, passed May 8, 1914, is proving to be 

 more far-reaching in its effect than any of the others. 

 This bill pro- 

 vides for co- 

 operative agri- 

 cultural exten- 

 sion work be- 

 tween land 

 grant agricul- 

 tural colleges 

 in the states 

 and the United 

 States Depart- 

 ment of Agri- 

 culture, this 

 work to consist 

 of the giving 

 of instruction 

 and practical 

 demonstrations 

 to persons not 

 a 1 1 e n ding or 

 resident in 

 these colleges 



and imparting to such persons information on these sub- 

 jects through field demonstrations, publications, and 

 otherwise. The work must be carried on in a manner 

 mutually agreed upon by the Secretary of Agriculture 

 and the colleges which receive the benefit of the act. 



To pay the expenses of this work, $480,000 is to be 

 appropriated yearly from Federal funds; $10,000 of this 

 will be distributed to each state. An additional $600,000, 

 or a total of $1,080,000, was appropriated for the fiscal 

 year July i, 1915, to June 30, 1916. For each year there- 

 after for seven years, the Act provides for an appropria- 

 tion exceeding by $500,000 that of the preceding year. 

 Thereafter, there will be permanently appropriated each 

 year in addition to the sum of $480,000 the sum of 

 $4,100,000 to carry on this work. For the fiscal year 

 July I, 1918, to June 30, 1919, there will be appropriated 

 $2,580,000. To receive its due quota of the money ap- 



PRODUCTS OF 

 A load of hackbcrry poles on public square for sal< 



propriated in any one year, the State must provide an 

 equal amount either through an appropriation by the 

 State Legislature or through "state, county, college, 

 local authority, or individual contributions from within 

 the State." 



As stated in the Yearbook of the Department of Agri- 

 culture* for 1914, this is one of the most striking educa- 

 tional measures ever adopted by any government. The 

 machinery for putting it into effect is already well de- 

 veloped, every State in the Union has agreed to its pro- 

 visions, and already the State Agricultural Colleges and 

 the United States Department of Agriculture are getting 

 in closer touch with the agricultural population than has 

 hitherto been possible. Through the employment at these 

 colleges of experts in different lines, such as agronomy, 

 animal husbandry, dairying, etc., many lines of work are 

 already being carried on under the provisions of this 

 law. The possibilities in this respect have been made 

 more effective through the system of county agents in 

 most States. These men, with headquarters usually at 



the county seat, 

 are in the em- 

 ploy of the .\g- 

 ricultural Col- 

 lege. It is their 

 business to as- 

 sist farmers in 

 a g r i c u Itural 

 matters. They 

 are almost con- 

 tinually travel- 

 ing from farm 

 to farm in their 

 counties and 

 carrying infor- 

 mation to the 

 farmers. .All of 

 each State's 

 activities sup- 

 ported by this 

 Act are under 

 the control of 

 the State Extension Director, who is also connected with 

 the College, and before any projects for which the use 

 of Smith-Lever funds are contemplated can be initiated, 

 they must receive both his approval and that of the States 

 Relation Service of the United States Department of 

 Agriculture. 



The significance of this bill and the organization of 

 county agents which has arisen out of it to those inter- 

 ested in forestry and particularly in farm woodlands 

 must be apparent. The importance of farm woodlands 

 to their owners has already been pointed out. Why, 

 then, should not they be given their due share of atten- 

 tion under the provisions of this law? The average wood- 

 land owner knows less about the handling and selling of 

 his timber than about any other farm crop. The present 

 big demand for cordvvood is doubtless resulting in the 

 needless slashing of many farm woodlands and will 



THE WOOD LOT 



They bring $2.50 per load at Gallatin. Tennessee 



• Report of the Secretary, page 50, Yearbook of the Dept. of Agr., 1914. 



