2 1 14 Farm Bureau Circular No. 6 



clover were planted through the managers' efforts; and 336 farmers used 

 one or more of these crops for green manure. 



Eight hundred and eighty-two farm surveys were made in 1 5 counties, 

 including 300 in Chemung County; 151 farmers were assisted in keeping 

 farm accounts, partial or complete, and the seasonal distribution of labor 

 was improved on 6 farms. 



In a business way the managers furnished information and other similar 

 assistance in organizing g purchasing and marketing associations, which 

 did a business aggregating $134,100. Eight farmers' exchanges were 

 organized through the farm bureaus, doing a total business of S3 506, 

 at little or no cost. Four hundred and eighty-seven farmers were supplied 

 with farm labor through these exchanges, including 230 in Ca^tiga County. 



In addition to this work a good deal of miscellaneous work of other 

 kinds has been performed, such as spraying potatoes, assisting school 

 children in the collecting of tent caterpillars, helping to control army 

 worms and grasshoppers, making exhibits at the agricultural fairs, ad- 

 vertising the advantages of the county, making live-stock surveys and 

 publishing lists of pure-bred stock, lecturing and furnishing information 

 to granges, improving timothy by selection and breeding, assisting in 

 making and laying concrete work, and the like. 



During the year the total membership in the farm bureau associations 

 has increased from 2620 in 18 associations, an average of 145 each, to 

 5 73 7 in 23 associations, an average of 2 50 each. The last seven associations 

 organized have an average membership of 305, showing that the interest 

 in the -^^ork is on the increase. There are now 27 farm bureaus in New 

 York State. 



New bureaus 



The list of farm bureaus given on page 2106 shows that eight new 

 bureaus were organized during 19 14 and that nine others have been 

 partly organized. At least two of the latter are likely to complete their 

 organization within the next two or three months. Assistance has been 

 given to committees and to individuals in other counties in organizing 

 farm bureau organizations by sending out circulars and bulletins from the 

 central ofhce about the work of other bureaus in the State and about the 

 requirements for organization. This information has also been given 

 through personal letters and by 23 visits during the year to the counties 

 desiring an explanation of farm bureau work and a knowledge of the 

 requirements that must be met in order to secure State and Federal 

 cooperation. 



The furnishing of this information has greatly facilitated the work of 

 organizing bureaus and has been very much in the interest of efficiency. 

 In the case of a number of counties, nearly a year has been gained in the 

 work because, through the information and the organization given at 

 the start, these bureaus have been able to begin where the earlier bureaus, 

 without experience, found themselves at the end of a year. The work, 

 particularly the visits, has taken a good deal of time, but this time has 

 been well spent. Farm Bureau Circular i, which will be revised during 

 the coming year, will furnish much of the desired information. The 

 annual reports of the managers, included in this report will furnish addi- 

 tional information to coiinties desiring to organize farm bureaus. 



