Farm BrREAU Work in New York State for 1914 2145 



common alfalfa seed and its crop. We have sixteen such experiments. 

 Five alfalfa demonstrations were held, with a total attendance of ig6. 



These meetings were followed later in the summer by eight dairy field 

 meetings, with a total attendance of 307, and one cauliflower demon- 

 stration with 40 persons present. 



During the year, 258 farms were visited where actual work was done 

 or instruction given. As the work develops, we feel that there must be 

 less work with the individual and more with the group. 



One hundred and one meetings were addressed, with a total attendance 

 of 7129. These meetings do not include the tri-county farm bureau 

 picnic held at Crystal Lake, where over 3000 persons were in attendance. 

 This was the largest purely farm bureau meeting held in the United 

 States last year. 



Arrangements were made for four fami demonstration schools in agri- 

 culture, two of which were held during the year with an attendance of 

 no. The one held at Hamburg was the largest in the State last year 

 from the standpoint of attendance. The other two schools, which have 

 been arranged, are to be held in 1915. 



We are also carrying on much other cooperative work with the College 

 of Agriculture at Cornell. Twenty-two professors and instructors from 

 eleven departments were here dtiring - the year. Nine other specialists 

 cooperated with us, making a total of thirty-one outside instructors for 

 the people of Erie County durkig the year. 



The New York State Department of Agriculture and Alfred University 

 are also helping along various lines by sending specialists to give lectures 

 and demonstrations. 



One of the best pieces of work accomplished by the manager this year 

 was the laying out of drainage systems on thirty-three farms. This 

 sort of work will be of lasting benefit to those assisted. In one case 

 assistance from the United States Department of Agriculture was secured 

 to survey and plan an irrigation system. If this is worked out and com- 

 pleted, it will increase the value of many acres of land in that part of the 

 county. One other small irrigation project is being worked on. 



As Erie County ranks first in the State in the value of its poultry prod- 

 ucts, many calls have come to the farm bureau for information and assist- 

 ance on poultry husbandry. As a result of these calls, fourteen poultry 

 plants were visited with a specialist from Cornell, and questions were 

 answered and problems discussed. 



The lime question has been discussed in numerous places and on many 

 farms. As a result several hundred tons more were probably used than 

 would otherwise have been. 



Our farm bureau helped to gather material for a farm bureau exhibit 

 at the State Fair. We took fifteen boys to the State Fair, and thus gave 

 them agricultural instruction for three days. Both parents and boys 

 expressed their appreciation of the benefit derived from the trip. We 

 had an exhibit at the county fair at Hamburg, where we got in touch 

 with many persons who did not understand the work of the farm 

 bureau. 



We have assisted the rural school superintendents in conducting potato- 

 growing contests with the boys and girls. At the end of these contests, 

 135 



