STATES RELATIONS SERVICE. 599 



SOME RESULTS OF COUNTY AGRICULTURAL AGENT WORK. 



A few concrete results of extension work along agricultural lines 

 may be cited. 



Soils. — During 1922, 213,000 farmers consulted the agents regard- 

 ing the use of commercial fertilizers. In addition the farmers con- 

 ducted 15,235 fertilizer and 4,035 lime demonstrations. As a result 

 of the acti\dties in connection with lime 48,000 farmers used 630,000 

 tons according to the methods advocated by the agents. In addition 

 to the above, 105,000 farmers modified their methods of soil manage- 

 ment. In order to maintain and improve soil conditions, 3,750 drain- 

 age systems, involving 575,000 acres, and 29,000 pieces of terracing, 

 involving 445,000 acres, were carried out according to the methods 

 outlined by the extension forces. 



Cereals. — One of the phases of extension work reaching the largest 

 number of farmers is that relating to corn. During the year 

 13,155 farmers cooperated with the agents in conducting corn dem- 

 onstrations and 16,350 boys and girls grew 23,000 acres of corn 

 according to the methods advocated by their leaders and made 

 satisfactory reports. As the result of these activities and similar 

 activities in previous years, 275,000 farmers changed their methods 

 of corn production. Of this number 48,000 tested 170,000 bushels of 

 seed and 108,000 selected their seed corn in the field, 6,875 grew 

 and offered for sale 325,000 bushels of improved seed corn, and 

 27,300 were influenced through the extension work to purchase 120,- 

 000 bushels of such seed. In 1922, 7,500 farmers conducted demon- 

 strations in methods of growing and handling wheat and 90,000 

 were influenced to change their method of wheat production, a part 

 of whom treated 1,235,000 bushels of wheat for smut, thereby in- 

 creasing their yields from 3 to 5 bushels per acre. A total of 

 7,876 farmers produced 1,390,000 bushels of seed wheat for sale and 

 the extension agents were successful in inducing 24,000 to secure 

 610,000 bushels of this seed. 



The work with oats was similar to that with wheat in that it was 

 devoted primarily to inducing farmers to purchase improved seed 

 and to give their seed treatment for smut prevention, 5,500 farmers 

 completing their demonstrations and 70,000 following one or more 

 of the practices which the county agent had been advocating with 

 reference to oat production. Of these, 30,000 were reported to have 

 treated 750,000 bushels of oats for smut, and 3,850 offered 780,000 

 bushels of improved oat seed for sale and reported that 14,400 pur- 

 chased 385,000 bushels of such seed. 



Hay and forage. — Next to corn, hay is one of the most universally 

 grown crops. The interest of the farmers in extension work with 

 legumes and better varieties of hay and forage continues. In 1922, 

 4,663 farmers cooperated with the agents in alfalfa demonstrations, 

 8,086 in soy bean demonstrations, 2,084 in velvet bean demonstrations, 

 4,107 in cowpea demonstrations, 1,324 in crimson clover demonstra- 

 tions, and 3,833 in sweet clover demonstrations. As a result of these 

 activities 38,300 farmers either grew alfalfa for the first time or im- 

 proved their methods; 56,820 grew soy beans; 16,375, velvet beans: 

 23,400, cowpeas; 10,840, crimson clover; and 20,250, sweet clover. 

 During the year approximately 250,000 farm practices, with reference 

 to the growing of legumes or other forage crops, were modified. 



7S007— AGR 1923 39 



