600 ANNUAL REPOKTS OF DEPAETMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Cotton. — The extension agents report that cotton demonstrations 

 were conducted in 4,320 communities and that 11,300 farmers were 

 enrolled as demonstrators, of whom 6,500 completed their work, using 

 improved methods on 180,000 acres. In addition, 38,250 farmers ob- 

 served these demonstrations and conferred with the agents in the 

 use of similar improved methods on 615,000 acres, 5,200 reported 

 that they tested 75,000 bushels of cottonseed for germination, and 

 850 planted 195,000 acres with selected seed cotton. The agents 

 also induced 10,500 farmers to select their seed cotton in the fall. 

 Although they changed the cotton practices of 52,000 farmers dur- 

 ing 1922, and 4,025 farmers produced for sale 11,230,000 pounds of 

 seed cotton and 27,200 secured 8,350,000 pounds of such seed. During 

 1922, 4,116 boys enrolled in the junior cotton clubs, of whom 1,820 

 reported the value of the crop of their 3,390 acres at $137,000. 



Potatoes. — The work with potatoes continues to be of interest not 

 only to the adult farmer but to the boys' and girls' club mem- 

 bers. Altogether 11,600 farmers completed their potato demonstra- 

 tions, 6,963 completed satisfactory potato club work, and 150,000 

 changed their practices as the result of extension activities during 

 1922. There were 5,800 sweet potato demonstrations by 1,450 boys 

 and girls, 19,500 farmers improved their methods of sweet potato 

 culture, 7,880 offered 2,260,000 bushels of seed potatoes for sale, and 

 43.350 purchased 922,000 bushels. 



Harticulture. — The horticultural work as at present conducted ap- 

 pears to be of unusual interest not only to the farmer and his wife 

 but to the boys and girls. During the year 19,600 orchard dem- 

 onstrations were conducted and 4,859 boys and girls completed the 

 requirements of fruit clubs. On 116,000 farms orchards were either 

 set out or methods of orchard management were changed. In all, 

 85,000 demonstrations relating to small fruits were conducted. As 

 a result of these activities 296,000 acres were sprayed and 214,000 

 acres pruned according to the methods advocated by the agents. 



Rodent pest control. — In the Rocky Mountain States, and those 

 bordering on them, the farmers have suffered large losses because 

 of destruction of crops and livestock by certain rodents and preda- 

 tory animals. In 1922, 75,000 farmers joined in an organized effort 

 to control these pests and 1,370,000 pounds of poison bait were used 

 on 13,300,000 acres. 



Grasshoppers. — Another phase of extension work which has had 

 a marked influence in increasing yields has been campaigns to clear 

 the land of grasshoppers and other injurious insects. During 1922, 

 69,000 farmers cooperated in clearing 27,000,000 acres, using 10,- 

 000,000 pounds of poison bait. Most of this work was carried on in 

 the wheat-growing area. 



Livestock. — The work with livestock continues to be one of the 

 phases of farming that is of increasing interest not only to the 

 adults but of peculiar interest to boys and girls. For example, there 

 were altogether 4,410 demonstrations relating to dairying, while the 

 number of boys and girls completing work in dairy clubs was 12,500. 

 There were 1,100 beef -cattle demonstrations reported, yet the total 

 enrollment of boys and girls in beef clubs was 3,900. The number 

 of swine demonstrations reported was 38,715 and the enrollment in 

 swine clubs was 32,400. As a result, 74,000 farmers improved their 



