STATES RELATIONS SERVICE. 467 



organizations. ISIeetings are held from time to time, and miscel- 

 laneous information is given for the purpose of assisting individuals 

 in solving their farm problems. 



PLAN OF WORK. 



In the South the county agricultural agent and the county home- 

 demonstration agent are the recognized leaders in all agricultural 

 extension activities in the county. Through them the efforts of all 

 members of the extension service — State and district agents, special- 

 ists from the State agricultural college and the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, and State and district club agents — reach the 

 farmer and his familj'. The count}' agricultural agent is responsible 

 in his county for all lines of work with men and the boys' club work, 

 and the home-demonstration agent is responsible for all lines of work 

 with women and the girls' club work. Usually a definite written plan 

 of work for the year is agreed upon for the county by the agents in 

 cooperation with district agents and specialists and the advisory com- 

 mittee of the supporting county organization. Such plans are sul)- 

 mitted to the cooperative extension authorities of the State for ap- 

 proval. The plan includes a program of demonstrations, both indi- 

 vidual and community, with crops and live stock, special campaigns, 

 field meetings, organization work, marketing, organization of 

 clubs, etc. 



RESULTS. 



The extension work in the South, in common with every other 

 activity, has had to undergo more or less readjustment since the war. 

 The decrease in funds made it necessary to greatly decrease the force 

 of agents, both men and women, within the States, and in all cases 

 it has been found a little difHcult to abandon the promiscuous ac- 

 tivities so necessary during the war period and concentrate on 

 dfefijnite programs of extension work. Notwithstanding the tempta- 

 tion of high prices for cotton and other sectional money crops, the 

 general effect of a continuous and consistent program for better 

 balanced farming has been maintained, as evidenced in improved 

 and increased production of food and feed crops as well as live 

 stock, and in development of coperative marketing and purchasing. 



In the 11 cotton States the increased acreage in various crops over 

 those shown in the census of 1909 was as follows: Corn, 20 per cent; 

 wheat, 203 per cent; oats, 125 per cent; hay, 155 per cent; Irish 

 potatoes, 67 per cent; sweet potatoes, 72 per cent; rice, 31 per cent; 

 peanuts, 44 per cent. Grain sorghums have increased from 1915 to 

 1919, 30 per cent in Texas and Oklahoma alone, and velvet beans 

 increased from a small acreage in 1910 to 3,434,000 acres in 1919. 

 The acreage of cotton in 1919 was exceeded seven times during the 

 last 10 years. 



The live-stock industry in the South has shown steady and grati- 

 fying gains. The number of dairy cows and "other cattle'"' was 

 increased over previous years, as was also the number of hogs. The 

 boys' pig clubs, which have continued to grow in popularity and 

 numbers, have been an outstanding influence in inti-oducing i>ure- 

 bred hogs in all sections of the South. The number of hogs slupped 



