468 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



cooperatively was j^reatly increased. Practically every county in 

 the South havinf^ a county agent shipped a large portion of their 

 marketable hogs in this way during the year. The total number of 

 hogs in the Southern States has increased by 31 per cent since 1910. 

 Of the 20 States ranking highest in point of hog production, 10 are 

 in the southern territory, 



DEMON STRATIONS. 



Actual field demonstrations conducted by the farmer on his own 

 land untler the guidance of the county agent and specialists remain 

 the basis of county-agent Avork in the South. Where the community 

 organizations cooperate fully in extension work the demonstrations 

 are usually on a community basis, following the definite plan of 

 work adopted in cooperation with the local organization, and is for 

 the purpose of illustrating the agricultural practices best adapted 

 to the section. 



The total number of a', res in crop demonstrations in 1919 Avas 

 2,664,723. The total number of farmers demonstrating was 246,982. 

 These demonstrations have dealt with all of the more important 

 phases of crop and live-stock production in the South as well as Avith 

 cooperatiA^e marketing and purchasing. The largest acreage in dem- 

 onstrations Avith one crop Avas in corn. More than 57,000 demon- 

 strators cultivated a total of 645,716 acres under special instruction, 

 Avith an average yield of 37 bushels an acre, or more than double 

 the average yield of the whole territory. The county agents Aver& 

 especially active during the year in the Avork of introducing im- 

 proved live stock, and securing the adoption of better methods of 

 feeding and care and protection against diseases and pests. County 

 agents have everywhere urged the necessity of tick eradication, and 

 assisted in stocking the counties Avith improved cattle after the ter- 

 ritory has been released from quarantine. 



Tlie great groAvth of cooperative marketing and purchasing has 

 been one of the outstanding results of extension work in the South. 

 County agents, assisted b}^ marketing specialists, through market- 

 ing demonstrations and by instruction and advice, haA^e aided local 

 and county associations of farmers in the cooperative selling of 

 all kinds of farm produce and live stock, and in the cooperative pur- 

 chasing of a great variety of farm necessities. Education in busi- 

 ness systems of marketing and purchasing of staple farm supplies 

 has been one of the vital needs of this section, and in no phase of 

 extension work has the assistance of county agents been more highly 

 appreciated or secured more outstanding results. In most of the 

 States the Bureau of Markets of the United States Department of 

 Agriculture has specialists in marketing either in direct or A'ery 

 close cooperation with the extension divisions of the colleges. In 

 a number of the States there is also close cooperation l^etAveen the 

 State departments of agriculture and the extension diAdsions of the 

 agricultural colleges in this activity. The grand total value of all 

 products cooperatively marketed or purchased through the assist- 

 ance and advice of county agents during the year Avas $34,534,886. 

 representing a saving of $4,547,418, or over 13 per cent on the totali 

 volume of business. 



