3G8 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



pork prodnction. The organizing of pig clubs and sheep clubs wher- 

 ever feasible was stimulated; encouragement was given to the intro- 

 duction of sheep into a few of the Central States, into the cut-over 

 pine lands of the upper lake region, and to the further adoption of 

 sheep raising on New York and NeAv England farms; attention was 

 given to the production of beef cattle by economical methods in a few 

 of the central Western States; poultry production for the increase 

 of the egg and meat supply with special reference to a wheatloss ra- 

 tion was urged in States not conducting poultry extension work. The 

 dairy extension specialists conducted a very extensive cottage-cheese 

 production and consumption campaign^ in addition to the regular 

 extension activities, namely, cow-testing associations, bull associa- 

 tions, dairy manufacturing, and farm dairy extension work. The 

 specialist in charge of hog-cholera work engaged in extension work 

 ,for the prevention of hog cholera by educational methods in many 

 swine producing States, by arranging with the State extension service 

 for the use of regulatory men, a part of whose time could be given 

 to lectures and demonstrations on sanitation and instructions to 

 county agents on methods of control. 



The Bureau of Plant Industry used both regular and emergency 

 funds to improve the seed stock of potatoes and beans through 

 disease prevention and hill and plant selection. It also entered upon 

 a campaign for the control of cereal smuts, by means of traveling 

 squads of demonstrators in seed treatment. A campaign to eradicate 

 the common barberry to prevent rust on wheat v/as well under way 

 before the close of the fiscal year. One person gave attention to the 

 methods of extension teaching practiced by State extension specialists 

 in horticulture working on Smith-Lever projects, and to preparing 

 material for boys' and girls' gardening clubs; and one was employed 

 to enter upon a spring and summer campaign for home gardens. 

 About 75 assistant county agents were employed as home garden 

 demonstration agents. Specialists in the preservation of vegetables 

 were employed cooperatively in two New England States. 



The Bureau of Entomology employed a specialist to conduct its 

 emergency extension work in the control of insect pests and in the 

 increased production of honey. The assignment of extension ento- 

 mologists to cooperating States proved very satisfactory and con- 

 tributed greatly toward the State specialist becoming an active mem- 

 ber of the State extension force. Short honey-production campaigns 

 of a few weeks were conducted in the principal honey-producing 

 States. A successful campaign for the control of the Coulee cricket 

 was carried on in Oregon and Washington. In the Middle West an 

 extensive campaign for control of the chinch bug was carried on, and 

 a grasshopper campaign Avas conducted in Montana. 



The extension specialist representing the Bureau of Soils has visited 

 most of the Northern and Western States east of the Rocky Moun- 

 tains. Three points were emphasized in his conferences : An increase 

 in the nitrogen and humus supply by planning for some legume in 

 the crop rotation and shortening the rotation ; the addition of humus, 

 also, by the better saving of manures, and using green crops and other 

 crop residues; and an increased growth of nitrogenous crops to lessen 

 feed bills and to increase the supply and improve the quality of 

 manure. 



