338 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



ments. Full reports on the condition of the work and the results 

 obtained in each of the 15 States were prepared. 



Representatives of the office attended and assisted in conducting 

 the annual and semiannual meetings of county agents, home demon- 

 stration agents, and other extension workers in each State. The 

 chief or one of his assistants attended and addressed many other 

 meetings of importance to the development of agriculture and home 

 economics in the South during the year. The office assistants made 

 special trips into all the States to advise with the extension force and 

 to visit field demonstrations with the agents. 



A large number of circulars were prepared and distributed for the 

 purpose of emphasizing the need of a greater production of food and 

 feedstuffs in the South and the necessity of conserving the surplus 

 by canning, drying, and storage. 



COUNTY AGENTS. 



That the county-agent plan of carrying on agricultural extension 

 work is a firmly established and satisfactory system in the 15 

 Southern States is shown by the fact that the legislatures of most 

 of the States are making liberal appropriations to aid in its support. 

 Progress was made in the general plan of placing an agent in every 

 county in the States. More or less difficulty is being experienced in 

 all of the States in obtaining a sufficient number of well-trained men 

 and women with practical experience for agents. The employment 

 of young men graduates of agricultural colleges as assistant county 

 agents as a means of giving them training and experience is being 

 tried in several of the States, with promising results. 



Organization. — ^The progress in the organization of the county 

 agents' work in the South was gratifying. County agents received 

 instructions in the organization of their work, especially the organi- 

 zation of community clubs to receive instruction from demonstrations 

 and otherwise. The last annual report showed the formation of 1,654 

 community organizations of farmers, with a membership of 44,548 

 farmers ; the report for the present year shows 2,508, with a member- 

 ship of 78,660. This record does not take into account any coopera- 

 ting organization not organized by the county agents, but, neverthe- 

 less, giving active support and assistance to the county agent and 

 thus serving in the capacity of a local community organization. 

 These include organizations in existence before the county agent 

 came — local granges, farmers' unions, and church and civic organi- 

 zations of various characters. It is estimated that about 200,000 

 farmers are enrolled in the various community organizations which 

 are assisting the county agents. An added impetus was given to 

 organizations of this character by the war. (For reference to organ- 

 ization of women's clubs, see p. 19.) 



Plan of work. — In the work in the South the county agent is 

 recognized as the leader in all of the agricultural extension activities 

 in his county. In many of the States a written plan of work for 

 the year is prepared by the county agent, subject to the approval of 

 the cooperative extension authorities. This includes a program of 

 demonstrations, both personal and community; special campaigns; 

 movable schools; organization work; community organization of 



