e 



STATES UFJ.ATTONS SERVICE. 347 



1916, to 544 on June 30, 1917. Nevada appointed two agents during 

 the year, and each of the 33 Northern and Western States now has 

 instituted county-agent work. In three States — Connecticut, Dehi- 

 ware, and New Hampshire — an agent has been appointed for each 

 county. The supervision of the work of the agents by the State 

 extension directors, county-agent leadei's, and assistant county-agent 

 leaders has been made more effective. Ten assistant county-agent 

 leaders were added during the year. 



Work in Relation to Crops. 



Corn. — The work of the agents in connection with corn consisted 

 mainly of testing seed corn, fall selection of seed corn, the introduc- 

 tion of improved varieties of corn, including silage corn, and the use 

 of fertilizers. One thousand one hundred and ten demonstrations, 

 involving 48,209 acres, were conducted by county agents in the 

 various States in which records were kept, showing the increased 

 yield and the increased net profit per acre. The average increase in 

 yield was 15.5 bushels per acre, and the average increased profit per 

 acre was $5.50. A total of 27,635 farmers selected their seed corn 

 in the fall, and 416,066 acres were planted with fall-selected seed. 

 Twenty-eight thousand three hundred and one farmers tested their 

 seed corn, planting 785,666 acres with the tested seed. 



Wheat. — The wheat work of the county agents related largely to 

 the introduction of improved varieties, the use of commercial fer- 

 tilizers, and the sowing of wheat after the fly-free date to prevent 

 the ravages of the Hessian fly. Ten thousand five hundred and five 

 acres were involved in demonstrations, giving an average increase 

 in yield per acre of 8.1 bushels. The average increased net profit 

 per acre was $8.11. Nine thousand and ninety-seven farmers grew 

 wheat under the direction of the agents, sowing 287,032 acres. 



Oats. — The principal work with oats was the treatment of seed 

 oats for the prevention of smut. Four thousand six hundred and 

 sixty-one demonstrations, involving 380,385 acres, on which checks 

 were left and records were kept of cost and increased yields, were 

 conducted. These gave an average increased yield of 4.3 bushels 

 per acre and an average net profit per acre of $2.98, with a total 

 net profit of $1,137,209.25. Fifty-three thousand one hundred and 

 thirty-three farmers treated their seed oats, sowing 1.281.118.5 acres. 

 Work was also done to introduce improved varieties to increase the 

 use of fertilizers and improved cultural methods. The average in- 

 crease in yield per acre on 158 such demonstrations, involving 1,530 

 acres where records w^ere kept,, was 14.7 bushels, with an increased 

 average net profit per acre of $7.79. 



Legumes. — The county agents laid special emphasis on the grow- 

 ing of more legumes. Their work was largely that of introducing 

 legumes suited to soil and types of farming." Fifty thousand six 

 hundred and five acres of alfalfa, 24,825 acres of sweet clover, 21,480 

 acres of soy beans, 16,485 acres of cowpeas, and 14,607 acres of winter 

 or hairy vetch were grown under the direction or at the suggestion 

 of the county agents. 



Potatoes.— Treatment of seed to prevent disease, seed selection, 

 and standardization of varieties were the main lines of Avork of the 



