350 ANNUAL EEPORTS OF DEPAETMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



ance of 53,601. Ten thousand seven hundred and eleven demon- 

 stration meetings were held, with an attendance of 268,908. 



Food Production and Conskrvation. 



At the outbreak of the war the farm bureaus and count}' agents 

 made an immediate response. Surveys of the situation in re- 

 gard to the availability of seeds, fertilizers, and labor were con- 

 ducted, and in most cases arrangements were made for obtaining 

 the seed and furnishing the labor. The agents were also able in 

 many cases to assist in providing for better credit facilities and secur- 

 ing the efficient use of all available tractor power. The following 

 special war-emergency projects deserve particular mention: (1) In- 

 creased acreage of spring wheat; (2) increased acreage of potatoes; 

 (3) increased acreage of corn; (4) seed-corn selection and testing; 

 (5) increased acreage of buckwheat, soy beans, and the grain sor- 

 ghums. The total acreage of the crops named was increased enor- 

 mously. 



The war has made an emphatic demonstration of the usefulness of 

 the county agent and of the farm bureau to a county and to the coun- 

 try. The farmers, through a county-wide organization and a trained 

 leader, were able to act not only intelligently but quickly. 



Outlook of "County Agent Work. 



The last year has seen a marked improvement in organized work. 

 The county agents have greatly increased the number of their written 

 projects, and these have been formulated in more detail, showing 

 much more careful study of the teaching problems involved. Farm- 

 ers understand better the possibilities and limitations of county-agent 

 work and are assuming more and more the responsibility for local 

 leadership, as shown in the greatly increased number of farm bureaus. 

 All this promises well for the future of the work. 



BOYS' AND GIRLS' CLUB WORK. 



The boys' and girls' club work continued in charge of O. H. Benson. 



During the year ended June 30, 1917, 29 Northern and Western 

 States cooperated with this service in boys' and girls' club work. 

 Seven hundred and fifty-nine counties in the North and West now 

 have the junior extension work thoroughly organized into club 

 groups and on a club-project basis. Eighteen agricultural and home- 

 economics projects were carried out cooperatively. Eight States had 

 written project agreements with State institutions like departments 

 of education, normal schools, etc. Eighteen States had written 

 project agreements with county organizations and institutions for 

 doing club work. 



During the year ended June 30, 1917, there were 1,121: paid leaders 

 working in connection with the boys' and girls' club Avork. In addi- 

 tion to the paid leaders there were 9,748 volunteer club leaders. Two 

 hundred and forty club leaders were paid cooperatively by the State 

 and the United States Department of Agriculture, 133 by the State 

 agricultural college and the local people, 18 by the college only, and 

 733 by the local people. 



