390 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



8; dismissals, 1; transfers from the bureau, 11; and furloughs and 

 terminations of appointments, 511; making a total of 830 employees 

 dropped from the rolls during that period. There have been made 

 in the same period 1,318 appointments, increasing the total force 

 of the bureau by 488. On September 1, 1912, the numerical strength 

 of the bureau was 2,270. Tlie total number of employees in the 

 bureau on the same date a year ago was 1,782. 



SPECIAL FEATURES. 



It may be proper to summarize here some of the special features 

 of the work which has occupied the attention of the bureau since the 

 last report and to outline briefly the chief lines of endeavor proposed 

 to be carried on during the next year. 



FARM-MANAGEMENT FIELD STUDIES AND DEMONSTRATIONS. 



In the estimates submitted last year there was an item of $50,000 

 for an extension of the farm-management work, especially through- 

 out the Northern States. This amount was recommended by the 

 Committee on Agriculture of the House and was increased by 

 Congress so as to make a total of $300,000 available for this 

 work during the fiscal year 1913. Although funds were not available 

 until nearly the middle of August, 1912, the organization of the work 

 was rapidly effected, so that it is now under way in 29 States, includ- 

 ing all of the Northeastern and Central States and several of the 

 Northwestern and Western States, among them being Washington, 

 Oregon, Wj'oming, the Dakotas, Nebraska, and Kansas. The meth- 

 ods of cooperation with agricultural colleges, experiment stations, 

 and other organized agricultural forces within the State are set 

 forth in another part of this report. The work has everywhere been 

 cordially received, and the funds contributed by the States and 

 private forces within the States have equaled those of the depart- 

 irit^nt. In nearly all, the field w^ork and demonstrations are conducted 

 on a half-and-half basis, the Government paying half of the expenses 

 and the State, county, or other organization paying the other half. 

 The demands for the work have been so great, and the opportunity for 

 aiding the farmer through it are so numerous, that an estimate of 

 $150,000 increase has been submitted. It is certain that this amount 

 will be readily met by the States where the work is in most demand. 



FARMERS' COOPERATIVE DEMONSTRATION WORK. 



The Farmers' Cooperative Demonstration Work, inaugurated sev- 

 eral years ago for meeting the emergency caused by the boll weevil in 

 the South, has been pushed with unusual vigor during the year just 

 passed. Full details of what has been accomplished in this direction 

 are set forth elsewhere. 



During the year, more than 100,000 farmer demonstrators have 

 been actively engaged in this work, approximately 67,000 boys have 

 acted as members of the boys' corn clubs, and about 24,000 girls have 

 served as members of the girls' canning clubs. Owing to the pressing 

 demands for more of this kind of work in the South, an estimate has 

 been submitted for an increase of $75,000. This amount, it is 



