BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY. 445 



shown by the rapid increase in enrolhiiont and tlie intense interest 

 shown in this division of the work. The expenses of the girls' club 

 work are paid entirely from the funds of the (Jeneral Education 

 Board, but the work itself relates directly to the problem of readjust- 

 ing southern farm conditions by the raising of home supplies. This 

 work reaches directly into the home, and it is noticeable that at the 

 meetings held for instruction in canning the mothers are usually 

 present and evince as much interest in the proceedings as do the club 

 members themselves. The season's enrollment of girls was 23,550. 

 Each cultivates one-tenth of an acre in tomatoes and other vegetables 

 and is taught how to can and otherwise utilize the product. Many 

 girls did excellent work and secured large returns from their one- 

 tenth acres in 1911, and reports indicate that they \vill be even more 

 successful during the coming year. 



In addition to the regular club work, as above outlined, the demon- 

 stration work has aided in the formation and conduct of pig clubs, 

 poultry clubs, and other work of similar character. Usually the 

 boys' and girls' work is carried on in cooperation with the agri- 

 cultural colleges of their respective States. 



WORK AMONG NEGROES. 



All demonstration agents enroll negro farmers as demonstrators 

 and cooperators, and extend help to them the same as to white farm- 

 ers. Probably from 10,000 to 15,000 negro farmers are now being di- 

 rectly instructed. In sections where the majority of farmers are 

 negroes and conditions are such that it is possible to do so, agents of 

 their own race are employed. The number of such agents has in- 

 creased from 21 to 33 the past year. As a rule they are doing excellent 

 work. The interest in better farming and living conditions aroused 

 among negro farmers and the success attained by them in following 

 approved methods are among the gratifjdng results of the demonstra- 

 tion work. 



COOPERATION. 



General Education Board. — As for a number of years past, the 

 work during the last year in several States was supported by funds 

 contributed by the General Education Board in cooperation with the 

 department. These funds were expended in Florida, North Carolina, 

 South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and a part of Georgia. In 

 Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Ten- 

 nessee, and south Georgia the work was supported by funds derived 

 from congressional appropriation. The work in all the States is car- 

 ried on in exactly the same way, and all agents, regardless of the 

 source from which their salaries are derived, are selected by the de- 

 partment and are under its complete control. 



Cooperators in general. — Increased cooperation was received from 

 States, counties, agricultural colleges, schools, boards of trade, and 

 private citizens generally during tlie past year. State appropria- 

 tions were made in Alabama, South Carolina, Virginia, and Florida. 

 Many counties contributed directly to the work in Mississippi, Ar- 

 kansas, Texas, Virginia, and other States. Louisiana was added to 

 the number of States whose leirislaturcs liave passed laws authori/.infr 

 county authorities to appropriate money for the purpose of cooper- 



