EEPORT OF DIRECTOR OF STATES RELATIONS SERVICE. 315 



led to the organization by the agents of boys' corn clubs and later 

 various other kinds of boys' and girls' clubs. This work with the 

 young people did much to popularize the demonstration work in the 

 South. It early became one of the leading features of the county 

 agents' work. 



In all county agent projects at this time the organization and 

 management of boys' clubs is made a part of the regular work of the 

 county agent. The projects for the assistants and specialists in 

 boys' club work all provide that their work shall be carried on in 

 cooperation with and through the county agent. 



During the past year 731 regular county agents and 407 women 

 county agents and 26 boys' clubs agents have been employed in the 

 Southern States. There are at present 15 directors, and 15 State 

 agents or assistant State agents in charge of the work of the county 

 agents. There are 417 women engaged in home economics or home 

 demonstration work. Of these 15 are State agents or leaders in 

 charge of the work, 25 assistants and district agents, and 407 county 

 women agents. 



Results. — During the season of 1915-16 approximately 110,000 

 adult farmers carried out definite demonstration work on their own 

 farms under the supervision of agents engaged in the demonstra- 

 tion work. Information, advice, and assistance were given to ap- 

 proximately ten times this number through field meetings, farmers' 

 meetings, circular letters, and in other wa} r s. Each farm demonstra- 

 tion serves as an object lesson for the community in which it is lo- 

 cated and influences a considerable number of other farmers. 



During the season of 1915 there were demonstrations with farm 

 crops as follows: 446,004 acres in corn demonstrations; 201,974 acres 

 in cotton demonstrations; 2,630 acres in tobacco demonstrations; 

 196,000 acres in small grain demonstrations; 152,745 acres in hay and 

 forage crop demonstrations; 265,177 acres of cover crop demonstra- 

 tions; 102,939 acres of summer legume demonstrations; 7,476 acres 

 in potato demonstrations; 105,791 acres of old pastures renovated. 

 Among the many miscellaneous results accomplished during the 

 year 1915 may be mentioned the removal of stumps from 71,819 

 acres; the drainage of 221,596 acres; and the terracing of 202,705 

 acres to prevent erosion. There were 29,319 demonstrations in home 

 gardens. The number of improved implements and tools bought at 

 the suggestion of agents, for labor-saving purposes, was 64,079. 



Work was done with orchards involving 2,216,000 trees. The 

 agents instructed farmers in the erection of 4,584 silos and 1,579 

 dipping vats; 29,007 farmers were instructed in the care of manure, 

 with an estimated saving of 3,381.030 tons. Agents instructed 110,- 

 570 farmers in the use of commercial fertilizers and advised farmers 

 in 678 cooperative community organizations regarding the purchase 

 of fertilizers, with a saving in cost to these communities of $125,- 

 407.02. They suggested and assisted in the organization of 1,654 

 community organizations of farmers for the study of local prob- 

 lems and the meeting of local business needs, with a membership of 

 44,548. The general results of demonstration work have been the 

 widespread adoption of better methods, particularly in the prepa- 

 ration of the land, selection of seed, and cultivation of the crop. 

 The demonstrations, as a rule, exceed the average production by 

 100 per cent. There has been continued interest in live stock re- 



72412°— agr 1!)16 21 



