REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF STATES RELATIONS SERVICE. 317 



homes in the way of home improvements. Two hundred and fifty 

 women's community clubs were organized. In the meetings held 

 for the purpose of instruction there was an attendance of 74,335 

 women. In a number of counties in Texas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, 

 Virginia, and Louisiana special effort was made to teach farm 

 women to market eggs by organizing egg circles and cooperative 

 egg-selling associations. These were very successful. 



The countjr agents are assisted in their work by a corps of special- 

 ists, men and women, who have given special study to particular 

 branches of agriculture or home economics. 



SPECIALISTS. 



It is not possible for the county agent to be sufficiently well- 

 informed to comply with all the demands that are continually being 

 made upon him for help in the solution of the numerous problems 

 of the farm, the home, and the community. As the work grows and 

 develops the necessity increases for specialists in the various lines of 

 agriculture, home economics, and allied subjects to assist the county 

 agents in handling these difficult scientific problems and also to help 

 in the supervision of special demonstrations with farmers and others 

 for the purpose of giving instruction in these subjects. There are 

 specialists on subjects such as dairying, beef cattle, hogs, poultry, 

 hog cholera, plant diseases, soil improvement, fruits, and vegetables, 

 home canning, curing of meats, marketing, etc. They work directly 

 through the county agents, both men and women, by outlining and 

 helping them supervise practical demonstrations on farms, and 

 assisting in the holding of movable schools of agriculture, farmers' 

 meetings, etc., at various points in their State. 



NEGRO WORK. 



Demonstration work for negroes is now organized in 11 States, 

 with 51 men and 5 women negro agents. While the white agents 

 have from the beginning assisted the negro farmers and tenants, it 

 Avas found advisable in some counties where there is a large negro 

 population to appoint a negro agent to work entirely with negroes. 

 Frequently the Federal funds allotted for negro agent work are sup- 

 plemented by local funds subscribed by the negro population. In 

 some States a negro district agent supervises the work of the local 

 negro agent. There is a close cooperation between the negro agents 

 and the negro schools and other institutions of the State working 

 along the same lines. These agents are instructing and helping thou- 

 sands of negro landowners and tenants, the plan of work being very 

 similar to that of the white agents. Special stress is placed upon the 

 production of home supplies for the family and stock, and upon the 

 improvement of sanitary and home conditions. Negro children are 

 also receiving instructions, as is partially evidenced by the enrollment 

 of 2,800 members in what are called farm-makers' clubs, the members 

 of which are taught to crop crops, can and preserve fruits and vege- 

 tables, and perform other services intended to be helpful to them 

 nnd to the community. There is no doubt of the beneficial effects 

 of this work among negroes. 



