MARKETS AND RURAL ORGANIZATION". 405 



plan of organization and the most practical methods of operation of 

 farmers' mutual insurance companies has been disseminated in many 

 ways. 



COMMUNICATION. 



A preliminary survey of farmers' telephone companies has been 

 completed. An intensive study has been made of the forms of 

 organization, methods of financing, and types of telephone systems 

 used by a considerable number of companies in West Virginia, Mary- 

 land, Pennsylvania, and New York. Assistance has been given to a 

 number of farmers who have applied for information regarding the 

 organization of telephone companies. 



RURAL SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES. 



RURAL SURVEYS. 



The two intensive surveys reported as in progress last year have 

 been completed. The survey of Orange County, N. C, was made in 

 cooperation with the University of North Carolina and other local 

 organizations. This work included farm-home and organization 

 surveys and was carried on by field workers who visited the homes in 

 the different communities. A similar survey has been made in Albe- 

 marle County, Va. The material gathered in these two counties has 

 been tabulated and detailed reports are in preparation. 



A collection of published surveys, especially rural surveys, has 

 been brought together, and a study has been made of the manner in 

 which these surveys have been conducted, the form of the question- 

 naire used, and the conclusions reached. 



STUDY OF EXISTING ORGANIZATIONS. 



Material in regard to the social and educational activities of vari- 

 ous national farmers' organizations has been brought together. _ A 

 preliminary study has been made of their methods of organization 

 and of conducting meetings and their efficiency in meeting the social 

 and economic needs of the rural people in the States where they are 

 located. An intensive study of the social activities of the Grange in 

 Ohio made by this office, in cooperation with the officers of the Ohio 

 State Grange and the agricultural college of the Ohio State Univer- 

 sity is nearly completed. 



Mailing lists of over 10,000 women's organizations in towns of less 

 than 2,500 inhabitants have been compiled. An intensive study of 

 women's organizations in Tennessee has been conducted by the ques- 

 tionnaire method and the resulting data have been tabulated. By 

 extensive field trips, by personal investigation of local clubs, and from 

 published reports, the work of women's rural organization is being 

 carefully studied. 



As a result of some of the investigations of rural organizations 

 articles of agreement and by-laws for local rural community clubs 

 have been prepared. Suggested programs have been supplied to local 

 community clubs in Alabama, where active field assistance has been 

 given in the organization of such community clubs. Plans have 

 been developed for the extension of rural community program work 

 into Tennessee and Wisconsin. 



