DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 79 



tion and that tlie agent should do all he could to create a sentiment fav- 

 orable toward action that would eradicate the disease and protect the 

 health of the i^eople of the county and of all the consumers of milk from 

 the county. 



Interest in eliminating tubercular animals from dairy herds is gen- 

 eral. In some counties farmers have been assisted in familiarizing them- 

 selves with making the tests. By this means and b^' the general build- 

 ing up of better dairy herds, the weaker animals are being removed. In- 

 terest in pure milk is being stimulated by talks in the schools and before 

 mothers' clubs. 



FARM MANAGEMENT DEMONSTRATIONS. 



The interest in the farm management demonstrations has been in- 

 creasing as will be seen from the report of the Farm Management Dem- 

 on.strator. It is believed that the value of this work will become more 

 apparent as the county agricultural agent work is developed. The whole 

 tendency of this movement is toward a well organized county agricul- 

 tural program, and in such a program the study of the farm as an or- 

 ganization of specific enterprises has a very important place. One of the 

 most encouraging and gratifying features in the progress of the farm 

 management work this year has been the interest that has been taken in 

 farm accounting and in the use of the farm account book. In the three 

 main branches of any business — production, accounting and distribu- 

 tion, accounting is absolutely essential for an intelligent direction of the 

 business. 



BOYS^ AND girls' CLUB WORK. 



The relation of the county agent to boys' and girls' club work is 

 largely that of an advisor on the technical phases of agriculture, but he 

 is vitally concerned in the progress of the work as an organized move- 

 ment. It is a source of development of rural leadership and of interest 

 in the opportunities of rural life and of an intelligent appreciation of 

 ihem. As an advocate of a j)rogram for permanent agriculture within 

 his county he is committed to a policy that will hold the interest of the 

 boys and girls and assure their training in team work, upon which much 

 of the future development in agriculture depends. 



According to the reports of 17 agents, 101 clubs have been formed 

 since January 1, 1916. 



THE MARKETING OP FARM PRODUCTS. 



A large part of the work of the agents this year has had a direct or 

 indirect bearing on the buying and selling operations of the farmers. Al- 

 most every successful organization, whether formed for marketing or 

 not, exercises a helpful influence in this direction because it furthers ac- 

 quaintance among farmers and accustoms them to acting collectively. 

 Moreover, in practically all the projects adopted, one of the chief ends 

 in view has been more advantageous marketing. Likewise, one of the 

 keenest interests the farmers have had in the movement has been in the 

 aid that might be given toward more satisfactory marketing, and the 

 agent's principal point of contact in dealing with them has often been 



