THE RELATION OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AGENCIES TO 



FARM PRACTICES. 1 



By C. Beaman Smith, Agriculturist, and H. K. Atwood, Agent, Office of Farm 



Management. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The past 50 years have seen the rise and development of the agri- 

 cultural college, the farmers' institutes, and the agricultural experi- 

 ment stations. Farm papers and agricultural books have been pub- 

 lished widely in this country for more than 100 years. The most 

 recent movement along agricultural lines is the county agricultural 

 demonstrator. The question arises as to the efficiency of each of 

 these agencies in actually reaching the man on the farm and influenc- 

 ing his practices. 



In order to get some information of a definite character along these 

 lines an investigation was made in four sections of the country, the 

 East, the South, the Central North, and Middle West, where all the 

 above agencies, except the demonstration agent, have long been in 

 operation. Only in the South, however, has the county agricultural 

 demonstration agent been an important factor in agriculture, and 

 there the movement is too recent in most sections to determine its 

 influence. 



In this investigation four agents, each familiar with agriculture, 

 three being agricultural college juniors or graduates, were started 

 out, either afoot or on a motor cycle, and asked to visit every farmer 

 on both sides of the road over a route varying from 400 to 700 miles 



1 Issued Mar. 15, 1913. 



It is frequently asserted in the press and elsewhere that the agricultural bulletins 

 and the reports of the State experiment stations and of the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture are seldom read, rarely saved, and their teachings little practiced 

 by farmers. The statement is frequently made also that the farmers' institute, as 

 usually conducted, is of little value. Just now there is a feeling quite general among 

 business men and agricultural teachers that the agricultural demonstration agent, the 

 man sent out to bring by word of mouth and ocular demonstration to the farmer the best- 

 known farming practices, is the agency probably destined to become the most efficient of 

 all in affecting farm practice. 



In order to obtain some definite information on these points it was suggested to Prof. 

 W. J. Spillman, agriculturist in charge of the Office of Farm Management, that a survey 

 might be in order. A general outline of the plan was prepared and the details put into 

 effect by Mr. C. Beaman Smith, of the Office of Farm Management. The manner of con- 

 ducting the survey and its results have been brought together, and it is believed they are 

 of sufficient interest to warrant publication. — B. T. GallowaT, Chief of Bureau. 



tCir. 117] *& 



