137 



farmers' picnics, etc., are supervised by the Extension Depart- 

 ment. 



(d) Experimental and demonstration work on county farms 

 is conducted by the department. 



(e) Dairy test associations are formed by the department. 



(f) Organizations, such as agricultural clubs, farmers' co- 

 operative organizations, etc., are established. 



(g) Schools, both secondary and common, county superin- 

 tendents and teachers' institutes are held. 



(h) Junior work with boys and girls is carried on. 



(i ) Publications, such as bulletins, circulars, leaflets, and score 

 cards, are issued and distributed by the department. 



(j Correspondence covering all sorts of questions pertaining 

 to the farm and home is answered. 



SCHOOLS. 



The best way of reaching the largest percentage of boys and 

 girls upon farms with information on agriculture and domestic 

 science is through the medium of the country school. The Ex- 

 tension Department is doing a great deal in promoting the idea 

 of having agriculture taught in the country school. The need 

 of teaching agriculture and domestic science in public schools is 

 obvious if we take into consideration that only a fraction of one 

 per cent, of the pupils of schools ever attend college. Already 

 much is done in the United States of America to get agriculture 

 taught in the public rural schools. The development of this line 

 of work is of the greatest importance as it alTects the rising gen- 

 erations of the nation. 



JUNIOR WORK. 



In the State of Iowa, United States of America, seven thou- 

 sand boys and girls are taking special work in mealie-growing, 

 gardening and domestic science. This work is done according" 

 to directions sent out by the Extension Department. The compe- 

 tition among these youngsters is strong in the annual contest and 

 exhibits held at short courses. A couple of years ago the highest 

 yield of mealies produced per acre by one of these boys engaged 

 in this kind of work was 118 bushels, or in South African measure 

 38 bags. This boy has consequently done a noble work by get- 

 ting four times as much as the average yield of the mealie belt 

 of the States. He has demonstrated to the farmers the possibili- 

 ties of mealie culture in the states. The boys in the different 

 counties carrying on this work, obtaining -the highest yield, were 

 given a free trip to Washington, and had the honor of being the 

 guests of the President for a few days. The girls who had won 

 in the cooking and sewing contests were given the same privilege. 

 In America the question is not how to arouse interest for this 



