EDITORIAL. 103 



work, in charge of a competent county agent, who shall act as the 

 joint representative of the local community, the State through its 

 agiicultural college, and the Nation through its Department of 

 Agriculture. It is believed that in this way the need of the agricul- 

 tural people in their several communities can be best determined, and 

 whatever help the State and the Nation can give them in their agri- 

 cultural and home problems can be most speedily and effectively 

 brought to them. A large share of the department extension funds, 

 much money derived from State, county, and local sources, and a 

 considerable portion of the Smith-Lever fund have therefore been 

 devoted to the maintenance and extension of the county agent system. 

 There are now over 1,000 counties in the forty-eight States which 

 have county agents. 



On the whole these agents have been very successful in winning the 

 support and confidence of the farming people and the tangible results 

 of their work are very encouraging. The personality of the agent is, 

 of course, a very large factor in determining the measure of his 

 success. His understanding of the real problems of the region in 

 which he is working, his sympathy with rural people, and his ability 

 to meet them on their own ground and actually to convey to them im- 

 portant practical instruction and information in a convincing wav 

 are among the essentials. When to these qualifications are added 

 studious inclinations and habits, the possession of accurate and up-to- 

 date knowledge of the practice and science of agriculture and busi- 

 ness ability of high order we have a very able and useful man whose 

 services will mean much for the agricultural and social advancement 

 of his county. 



Considering the limited number of agricultural college graduates 

 and the numerous avenues for congenial work which are opening 

 up to them it is not surprising that up to the present time it has not 

 been practicable to obtain a sufficient number of such graduates with 

 the practical experience and other qualifications required for the 

 position of county agent. There will be a steady demand for men 

 of thorough training, combined with satisfactory practical experi- 

 ence, to fill these positions. The colleges have therefore a special 

 duty to train the future extension workers and it is encouraging to 

 notice that they are beginning to feel their responsibility in this 

 direction. 



Inasmuch as it is impracticable for the county agent to deal 

 altogether with individual farmers, the problem of the organization 

 of groups of farm people through whom they may work is assum- 

 ing great importance. Two general types of such organizations are 

 now being utilized. County organizations, often called farm 

 bureaus, are being formed which are expected to take the initiative 

 in securing county or local financial support for the county agent. 



