156 BACKGROUND AND MEANS OF SERVICE 



drainage, farm accounts, and the greater use of livestock, 

 all these and other things were successfully taught by the 

 "show me" method. 



As a matter of fact, when Doctor Knapp attempted to 

 demonstrate better cultural methods in the Southeastern 

 states, particularly in Georgia, he found the cultural prac- 

 tices of farmers there far in advance of those in Texas 

 and in many localities even as good as his own demonstra- 

 tions there. Since the weevil had not then reached this 

 territory the demonstration work became a matter of prepa- 

 ration for its coming. This preparation took the form of 

 efforts to diversify the farming of these states. The early 

 work was chiefly one-acre demonstrations of corn growing 

 with boys, which was followed by the introduction of hogs 

 id cattle. Much good was accomplished, the fuller results 

 ifi% harvested with the coming of the weevil. 



EXTENT OF EARLY DEVELOPMENT 



It is estimated that there were in 1904 about fifteen 

 agents engaged in this work and about twenty agents in 



1905 with from four to six thousand persons enrolled. In 



1906 under the term "cotton culture farms," there were 

 about twenty-five agents doing demonstration work in parts 

 of the five states mentioned above. Approximately eight 

 thousand persons were cooperating at that time. Three 

 hundred and fifty-nine farms were secured and placed 

 under the full supervision of the agents for the purpose of 

 securing special results. By the end of 1913 the number 

 of agents in the thirteen Southern states had increased to 

 eight hundred and seventy-eight and the number of dem- 

 onstrators and cooperators to one hundred two thousand 

 seven hundred and eighteen. Beginning in 1909 these 

 agents also carried on demonstration work with women and 



