THE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL AGENT 403 



county agent will be of special assistance in planning the 

 proper management of soils and crops when the seasons 

 are too dry or too wet ; in the best organization of farm 

 enterprises ; and in the management of all of the efficiency 

 factors important to the success of American agriculture. 



The county agricultural agent is discussing grain problems with 

 the farmers at thrashing time. 



2. Financial Support 



The Smith-Lever law. The county agent is usually 

 supported in part by federal and in part by local funds. The 

 Smith-Lever law passed by Congress made federal aid avail- 

 able for every state in the union beginning with the year 

 1914. The entire amount appropriated for the first year 

 was four hundred and eighty thousand dollars, to be divided 

 equally among the forty-eight states. The appropriation is 

 gradually to increase until the federal government is con- 



