Novfmber, 1921 



i^ClENTIFlC AC I i U ' l" I /P T I ; I : 



The Agricultural Representative System in 

 Ontario and Manitoba 



Syno])sis of a(l(ln?ss Ity X. ('. McKAY, 

 vice. I)('))t. of A«;rk' 



OXTAKIO 



Tile A^rii'ultui-al Kepri'sentat i\t' s_\stt')u 

 <)ri<:;inato(l in Oiitaiio. ami was (level(>})e(l 

 l)y two great agrit-ultural loaders, tiie late 

 ('. ('. .James, and Dr. G. ('. deehnaii. ex- 

 |)i-esident of the 0. A. C. The first ap- 

 |)oiiitments were made in 1905 and the 

 system has growii until now fifty repre- 

 sentatives are employed in as many conn- 

 ties, and many of these have a permanent 

 assistant. 



At first the representative was a mem- • 

 her of the High School and gave agricul- 

 tural instruction during the school term. 

 This has however been abandoned and now 

 there is no connection. The ('onnt\' pro- 

 vides $500.00 annually and this is expend- 

 ed by the Representative, with the appro- 

 val of the Director of Agricultural Re])re- 

 .sentatives. The Department of Agricul- 

 ture provides all the other funds required 

 for the office. This amounts to approxim- 

 ately $5,000 per year. 

 Activities: (A) Educational. 



School Fairs. 



Coui-ses in Agriculture, 4 weeks. 



^Meetings, and 2 day courses. 



(Jlub work. 



Demonstrations and Experiments. 

 School Fairs : Practically every child in 

 Ontario is now permitted to take part in 

 School Fair activities. Many fields of 

 grain now l)eing grown have originated 

 from choice seed supplied a child tlirough 

 a School Fair. 



4 weeks Coiases: Held during -January 

 and February. Boys and young men attend 

 (average age. lS-20 years), and at conclu- 

 sion of course organize into "Junior Farm- 

 er Improvement Association'", carry out 

 programme during year, such as meetings. 

 athletic meets, debates, tours, stock .judg- 

 ing, etc. 



Judgiiiy irork feainr(d: At the Can- 

 adian National Exhibition, Toronto, in 

 1921, 285 contestants took part in the 

 Judging competition. Judging teams each 



Assistant Siipei-intendent. Extension Ser- 

 ultiire, \Vinnii)eg. 



year for (xuelpji and Ottawa Winter Fairs 

 are selected from tjiese Associations. Tliese 

 trained young farmers have greatly influ- 

 enced stock raising and many of the best 

 Fall Fair judges are now coming fiom 

 these boys. 



Cluh Work: Boys ami girls older than 

 school age compete in this: raise vegetables, 

 pigs, calves, sheep, poultry, etc. 



Demonstrations and Experimental 

 Work : Experimental work largely drop- 

 ped: farm demonstrations now practised. 

 These, such as "Source of Seed" demons- 

 tration in potatoes : variety tests in corn, 

 etc., are pro^•ing very popular. 



Poultry breeding stations: Each county 

 lias from one to five poultry breeding sta- 

 tions. All eggs for school fair purposes are 

 obtained from these — other farmers and 

 poultry breeders in the County also pur- 

 chase large numbers of eggs from these 

 each year. The farmers own the females, 

 the males are supplied b}- the 0. A. C, and 

 the owners of the flocks are under eon- ' 

 tract. 



Activities — (B ) Commercial Lines : Edu- 

 cational lines are followed up by commer- 

 cial activities and representatives are res- 

 ponsible for a great many of the co-opera- 

 tive organizations now in operation. As- 

 istance is given in collecting and market- 

 ing live stock, wool, potatoes, fruit, poul- 

 try, and many other lines. The represen- 

 tative, while not assuming the active man- 

 agement of the Association is frequently 

 the directing figure behind the organiza- 

 tion. 



The repre.sentative co.-operates with all 

 agricultural organizations and now in some 

 Counties an "Advisory Agricultural 

 Council"' meets at regular intervals to as- 

 sist and direct him in his work. 



MANITOBA 



Tiie .system first started in 1915. At 

 piesent there are six offices open and se- 

 veral applications are in for new ones. 



