3C8 ANNUAL REPOETS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



TV'ith the help of the county agents, both men and women, outline 

 the community and county plans of work and participate actively 

 in the carrying out of the programs undertaken. The main feature 

 of the work undertaken through these organizations is the demon- 

 stration conducted by the farmer himself (see p. 369). 



Besides these demonstrations, meetings are held from time to time 

 and miscellaneous information is given for the purpose of helping 

 individuals to solve difficult problems. 



FINANCES. 



The money available for the support of the county agent work 

 during the past year w^as larger than in any year previous. The 

 total amount of funds devoted to the county agent work in the 15 

 Southern States in 1918-19 w^as about $3,080,000, from the following 

 sources : 



Smith-Lever fund. Federal and State $660,000 



Emergency fund 1, 329, 000 



U. S. Department of Agriculture, direct appropriation 375, 000 



County and other local funds 716, 000 



The average salary paid to the county agent in the Southern States 

 is about $2,000. Generally he receives a part or all of his traveling 

 expenses in addition to this. 



PLAN OF WORK. 



In the South the county agent is recognized as the leader in all 

 of the agricultural extension activities in his county. Through him 

 the efforts of all members of the extension service State and dis- 

 trict agents, specialists from the State agricultural college and the 

 United States Department of Agriculture, and club agents reach 

 the farmer. The activities of the county agent fall into two main 

 lines, work wdth men and boys' club work. In the South the boys' 

 club work is one of the main activities of each county agent. 



In most instances a written plan of work for the year is prepared 

 by the county agent in cooperation with the district agent, specialists, 

 and the advisory committee of the supporting county organization, 

 and subject to the approval of the cooperative extension authorities. 

 This includes a program of demonstrations, both personal and com- 

 munity, with crops and live stock, special campaigns, field meetings, 

 organization w^ork, marketing, organization of boys' clubs, etc. 



EESULTS. 



The general effect on southern agriculture of a continuous and 

 consistent program of better balanced farming is now evident. The 

 acreage in corn shoAvs a very great increase during the past 10 

 years in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina. The 

 total corn acreage in the Southern States has increased 17.9 per cent 

 since the year 1909 (census), wheat 150 per cent, oats 98.7 per cent, 

 hay 113 per cent, Irish potatoes G4.5 per cent, sweet potatoes 64.G 

 per cent, rice 32.3 per cent, peanuts about 100 per cent ; grain sorghums 

 have increased, from 1915 to 1919, 26.7 per cent in Texas and Okla- 



