STATES RELATIONS SERVICE. 377 



CX)UNTY AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION. 



Tlie rapid appointment of agents during 1917 and 1918 made im- 

 possible thorough organization in many of the counties. The past 

 year witnessed a great intensification of county and community 

 organization. The development of community programs received 

 special emphasis. The initiative and cooperation of the people of 

 each community were carefully nurtured, and by conferences with 

 community leaders local extension programs w^ere developed. Al- 

 though the number of county extension organizations did not in- 

 crease materially from the 775 on June 30, 1918, the membership 

 increased from approximately 300,000 on that date to 409,841 on 

 March 1, 1919. IVlore important, however, w^as the organization of 

 community committees. No data are available as to the number of 

 such committees on June 30, 1918, but it may be conservatively esti- 

 mated that more than one-half of the 8,575 community committees 

 existing on June 30, 1919, w^ere organized during the past year. Bet- 

 tor understanding was established and maintained with local farmers' 

 organizations, and their machinery was freely lent to the furtherance 

 of the extension program. 



DEIIONSTBATIONS. 



Field demonstrations continued to be the basis of the work. Al- 

 though during the summer of 1918 definite demonstration work was 

 much interrupted by special or "war work,'' 77,668 demonstrations 

 were conducted incident to crop and live-stock production. Almost 

 every phase of agriculture where the need of more efficient produc- 

 tion was apparent or made evident by a study of local conditions 

 Avas touched. 



The meeting at the demonstration plat is probably the most ef- 

 fective teaching agency. Through it farmers see the effect of the 

 method or practice advocated and determine its application to. their 

 farms. During the year 677,653 people attended such demonstra- 

 tions conducted by the county agents. The increased profit on dem- 

 onstration areas alone, due to the better practices, amounted to $22,- 

 206,307, or more than five times the total cost of the w^ork. 



WAR WORK OF COUNTY AGENTS. 



The county-agent system w as expanded as a food production 

 stimulation measure through special funds appropriated by Con- 

 gress. The county agents thus became the local agencies for propa- 

 ganda work of this character by both the Nation and the States. A 

 great number of other agencies also sought and secured cooperation. 



The following is a partial list of the ways in which the county 

 agents assisted the various departments of the Federal Government 

 and others during the year 1918-19 : 



The agents secured information as to farm-equipment prices ; made 

 surveys to determine farm labor supply, financial condition of farm- 

 ers owing to crop failure, increase in use of farm machinery, and use 

 of tractors on farms ; ascertained the number of farmers in each draft 

 class and the surplus or shortage of labor in each class; assisted in 

 arranging seed loans to farmers in drought-stricken areas in Mon- 



151352*' 19 25 



