THE FARM DEMONSTRATION WORK 



vember 12, 1906. In his report to the Department in 1908, 

 after careful observation Dr. Knapp said : 



"A few demonstration farms scattered throughout the county, — 

 say five or six, such as would be the case where one agent had 

 charge of seven or eight counties, — do not create sufficient public 

 sentiment and moral force to change the long-established usages 

 of the masses. There must be at least five or six demonstration 

 farms and quite a number of cooperators in each township so that 

 practically we reach every neighborhood, arouse interest and com- 

 petition everywhere, and arouse the whole community. To do this 

 requires at least one agent in each county." 



In his report to the General Education Board about the 

 same time he said: 



"We are pleased to note the following encouraging conditions: 

 First, the people everywhere receive our agents gladly and say the 

 work is exactly what the country needs. All classes, merchants, 

 bankers, educators, colleges, farmers' unions and individual farmers, 

 are asking to cooperate." 



But before tracing the development of the Demonstration 

 Work any further it is interesting to give a few more facts from 

 the history and the life of the promoter. In June, 1898, he was 

 first given an appointment by the Department of Agriculture 

 in Washington. During that year the Department sent him 

 to Japan, India, China and the Philippine Islands as an Agri- 

 cultural Explorer, with special reference to the rice crop. 

 One result of his exploration was the introduction of Japanese 

 rice into the Southwest. He exercised a very large influence 

 in building up the rice industry of Louisiana and Texas, and 

 was for a number of years President of the Rice Growers' 

 Association of America. In 1901, he made a second trip into 

 the Orient for the Department of Agriculture, and in 1902 

 made a trip and special report with regard to the agricultural 

 resources of Porto Rico. From 1898 'till his death he con- 

 stantly held appointment from the Department as a Special 



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