388 TwENTY-FiEST Biennial Eepoet 



KENTON COUNTY. 



When I undertook the work of County Agent for 

 Kenton county the first step taken along demonstration 

 lines was the formation of a Kenton County Farmers' 

 Improvement Association, or Crop Improvement Asso- 

 ication, in the organization of which I had the assistance 

 of Mr. Geoffrey Morgan. 



I then began working with the farmers in every way 

 I could. At that time it was mostly pruning and spray- 

 ing fruit trees, and testing out soil for acidity, also hav- 

 ing some analyzed by the Agricultural Experiment Sta- 

 tion. 



Besides the central organization, I have formed four 

 other clubs which meet once a month. These clubs were 

 organized on a business, educational and social basis. I 

 have been having the farmers and local men take part 

 on the program as much as possible, yet I have always 

 made a talk at each meeting. One object is to try to make 

 the farmer have a good time and saving a dollar while 

 he is doing it, yet always dealing with the local mer- 

 chants, if possible. A few of the purchases made by these 

 clubs are as follows : 



One carload of acid phosphate. 



One carload of ground limestone. 



Two carloads of coal. 



On all things bought there was a saving to the farm- 

 ers; on the acid phosphate there was a saving of $120 on 

 the one car. Another car of coal is now ordered, and or- 

 ders are being secured for two cars of rock phosphate 

 and two cars of Portland cement. 



I have made talks on: Pruning and spraying of 

 fruit trees ; the value of co-operation and club work ; test- 

 ing of seed com; management of fields to prevent ero- 

 sion, selection of seed com ; treatment of seed wheat for 

 smut ; soil fertility and other similar topics. 



I have helped to trim and spray four orchards, and 

 consulted with perhaps one dozen more on the same sub- 

 ject. 



I have selected a number of fields for alfalfa. It is 

 not such an old crop here, and certain fields are much 

 better adapted to it than others. 



