20 
A somewhat higher proportion of owner-operators than of tenant- 
operators were readied by extension, but the difference is not suffi- 
ciently great to be oi" much significance. 
The percentage of farms adopting improved practices increases 
directly with the size of the farms. The difference, however, is not 
of great importance. 
Distance from the county extension office and nature of roads had 
little il any bearing upon the effectiveness of the extension organi- 
zation. 
In those States where an association of rural people has been formed 
to cooperate with public agencies in forwarding extension work, 
membership in this extension association has had an important bear- 
ing upon the adoption of improved practices. Nearly 40 per cent 
more of the members than of the nonmembers reported changed 
practices. They also adopted nearly twice as many improved prac- 
tices per farm. Continued membership in the extension association 
is apparently closely related to effective extension teaching. 
More than 90 per cent of those taking part in extension activities, 
such as the conducting of demonstrations, attendance at meetings, 
and the like, put into use some of the better practices observed as 
compared with 50 per cent of those not so participating. 
Being in personal touch with representatives of the extension 
service through farm and home visits, office calls, correspondence, 
attendance at meetings, and the like was also an important factor 
in spreading better practices. Not only did more than twice as many 
of those making such contacts report changed practices as compared 
with those not enjoying such contact, but they also adopted nearly 
twice as many practices per farm and home. 
The importance of the indirect spread of influence of extension is 
brought out by the fact that extension teachings were accepted by 
24 per cent of the farms where the operators were not members of 
the extension association, had never participated in an extension 
activity, and had never gotten in touch with representatives of the 
extension service. 
Twenty-one per cent of the boys and girls of club age (10 to 20 
years) either were enrolled in junior project work or had previously 
carried on such a project. Junior demonstrations were mentioned as 
having helped to bring about the adoption of 2.1 per cent of all prac- 
tices changed. 
The subject-matter specialists located at the State agricultural 
college made contacts with nearly a third of the farms studied and a 
fourth of the farms reporting rhanged practices gave partial credit 
at least to subject-matter specialists. 
Two persons out of three were reported as actively in favor of 
extension work as compared with 1 person out of 25 actively opposed. 
Twenty-four per cent of the people interviewed were not particularly 
interested in extension. 
Satisfactory as has been the progress of extension in reaching rural 
people, the task of getting more farmers and home makers to accept 
extension teaching, and all to adopt more improved farm and home 
practices, presents a challenge to extension workers. 
WASHINGTON : GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1926 
