Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 142, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 June 1916 — DEMONSTRATION WORK FOR ONE COUNTY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

DEMONSTRATION WORK FOR ONE COUNTY

(Prepared by the United States Department of Agriculture.) The revolution that was effected in the life of an entire county by co-op-erative demonstration work is described in an article in the new Yearbook of the department of agriculture published under the title of "How the Whole County Demonstrated.” In Christian county, Kentucky, a business men’s association was formed four years ago for the development of the resources of the county. There had been other organizations of the sort before, but these were interested, chiefly in attempts to secure factories and other industries for the county. The new organization devoted itself chiefly to agriculture. One of its first steps was to secure funds with which, in co-operation with the United States department of agriculture, to pay the salary of a county agent. Later, when the agricultural extension act became effective, the county agent was recognized as the representative of the college of agriculture of the State University of Kentucky and of the United States department of agriculture. The first agent appointed began work in July, 1912. Since that time 18 community clubs with 700 members have been formed, a good roads association is responsible for the farmers owning 250 split log drags with which 400 miles of road are kept in good condition, new crops have been introduced, the yields of the old ones increased, demonstration farms have been established, dairying and the

feeding of beef cattle promoted, hog cholera effectively comrolled and a wider market for farm products secured. The farmers were not at first very cordial toward what was to this county an Innovation. The whole movement was described by one as “absolute foolishness.” With the assistance of the progressive men who conducted demonstrations on their own farms, this attitude was gradually overcome. One of the first acts of the county agent was to form little community organizations, which were used to promote all kinds of educational work relating to agriculture. Whole families belonged to these clubs and their number gradually grew as their usefulness became apparent. Today there are 18 such clubs with a total membership of more than 700. The next step was the organization of a good roads association In which the business men of the county seat took a prominent part. They gave a barbecue to the farmers of the county, succeeded in obtaining funds for the purchase of split log drags which were given to the farmers co-operating with them, and turned out to work on the highways when a “good roads day” was proclaimed by the governor. On one of the principal roads, it is said, at least 90 per cent of the workmen on that day were city men.

In dealing-■vyith strictly agricultural problems, the county agent was equally successful. When he assumed office the county did not produce enough corn to supply its own needs and the average yield per acre was only a trifle over 24 bushels. In 1913 the demonstrators who had adopted this method of cultivation in every community throughout the county secured an average yield of 38.8 bushels per acre. The next year they averaged 40 bushels. The lesson of these demonstrations was learned so thoroughly by one section of the County that Instead of Importing 40 carloads of corn last year, as had been the custom, it exported eight carloads. In the opinion of many persons, however, perhaps the greatest accomplishment of the. agent in crop demonstrations was the introduction of crimson clover for the Improvement of the land and as a cover crop. In 1913, 350 acres were sown In crimson clover In demonstrations on various farms. In

1915 the total acreage in the county was 7,800, whole neighborhoods having sown it very generally. The value of liming in the production of red clover was also demonstrated and practically all farms in the county are now able to grow the crop successfully, whereas in former years failures had been very general. Another important Innovation was the introduction of barley. This crop was desirable for a number of reasons, but chiefly because in Christian county it yields almost twice as much as wheat, furnishes more grazing, makes possible a second crop of corn, beans, peas, etc., and gives a better distribution of labor. The census of 1910, however, showed that only ten acres of barley were grown in the county. In 1913 250 acres were sown in demonstrations in various localities. In 1915 there were 7,000 acres in barley in the county. With tobacco, the chief cash crop of the county, demonstrators produced -an average yield of more than twice that of the county. In these demonstrations the object was to increase the profit in the production of tobacco by readjusting farm practices in order to equalize the labor load, produce home supplies, maintain soil fertility and have a number of other cash products for sale.

The control of hog cholera Is perhaps an even more striking example of the effectiveness of community organization. In 1912 a careful survey showed that the losses from this cause in the county were $225,080. The county agent arranged with 11 doctors to inoculate hogs free of charge, and with the state farm plant at Lexington to supply serum tn the required quantities. Farmers were then asked to report all cases of sick hogs to the president of each local farmers’ club. He arranged for prompt Inoculation of the hogs and disinfection of the premises. By this method of procedure the disease has been brought under absolute control in three years. From $225,000 in 1912 the loss was reduced to SI,OOO in 1914. There are now more hogs In the county than ever before In its history. The cattle Industry also has been promoted. In 1912 there were only 250 beef cattle fed in the county. In order to arouse a greater Interest in this important branch of agriculture, the county agent took a party of representative farmers to a nearby county where they had an opportunity to study feeding methods. As a result of this trip, there were 1,800 beef cattle fed in 1915, and the number of purebred cows In the county has risen from 10 in 1912 to 100 in 1915. Demonstration work of this kind In practical agriculture has been accompanied by a corresponding Increase in the activity of various organizations for local betterment. For example, there are today 12 social clubs which meet regularly In the county, 15 par-ent-teachers’ and mothers’ clubs and every school in the county has some form of community meeting. A fair association has been formed, a public library and hospital built and instruction In hygiene Introduced into the schools. In 1915 several hundred farmers from other Kentucky counties visited Christian county to inspect the work of the last three years. Farmers and business men united to welcome the visitors.

Automobile Ready to Carry Passengers on Tour of Inspection of Farms In Christian County, Ky.

Farmers Inspecting Yearling Gilts While on Tour of Christian County, Ky.