Annual report of county agent work, 1920: Arapahoe County

(1)

Annual Report

of

County Agent Work

1920

Arapahoe

County

Colorado

W. A. Groom

and

(2)

Jjl

(3)

--I

II

III

IV

v

VI

VII. VIII

. IX

INDEX

County Age,nt Work

Resume

Arapahoe County,Color.ado.

Orga.niz at ion •••••••••••••••••••••

Crops- ••••••••.••••••••••••••••••••

Livestock ••••••••••••••••••••••••

Homa Improvement •••••••••••••••••

Pests ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Roads •••••••••••••••••••••• • • • • • •

·Fairs ••••••••••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Page

1-2

3-~

5 6-7

8

9

10

(4)

(

I

County

Agent

·v-ork

Res1une

·

~Iuch

credit is to

be

given Yl. A.

Groom,~rapahoe

County

t:..g:ent,

for the

work

ac~onplishPd

in a new county,so fpx

as

the

intro-ducto~

vork is concerned during

the

pP~t

two yPars. (

1918,1919 ).

Mr. Groom succeeded in organizing the entire county

by

communities

into

a

p

an

of work

st~gested

by

th~ ~allege

for

solving rural

prob

~ms

thro :tgh

farm

bureau

organizations.

.R!leven

cora.nuni

tj

es

were organizPd with

~program

of work adopted for solving community

·problems. Unfortun3tely

Hr .

Groom•s resignation became effective

be

:fore community plans for solving

the

comnnmi

ty

problei!ls were

cornpleted,and it was this particular point in the county s.gent

work for /\rapahoe

county,

that the·

new

county agent,assisted

by

R. R. Lancaster,Assistant ColUlty Agent Leader and J. T. Robertson,

Arapahoe Count.y Club Agent,took up his duties.

(5)

Il

p hoe County Color-do.

Descri tion: ... rqpahoe Coun+.v

1·

e

i:r

the

north-c~~t.ral

pa;r .... o

the state,a p rti0n of ·ts wegtern bo

no~

being Tormed

by

t e

city of Denver. It is

~n

irregu ar rectangle ,

72 miles long

&

2 i

es

vide. Its are is

538,880

acres or about

140,000

acres

less than the state of Rhode

Isl nd.

~h surf~ce

is principally

a

level ulateau and the altitude

v

ries

from

4,600

feet

in the

north. east to about

5,600

feet in the extre e southuest.

Pouulation:

The

po~ulation

in

910 was

10,263.

At present it is

abou{-r-;5oo

In

1910

th foreign born

~hi

te -people

ffiR.rle

up

16 o4

per cent of the tot

1 p

pulatio,.

The

prin~"'ipa orei~11

nqtion

1-ities

a

e Germa ,Eng

is

,Sw dish ani Canadian.

Industries:

The principPl industries are f

r~ing,dqirying

and

stock

rai~ing.

There is considerable irrigated land in the

west-ern end of the countya:nd farming

hR.~

long been followed here

ou

cess-fully. In the eastern pPrt the creek valleys hav been farme for

a good many years,but it is only recently that the higher lands

between these creeks have been broken and put under cultivation,

Dairying

has

been followed rather extensively

in

tha territory

immediately tributary to Denver

:for

a.

number o:f years.

More

recent-ly

it

has

been extended into the eastern section of the

count~,

especially along

the

linA of the Union Pg,cific railroad.

Stoc"Tr-raising was the largest industry in the county

a

few years baclr ,

but eventually the land beca settloa and fenced,forcing the stack

fa~~r

west into the mountain rerions where free range is

abund

t •

• gricultural Resources:

Urunber of fBrms ...

3,000

Acres bAin cultivq.ted ••••••••••••••

·~0 ,

ono

Livestoc population ••••••••••••••

985,000

Poultry ••••••••••••••••

~

..

c •• ,. , • • • •

30,

000

Br~d

P...nin 1

St llions ••••••••••

~

•••.••••••••••

liar s

Bul

C<

Cows

Boars

So.s

Ram;;~

Evi

f} Q

Silos

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•

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•

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•

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• •

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5?

18

110

150

100

235

60

600

13 ~he

principal crops

~,..own

in order of the acreae-e are wheat

t

cor ,cane,alfalfa,sugar beets

ffi

mi et.

''heat

Co

~a~

Yield

Per~·

.

. . . .

.

. .

.

. .

.

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.

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.

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Cane •••••••••.••••••••• • • • • • • • • • •

lfalfa •••••.•••••••••••••••••• • ••

S1gpr bG

t ... .

1[illet ... .

13

18

9 tons

2.,_

~ rr

14

T1

(6)

li-III

1 The annual meeting of the County F9.rm Bureau took :place last

· Tiece.t."ber during the absence of a county agent. Very fortunately

the county had in its employ an entheaustic e:Ktension worker who

by an earnest desire to

kee~

the farm bureau organization in

exist-ence,succeeded in lending such assistance to the

coun~-

fartl bureau

officers as vvas neederit to organize the .!:!'arm Bureau work in the

county another year.

County farm bureau officers were elected

for t.he year

1920

but it was impossible to submit community farm

bureau plans for approval of the county project leaders o ring to

the feet that the plan of work in the communities had not been

adept-ad. The community ple.n of farm bureau work for the year

1920

began

with the new count.y agent.

~hs

method employed was the one

recommend-ed by the Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural College.

No recommendations to the effect that certain projects

shov~d

be adopted in the various communities were nade throughout the entire

count,y. Each conwunity was ·visited in turn: Progressive farmers and

leaders in each community were consulted regarding community problems.

These people were asked to act in the capacity of a farm bureau

community committeeman and a meeting of these

con~itteemen

was called.

Community problems were discussed freely and some plan for solving

these problems was adopted or at least discussed until it was thought

that a solution was probable. The next step was a community meeting.

called

by

one of the commltnity committeemen acting as chairman. The

object of this meeting was to

subm~t

to the people of the community

the plan of work discussed at the meeting of the community

committee-men. Every person present at the meeting had a vote, the farm bureau

plan of work was submitted

and

each person voted on what work was

considered the· real community problems. After the work had been

definitely decided

the

election of officers t6ok place ani immediately

following the meeting extension workers seated themselves around

some table with the project leaders and outlined on paper,definite

plans for solving the community problems . Pains were taken to see

that each committGeman or leader had a copy of the plan of work for

future reference .

This orga.nization plan is undoubtedly the best

plan now in extension use,as it places the real community problems in

hands of community workers who are interested in betterment of their

conmnmity , and who are willing to see their neighbors progress that

they might progress.

One of the outstanding features to which the future success

of the Arapahoe County Farm Bureau depends is the publication of

the Farm Bureau News. The publication of this paper has been held

up to a certain extent in the county this year for lack of funds .

The executive committee have discussed the advisability of raising

the Farm Bureau Membership fee for the year

1921

to

$5 . 00

in order

that this publication may be continued .

It is thought by the

majority of the co1nmittea,that the membership in the

coun~J

could be

increased by raising the fee , and planning the work more carefully

for the coming year.

(7)

(

2 Realizing tne importance of functioning community farm bureaus,

a new plan for creating more interest in the farm bureau work will

be put into organization in

1921. As

seen

by

the executive committee,

a large membership is essential, In order to secure this membership

some one must .be responsible for the work in each community. As

planned,each community will have a set of Farm Bureau officers

consist~

ing of a president, vice president , secretar.{-treasurer ,project leaders

and

a

membership committee.

A

certain portion of the membership funds

will be retained in the community farm bureau treasure for

the

purpose

of carrying on the community work efficiently. Each

communi~~

will

have

a

correspondent contributing news items to the Farm Bureau News

monthly,which will add much to the value of the publication. It is

expecte,d that. the secretar:v will be able to handle this work in

connect-ion

with

his other duties although this will be left optional in each

community.

~ne

Farm Bureau was very successful in accomplishing definite

results this year. Eighty thousand pounds of kanred wheat was shipped

into the

county and distributed at cost to the farmers. Pure seed

corn was introduced into four cornmunities.

Poult~J

culling demonstrations

were conducted. Livestock Rnd silo tours were made and good results

obtained.

Blastin~

demonstrations were held in two comn1unities in

which adobe holes were blasted for permanent dreinage

and

instruct-ions given in the use and handling of dynamite for blasting tree holes.

Farm

Bureau Fair

rvas held

at Strasburg v7ith

one

of the largest and

best disp ay of agricul tur

1 pr

oduots sb.ovm anywhere in

the

State.

One

of the strong features assuring

the Far

B11ren1

that the f.-.: ir is

bound

to

be permane t

pa

t of the work,is th8t ther was plenty of

money in the fair fund to

pay

all of the

premiums,expense~

and incid

nt-als of th f ir ani a sm

1 smount lef

i

the treasury for another

(8)

(

IV

3 ORO_

The m in cas crops in

ahoe

~ounty P~e

wheat , corn, a falfa

ad

suga;~beets , all

of which present to

th

fqrm bure8u

nmerou~

prob

Pm~solution , imJrOv8ment

QnQ

b

tte

f-

min~

methods o

~

hty thousan

~nred

wheat wa ship ed into the

c.Cunty .... this year and sold to

the

farmer8

at

cost . ~rr~lve of these

fe.

mers

h~ve

express d their deqire to inprove the

variety~

bhead

selection, acting

as

demonstrators for

t~e

farm bureau.

.. . . ·

"""""~ .. -'"'.

~"'~~

.

_s

'\,

On of the bi _

_;_3'e

st problems coming 1mder this

he

ad

t

the nresent

time is the standardization of corn.

It is true that there

ar0 m

ny

local

v ~ricties

of the n:erket cl!1ss of corn which does xceptional

~~r

wel

in

m-'J.ny

oca ·t · s where the soil is more especial

y

ad~pted

to r ai s

;n_ corn, ut there seems to be no

st~

ca

vuri~ty

hie ryjJl

_ro

uce wel

in all localities

Five v ieties of

pure

seed were

i~troduced

4nto one community this year for the purnose of determining

w~ich

variet

was

More

eEl)ecial

y

a

apted to .. that locality.

The

rinnesota 1fl3 liid

exceptionelly

:;e

l,Ill£l,.turing

807o

to

9o%

of its ears .

The:

Go d n Glow

made a

fairly good showing as

a

silage crop ,maturing

30%

of

its

e

r~.

The

earl y selection

o

Reid ' s Yellow

Dent

proved

t o be a

great producer

but did not mature i ts gr a i n

un~ formly.

The Pr ide of the North matured

fully as well as the Mi nnesota

#

13 and will stand

the

second year

test .

The Silv r king made an excellent s owing early in the growing se so

but was hrilAd bodly in

ue~st

or S ptember.

It

~as

pla11ned to

continue t'l-Jis stancl rdi..,ot i on test ·n this corm1uni ty for thre e rs

in order that results. obtained co

1 b compar d e ch yee:r a a basis

for the adoption

by

the comm :nity a pure· improved variety of hiDh class

corn

_{. 0} _..,;;.~~~;

~~

7~··

,Q.lfalfn:

--- AlfcJ fs is the moin hay crop in the

irrig~te

section of the

county. T e average yi8ld per acre is about 5 tons.

l::!?.ny

of thA f?r

-ers e:;::p rj

PUC

d the ntire loss of stanc o "'Ome of their recently

plante _ fi

P

rt

s in th spri

n ,

due to th('l lf<:"l

~a ~1eb

orm . Sev rn.l

d8monstrations we

co1du~ted

with

P~0cinlist

from th college ; a

poisoJ'"lous

s:pra~ Y'l.S

r commended n approximately

22,000

pounds of

ars nate of

ea

was used to co bat this insect. ..:his ro

l

dy

-as

recorm ended as measure of control for th protecti n of gardens ,

strawberry and .mall shrubs . In ost o se the crops were saved

where

~tt

ntion was given as ooon as the

outorea

was Cl ic:.<coverecl.

I1

the irrigated ection of the county sweet clover

i~

consi0er-ed

moot farmers an obno:xo

\Ve

in the non- irrigat

section

sev

c..tt

ts have been ma e to

o

Y

the 0rop fo a

een smnmer

1'

asture for h ·s an catt e .

S:

-;o

. on tr ' ions were conducted in

one c mmunity on the innoculation of seed.

SL~

acres were orn for

(9)

c

(

IV

4 CROPS:

----Green Pastures.

A good gre.en pasture for the farm

c1airy

herd

i9

one o:C

the

bigg~st

:problems confronting the, the non-irrigated f ·fl.rmer throughout all sections

of the county. The

11eJcive

grass

is unquestionably

v~ry

nutritive but the

rainfall is not sufficient to maintain a green pasture during the entire

s~rruner

months

when

a succulent feed shouJd produce a

high quality

of

dairy

products at a

minimmn

cost. Sudan grass,winter

rye and. 0'3.ts have been·

supplemented

as

the

concLition

of the native

grass

demanded

a.

change.

Suclan

grass

furnishes

an

ezcelJent pasture

when

normal moisture

conditions

exist

during

the month

of July.

T~finter

rye,so

f~r

as

ctemonstrations

show,makes

· a much better pasture than the sudan grass. Demonstrators have

accomplish-ed

good

results

by

sowing

the rye in the

spring

of the

y~ar.When

tnis is

practiced,. the crop is pastured heavily

t .o prevent

the grain from

maturing

and thus the pasture remains green throughout the summer months,fa.ll and

the following spring. Oats

is

used to

a

certain extent for green hog

pastures and has

given

good results where rooasures have been taken to

prevent the hogs from rooting the crop out of the ground . The general

farm

bureau

opiniom regarding the green pasture problems seem to

indicate

that the solution will come only when a permanent pasture has been

intro-duced

that will withstand the

existing

droughty CO:t;J.ditions.

§.uga.r

Beets:

an<!_ Cabbage:

Sugar beets

and

ca-bbage are

grow.n

extensively along the Platte

river

bottoms. The sugar com:p.anies are lending valuable assistance

to the beet growers in the way of giving expert information on better

farming methods ,the care and management of the crop and the improvement

of the quality of the beet. So far,the farm bureau has not

outlined

a plan of work relating

to

this phase of agricultural work.

Cabbage is

the ma.in

cash crop

on

40 %

of the small

truck farms

adjacent

to

Denver. Hundreds of tons o:f a high quality of cabbage are

produced annually which is sold to kraut factories and commission houses

in Denver. The practice of distributing this

crop to the

consumer

through

these agencies has created much dissatisfaction among the growers because

of

the wide margin taken

by

the middlemen. The; average yield per acre

this year was 14 tons. The average price paid the

grower

wa~

40¢' per

hundred pounds. The average price paid

by

the consurrer was

~l

.75 per

hundred pounds. Similar prices prevaled last year which resulted in the

organization of a Co-operative Cabbage Grower's Shipping Association

in the

Littleton community.

This

organization

was

perfected

by

the· Farm

Bureau, but did

not.

function for the lack of co-operation among

the

growers.

· Cane:

Cane is main forage crop on the

non-irriga.ted

land. It is used

extensively for silage and is also bound into bundles and shocked in the

field or stacked near the feeding barns for winter

roughage,

~he

average

yield per acre this year was 9 tons. The average price paid was $6 .00

per ton. The varieties grown were the red amber, black amber

the

white.

The Strasburg community farm bureau will work on the

im~provement

of

varieties next year

by

a careful selection

of

seed and better farming

(10)

(

v

5 LIVESTOCK:

The~

livestock industry of the county is gradually working into

the improvement of dairy st·ock, although there

are

several noted

breeders

o:f

t-he beef type doing exceeding well with pure bred strains.

As seen

by

the farm bureau,dair,ying is one of the essential

features

~which

the success of dry-land farming

depend~.

That

every farmer keep a small &airy herd of high grade or purebred

cows,construct a silo

and

farm sufficient acreage

o~

forage crops

to insure

the

filling of the silo,is being very strongly

recommend-ed by every executive officer in the county farfl bureau.

ASSC?C.ia.tions;

There are at. present,two livestock associations in the county

having

a

total

~embership

of 10.

The

n ture of these associations

is to encourage

the use

of purebred sires

and

to assist farmers

in

the

selection of same. These organizations were formed late in the

season of 1920 ·rrhos

e

prirrary obj eat

w

s

the

introduction of

a

pure

strain of milking shorthorns into the coMmunity. Several

atte~pts

were made by community leaders to loca.te and purchase the foundation

stock but the :prevalent

high

pr::ices asked for gooc1 indivuals made it

ina

vis~b

e

to

buy.

~ours:

Swine.

One of the most successful tours conducted by the farn

bD~eau

this

year was a

trip to the

J. 0. D.

Hog Ranch at Aroyati:i:arch 14.

This tour wes planned by the Stra.sburg community for

thA

benefit of

the pork producers who sought to secure first cl?.ss i.nformation

from

n successful breeder of nure

sV~ine

on subjects rel2ting to

breeding, feeding

a1

rro ..

rketing problems. Fourteen

n

en were presAnt

n:l

the desired informati n was

fl_acll~r

given by I:r. Schi ling,

proprietor of the ranch.

<si

os.

:J:herA are at present, 131 silos in

the

county having a total

capqcity of 9,000 tons,sufficient to

prope~ly

f

e 500 had of

dair~.,.

cows for a period of

90 de ... ys. ':0here is enough forage

produc-e in thproduc-e

cot

11ty

each ye"i.r to fill a 75 ton

Ri

o. on eve-ry fprm.

Enough

fore~e

is 'U'fasted annually by ce.re.less feeding to fill

one-hundred,fifty ton silos.

~hese

conditions

prePent

numerous

prob-lems for so1 ution

.t ··

the farm burea • Already three tours have been

made in which the

f~trmers

from threq cofrununi ties

w

re given an

ODportunity.

to ma ke a

stuoy

of si1o

tJ~es,construetive m~teria1

m

the keepine quality of diff'erent kinds of siJage. On pit silo

dernonstratio~

was

con1ucted by the farm bureau with more

than 25

fcrr1ers assistinG in the work e.n collectine; date.. for future rf\f9rence.

~he

solut·on of the dairy

probl~ms

in

th~

non-irrigated s ctions

no doubt lies in a

~ilo

on eve

rtJ

farm.

Fi~st

to be consiclerect is

the feed, seconcJ the cons rv"'C tion

by

thP- use of silos and third., a

heavy producing strain of dairy

co~e.

(11)

(

(_

VI

6 . Previous to I.Iarch 199.0, the historrJ of the Farm Bu_reau in ArL:ralloe

Co1,nty

recorded no activities

1.mder

thiP

pro

je~t

eYcept

wh11t

work ho.d

accomplished. through the

g~rls

clubs under the dir0ction of the County

Club Agl=)nt. As

the

activities of

the

Farm Fu.reau

broaden~a

out in the

eorw1unities

throughout the

count,y,problems

entPring- into

womans

Nork

b~came

a

subject

of discussion

Pt

nearly all of the club neetings,

ente-rtairun8:-nts and

public

gatherings. How could these problems be

solved? The high price of

clothing l'!l9,terial,canned

fruits , ve,getables

and

r19ats presente

fl.

to

eve):r::r housewife many

problf.}P.1S

that could

not

be solved in

he··r

own home; without some

expert

assistance

along

V?.rious

lines.

A

meeting of

the

women was called

in

t.he

Byers

community

last

llarch

when the

F?..rm Bureeu

of that community wa.s holding

e..

bu~iness

session.

Hone

ImprovA.nent

probl8F!s

were

discltssed

and

th.~

a.dvisabj_lity

of· solving these :problems

Jchrough

the

.Farm

~ Bureau

organization was

considered fs.vor-ably

by ell of

the ladies present.

!.

pla.r

or

work

was

adopted and

approved,

l~~ders

to

re1

r9~ent

the

various

line~

o:f

war

were chosen anfl a de

8gation

sent to Farm

B~e~u , den::.YJding

that

Home·

Improvement be

made a 11roject

in

th9 cor1IDUJ'lity

and count-y

organ-ization.

This

rAquest

;~rf1q

conRi.dered

fevorably

by

both the

community

snd county ferro

bureaus

Affd

another

member acdea to the

executive

co~ittee

to direct the hofle work in the county.

~his

vork

P~s

been introduced in four comrunities

in

the

county

and

Me;ony

probleMs

ho.ve

been solved through

~

.. -ssist!nnce given by

extension

Syecialists from the

college.

J?ou1try

culling

demonstrat-ions

werA conductAd in

thre~

of

tho

coMmm1ities

in

~hich

ir.structionB

were

given in culling the unprofitable hen from the flock. A

hoganizing chart was prepared

by

the farm

bureau

giving full

instruct-ens for

culling. This

chart

is very

si~ple

and easy to follow,thus

m~king

it possible

for

the inexperienced

poultryman

to cull

the

non-producers from his

flook .

Several canning demonstrations were

he~ld

in four of the

communi.t-ies

with

specialists from

the

college

in

charge .

The

pressure cooker

was used in all

of

the demonstrat i ons

in

which the

one

period·. cold

pack method was

demonstrated. . Fruit s ,

vegetables , chicken and several

different kinds of meats were canned with great

success.

A

su~ey

showing the

Tesults

o:f this work will be

taken

i~

each of the

oommlUlit-ies

for

the

p~9se

of determining just

how much

c~nning

has been

done

resultin~monstration

work.

Sewing and the

remodeling

of

oJ_d

garments has been adopted

in

three OI

the communities with a

three

days

training

school in

charge

of

extension specir:.1ists.

~t

these schools , careful i.nstructions are

give,n sewing and in makjng over old

garnents .

'1hese schools vvere

all

well

at·'Gended

and f'"luch interest h8 .. s been token in

th~

work. In two

communi

ties

t

dress fo!Tls

Yero

adopted s a

l?G.rt

of the work ancl full

(12)

VI

(

7 HOlTE !I.J?R 0

VEI.:EHT

~

During

the wnr

htmdreds

of dollars were

subscribed

to the

Red

Oro ss relief fund in

every

c ommnni

t~r

in the c

01-mty.

In three

communi

ties

this fund

vras

dena sited in

3,

lo

~

1 bank in the form of

a

checking~

account for the

r~vl

Cross

Society of

..:-'illlerica . __

t

the

close of the war there stil1

re~ain~d

a

eood

benking account

which

hacl

been subscribed in

these

cow.t.'11mi

ties . The

money

e<till belonge

to the Red 0ross

and could

be used

only for

that

r1~ose. ~ealizi~g

the value

of some speci

o ..

l

trai:ring

in

nur~ing

in th0se

corr1r1ur

1

i

ties

so far away from a doctor

~an

idea occurec1

to

some of

the

learters

t1,..1t

eorne

arrangeMent mien

t

be msde

whereby

th~

RPd

Cross

money could

be used in the commuEities. The

Denver 6hapter of the

Red Cross

was

consulted in

this matter anct

the

ple..n

organizing training

schools

in

these communities

w-as

rnet with hearty

approva ..

l.

~his

plan

\"J'CS

at

once

suggested

to the Farm

Bureau

~~d

immediately made a part

of

the

work

thereof.

A

nurse has

actually

been

eMJlOyAd

and

is

on

the

job with a home

nursing

school

in

each

of

the three

communities.

The

total

number pupils is approximately

sixty .

So much interest

is

taken

in this line of work

that

it

is

predicted

thPt

it

will be

made

a

permanent

part of the Farm Bureau work and continued from

(13)

(

VII

8 The prairie-dog popultt tion of the cotmty

f~

r exceecls the

population of all its inhabit nts, ivestock and other domestic

animals. The total area infested

by

this pest is approximately

250,000

acres.

The

total damage to crops

a.n:l

grazing

le.nd

:bas

been estimated to

be

about 300,000 dollars annually. Drastic

measures have been taken to combat this pest and it is hoped

that a systematic campaign will eradicate this rodent from the

the county.

The- farn bureau has given much encouragement to the farmers

and

land ow-.aers

of the

county

by

forming

the

entire

county

into

pest districts. In order to prevent re-infestntion, a

Cc;;;

rn.paign

for

fighting

the pest

has

been

ca ..

reful]lr planned

.·and

will

soon

be

put into

executiono

The

plan consists of

the employment of

number

of deputy pest inspectors .who

will

be responsible for the

eradication

work in

a

given

territory. These deputies are to

receive as compensation for

their services $5.00 per

day

and

ex-penses.which

the

county has agreed to pay. One deputy will be

employed for each

two townships in the respective pest districts.

Each deputy must

baa

resident of one ·

of

the tovn1ships in which

he

is

em_ployed~and

must

be

intereste·d in seeing the

pest

exterminat-ed. The duty of the deputy is to inspect all lands in his

territ-o~~,report

conditions

to the

coun~

pest

inspecto~

and

give each

farmer or landholder the

proper~ificate

of inspection as soon

the land is free from the pest.

:·O

e than

2~000

gallons of

poison-oats have been

shipped into th. e county

~~is

year of which

approximate-ly

95% has been used for t.he

protection~ he·

wheat crop alone. It

ha,s

been estimated that one gallon will be sufficient to exterminate

the dogs on

40 acres of land at an approximate cost

of

65tj.

The.

total

eost for sufficient poisoned grain to exterminate the pest from the

entire

oounty.-would

aggre~te

a

total sum of

$4~062.50.

Each

deputy

will

arrange for shipments of poison into his townships

where

it

will be

distributed from some central point at oost to the

farmer

_; It

is expected that

this campaign willstart some time

in

J

ary

o~

February in order that the necessary publicity may

be

given before putting on

the work.

By ..

.Putting

these

plans into

execution it is hoped that the pest

will~ntirely

eradicated in

the county and that the work will not have to be repeated · from

y:ear

to

year.

(14)

VIII

9 ROADS:

Good roads. is one of the essential and most valuable assets to

arry

community. Without roads

it

is impossible for

a

conununity

to

grow ano. develop along the lines o:f agriculture. Without agriculture

a

community cannot exist in

an

agricultural section where farming

is the chief industry. These are

the

main features borne in mind

in the various communities

whe~n

working

out

tbe farm bureau problems

relating

to

road work. Four communities have been working with the

fa..rm

bureau this year

in

a campaign for better

and

more roads.

Several petitions have been filed with the board of county

commission-ers.

as.king that new roads

be

opened for public use

ano~

many

of the

proposed roads have met the approval of the board. Perhaps more

road

work

has

been done at Byers and Deertrail this year than in

any

other communities in the countyo The work consists of the

open-ing of new roads,gradopen-ing and the construction of bridges.

A

new

plan for promoting good roads in the Deertrail section has been

ad-vanced by t .he business men in town which is of material benefit to

the

community. Each

man

has pledged himself to contribute

a

cash

sum

amo1U1ting to

two

dollars for every mile of

cor~leted

roadwork

leading into tovm.

~his

B-Mounts to approximately

\:40 QOO

per mile

which , with cormty

funds

available for this purpose insures the necess

ary capital for

the

construction of some permanent good roqds.

~oad

grading

bas

been l;racticed in :practicBlly all of the cormumities to

a

cert~in extent,~nd

in almost ev8ry case

the

roads have been kept

in good repeir.

In some sections of the county R.dobP holAS are <luite

frequent-ly found on

ROP1e

of the Il12.in travelerl

ro~ds.

ThesP

hole·9

w.rJl

in

size from

10 feet in diameter to

SAV~r~l

8crr-9 and in

ms.ny

cases

extend

~ntirelv

across the roaclwayo

:rQntio~

is made of th9se

con-ditions

b~cause

of the

treQ,~herou

("}harPcter th9se

nr0ssions.

~dobe form~tio~8

defy

draina~A,Pnd

es a result the water stands in

there holes until it has been

evs1)or~ted

by the sun ano_ winds. f"hen

-'chese holes are f1ll of

,~reter it~is

rlr,o.st ir1no2sible

nr-tss

throu2·h

one of them with a heavy load. Al)parently the only remedy in ight

is some

r1P

P-ns of effectin.o- a perr1.a.n9nt

dre.i-J.a~e.

In many cases it

is impossible to ra:in these l)lac8s,because of the fact "th<J.t tho

land is too level to c ?.rry the wate-r eway. In

fmc

11

cases,

i

*"

is

necesss-y to blast +hese holes

by

usin8

dyn'lnit e in

ord~r

to

open

111

the hard fo,... mations so t

1qt

th9 vater Hill drain avray

in the

sA-nd

b elo'7. fJ.'vvo demonstrations of this kind have been

conducted

~ecently

at Byers. A.test

auger

was

~llied

for

locatjng

the depth of the sand and a Rufficient charge of dynamite was

used for opening up a hole large enough

iD

carry av1ay the

(15)

IX

10 ,;no

.uoat

fJrtocessl?1:t!,

.i!'~1rr~;. .. ,-·v_rer1.l~.- eoEU:J~~

into

y

30t ".;

(16)

Form 6.

R&vised Nov., 1919.

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION WORK IN AGRICULTURE AND HOME ECONOMICS

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE State Agricultural College and County Farm Bureau

Cooperating

STATES RELATIONS SERVICE Office of Extension Work North and West

WASHINGTON, D. C.

ANNUAL REPORT OF COUNTY AGRICULTURAL AGENT

(Due November 30, 1920)

State

of -~---·

County

of---~-~---

:Jft_,'lf~---

County Agricultural Agent

From

~-:_}1!;

__

= __ _/ __

Cf_Z_Q ______ ,

to ..

1U.n..G ___

~_Q

___________ ,

1920

If agent has not been employed entire year, indicate exact period. Agents resigning during

year should make out this report before quitting the service.

(For map of State showing location of county, photograph illustrating some phase of county agent work, or brief summary

o!

outstanding features of the work.)

Approved:

Date ________ ---.---

~

---:---

(Name~---~-~~jF,;;:;,;-}i;;;.;:;;:--(Address) _

---Approved and forwarded by:

(17)

2

SUGGESTIONS RELATIVE TO THE PREPARATION OF THE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL AGENT'S ANNUAL REPORT.

The annual report is a review, analysis, interpretation, and presentation to the people of tho

county, the State, and the Nation of the sum total of the agricultural activities of the county

agricultural agent for the year. The making of such a report is of primary value to the county

agricultural agent and the farm bureau officers and members.

The report should be a statement in orderly fashion, and under appropriate subheadings, of

the work done, methods used, and results secured under each project, as well as of the general work

accomplished. Every statement should be clear-cut, concise, forceful, and, where possible,

rein-forced with ample data from the statistical summary. In the preparation of the part of the report

relating to each project, the results reported in the statistical summary for the project should be

analyzed, conclusion drawn, and recommendations made. The report may well be illustrated

with photographs, maps, diagrams, blue prints or copies of charts and other forms used in

demon-stration work. Full credit should be given in all cooperating agencies. The lines should be

single-spaced, with double space between the paragraphs, and reasonably good margins left. The

statistical summary will grow naturally out of the field and office records.

The following plan is suggestive of how the report may be clearly and systematically outlined:

SUGGESTIVE OUTLINE OF ANNUAL REPORT.

I. Cover page. II. Title page. III. Table of contents.

IV. Status of farm bureau organization.

(1) Form of organization-distinctive features.

(2) Function of members, officers, and committees in developing the program of work. (3) General policies, including relationships to other organizations.

V. Program of work-methods employed and results achieved. (1) Factors determining program.

(2) Project activities and

results-( a) In the development of the farm bureau during the year. (b) In soil improvement.

(c) In crop production. (d) In live stock production. (e) In farm economics.

(f) In marketing (buying and selling). (g) In farm home betterment. (h) In Boys' and Girls' Clubs. ( i) In other project activities.

(3) Character and scope of office and :field service.

(4) Analysis and interpretation of tabular summary, pp. 18, 19.

VI. Outlook and recommendations (including suggestive program of work for next year).

VII. Summary of activities and accomplishments (preferably of one or two typewritten pages only placed at the end of

the narrative report). ·

STATISTICAL SUMMARY

To supplement the narrative of the report, and in order that comparable State and National

summaries can be made, it is necessary that each agent include a statistical summary of the work

in his county. The following blanks have been prepared to insure uniformity in method of

reporting. In addition to the questions asked under each subdivision of the report, space is

pro-'Wded for the State to add other questions of State-wide importance. Additional room is also

provided for each coimty agent to add other important statistical information not covered in the

series of National and State questions. For the sake of clearness the questions are arranged in

the same order as suggested for the narrative.

(18)

3

FARM BUREAU ORGANIZATION-MAP.

On this page draw or attach a map of your county, showing boundaries of communities or other local units recognized by the farm bureau.

Locate officers and executive committeemen with an X. Locate community committeemen with a dot.

(19)

4

FARM BUREAU ORGANIZATION.

1. Number of farm bureau members (individual paid membership) --- Nov. :30, 1918, ---·-·---Nov. 30, 1919, ___

j_5_(e______________

Nov. 30, 1920, _____

1_8__~---2. Annual individual membership fee ---____________________________________ ---3. County executive committee and county project leaders serving during 1920 (list below):

Officers and county project leaders. Name of project or activity of which leader has charge. Address.

::~~:~_::::::::: -~~:::::::::: :~;:::::::

g_};i._f, _

_! ___

~--~---.--- --~

~--- --~

/_ ______ _

::~:~:=9:::::: ::~=:::::::::::::::::::::: :~--:::~

~.

L~-•-~_{Jj

_____

L___

--~---~

---~----1--:~-g---

.

7

--~-"--- ---~~M~---

--~---l::S:S:iti~:::::::: ::~::~ii: :~:~_~:

IJ. Does the organization of the farm bureau include (a) Home economics

work?

---~---(b) Boys' and Girls' Club

work?---~---

· .

5. Does the farm bureau publish a Farm Bureau News or similar publication'?

---~---6. Extent of community organization:

(a) Number of communities or local units in the county recognized by the fafm bureau ________________

_1_/. ___________ _

(b) Number of communities having community committees ---,---1.( ________________ _

(c) Total number community committeemen ---~---S. 7. Meetings relating to farm bureau organization:

(a) Annual meeting _ ---(b) Executive committee meetings ---(c) Community meetings ~--- ---______________ _

(if) Community committee meetings ---··-(e) County project committee meetings --- ·---(!) Farm bureau picnics ---~---

·---(g) 0 bservation tours __________________________ ! _____________________________________________________ _ Number.

______ )_(>-____ _

_______ j _1_. ___ _

______ k _

---4··---

__

0_~---6

---Total attendance.

---~---t-K

_______ _

---~--(?-~---

---~-~---______________

3_~---______________ .Q _ _

---~-~~----(h) Other farm bureau organization meetings --- ___________ _____ _ _________________

& ____ _

Total ---__________________________________________________________________________ _ . _ _ ____

~

__

g__ _ __ _ _ ________

-1---'

--~-

____ _

( i) Number of above meetings not attended by agents ---4 ____________ _____ ____

(20)

r .

·0

5

tist below any additional work relative to farm bureau organization not covered by above questions:

SOIL-IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.

In answering the following questions, report only results of the activities of the farm bureau and county agricultural agent that are supported by records. Answer every question. Use figures where work done can be supported by records fo:r current year. Use "Unf." (unfinished) where work is unfinished or no 1·ecord available; "N. A." (not applicable) where question does nut apply; "0" (zero) where no work has been done.

DRAINAGE AND IRRIGATION.

Number.

8. Drainage systems planned and adopted ________________ ---·--- _________

.2._____

8 9. Acres involved in Question 8

---~---··---:·---··---

__________

6~----

9 10. Irrigation systems planned and adopted --- __________ Q_____ 10 11. Acres involved in Question 10 --- ____________ :_________________________________________________ _ __________ Q..____ 11

FERTrLrrY.

12. Farmers who used commercial fertilizers ______________________________________________________________________________ :___ _ _________ Q_____ 12 13. Tons of commercial fertilizer included in Question 12 --- ___________ ()_____ 13 14. Acres of clover or other legumes plowed under for green manure --- ·--- ________

J_/l____

l4 15. Farms on which soil was tested for acidity ---

---~--

15 16. Farms on which lime or limestone was used --- ____________

Q___

16 17. Tons of lime or limestone included in Question 16--- _____________

0___

17 18. List below the organizations or associations relating to soils that the farm bureau committeemen, the agent, or 18

his predecessors assisted in forming:

Organized previous to 1920. Organized in 1920. Type of organization.

Number. Members. Number. Members.

Drainage Associations __________________________________

J,) ________________________________________________

---~

___

---~---Limestone Associations __________________________ _______

Q --- __

--- _________ Q --- --- --- ---{l_ --- ---

---___ --- ---

.Cl_--- ---

---() __ --- --- ---() ---

--- ---Q_--- ---

(21)

---6

SOIL-IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS-Continued.

STATE SUPPLEMENT.

This space is left for each county agent leader to include supplemental questions relating to soils applicable to his State:

--- ---.:---·---~

List below any additional work relative to soil improvement not covered by above questions or in State Supplement:

(22)

7

CROP PROJECTS.

Iri answering the following questions, report only results of the activities of the farm bureau and county agricultural agent that are supported by records. Answer every question. Use figures where work done can be supported by records for current year. Use "Unf." (unfinished) where work is unfinished or no record available; "N. A." (not applicable) whore question does not apply; "0" (zero) where no work has been done.

CORN.

Number.

19. Acres planted with selected seed corn, spring, 1920___________________________________________________________________ _ ____

q_,_Q____

19 20. Farmers selecting seed corn, fall, 1920---

---1--'f----

20 21. Bushels seed corn

selected--~---~---

_____ .,._Q_Q____ 21 22. Farmers testing seed corn for germination_________________________________________________________________________________ ---~--- 22 23. Bushels seed corn tested for germination__________________________________________________________________________________ _ _________ 7_~=- 23 24. Acres planted with tested seed________________________________________________________________________________________________ _ _____

_t

fl____ _ 24 25. Farms on which corn growing was introduced or farm practice relative to corn culture inodified______ _ ____________ l___ 25 26. Acres involved in Question 25--- _______

!_ ()_

26

WHEAT, OATS, BARLEY, AND RYE.

27. Farmers treating seed wheat for smut_______________________________________________________________________________________ _ ________

_S_o___

27 28. Bushels seed wheat tested for smut__________________________________________________________________________________________ _ _____ _!ifJ______ 28 "29. Acres sown with treated seed_________________________________________________________________________________________________ --- __ 29 30. Farms on which wheat growing was introduced or farm practice relative to wheat culture modified_ _ ________

3__ftL

30 31. Acres involved in Question 30---

_:J.._~

__

tj _____

~

31 32. Farmers treating seed oats for smut__________________________________________________________________________________________

---!1-

32 33. Bushels seed oats treated for smut___________________________________________________________________________________________ _ _____

)$_ __

33 34. Acres oats sown with treated seed___________________________________________________________________________________________ _ __________

"0-_fd_

34 35. Farms on which oat growing was introduced or farm practice relative to oat culture modified ________ _

36. Acres involved in Question

35---___________ fJ.

35 36 37. Farms on which barley growing was introduced or farm practice relative to barley culture modified_ _ ____________ {2__ 37 38. Acres involved in Question 37--- ______________ Q__ 38 39. Farms on which rye growing was introduced or farm practice relative to rye culture modified_________ _ _____________

8__

39 40. Acres involved in Question

39---~---

--- __ Jj.______ 40

BEANS AND PoTATOES.

41. Farms on which bean growing was introduced or farm practice relative to bean culture modified____ _ _____________ Q__ 41 42. Acres involved in Question 4L--- ______________ Q__ 42 43. Farmers treating seed potatoes for disease_________________________________________________________________________________ _ ____________

fl-:_

43 44. Acres involved in Question 43--- . _________

2_b_

44 45. Farmers spraying potatoes for disease.______________________________________________________________________________________ _ ______________ '?__ 45 46. Acres involved in Question 45--- __________

.3__ --

46 47. Farms on which potato growing was introduced or farm practice relative to potato culture modified_ --- 47 48. Acres involved in Question 47

---~---

______________

[l_

48

LEGUMES, OTHER HAY, AND FoRAGE.

49. Farms on which alfalfa growing was introduced or farm practice relative to alfalfa culture modified_ 50. Acres involved in Question 49---51. Farms on which sweet clover growing was introduced or farm practice relative to sweet-clover

culture modified---•---52. Acres involved in Question

5L---~

____ {>

49

_ _________ ':/__()__ 50

___________ '2

51 52

(23)

8

CROP PROJECTS-Continued.

LEGUMES, OTHER HAY, AND FORAGE-Continued.

Number.

53. Farms on which red, alsike, or white clover was introduced or farm practice relative to clover

cul-ture modified __________________________ ---_________________________________________________________________________ ---

_Q __ ----

53 54. Acres involved in Question 53---·--- _________

Q______

54 55. Farms on which soy bean growing was introduced or farm practice relative to soy bean culture mod~

ifi ed _______________________________ ---~---___________ ______ ____ __ __ __ _ __ __ _ _________

Q ___ ---

55 56. Acres involved in Question 55--- __________ ()______ 56 57. Farms on which sorghum, kafir, or feterita growing was introduced or farm practice relative to

sor-ghum, kafi.r, or feterita culture modified __________________________________________ :____________________________________ ---~ _____ }_______ 57 58. Acres involved in Question 57--- ______

!f_O______

58

IMPROVED SEED.

59. List in the following table work done in connection with seed improvement:

Improved seed secured. Improved seed for sale.

Crop. Name of varieties being standardized.

No. of farms. Bushels. No. of farms. Bushels.

II

Corn

---~---

_______

_{L__ _

---1=_() _______ 1 ____ _/ __ ':/: __________

__j_/,_Q{,L___

~~)1C'!tt._,~l"3. ~ ~

· /;:N

Wheat _____________________ ________

3_f.o._ __________

l_Q_().f'.)_ _______ --- ---

-~---Oats ____________________________________

! __________________ .:;_ ___________________________ ---

-~-~---

_________ _

Rye-:- __________________ -_______________________________________________________________________________________________ -·· --Potatoes---_________ --- ---_____ --- __________________________________________________________________________ _

RoDENT AND INSECT PEsT CoNTROL.

Number.

60. Farms on which rodent-control methods were followed_____________________________________________________________ ---~-Q_~-- 60 61. Acres involved in Question 60---

~D.._Q_.Q_Q_

61 62. Pounds of poisoned bait involved in Question 60--- __

_8-r.ti_O __

Q

62 63. Farms on which insect-control methods were followed________________________________________________________________ _ ___________ L~ 63

64. Acres involved in Question 63--- __

Jr.8C __

Q_

64 · 65. Pounds of poisoned bait involved in Question 63---

'-._~_

1 _0_0._0_

6 5

FRUIT.

66. Farms on which orchards were planted (apples, peaches, pears, citrous truits, etc., except bush

fruits) ---_____ __ __ _ _____ _______ _____ ___ ____ ________ ___ __________ ____ __ __ _ ___ ________ ______ ___ __ _ _ ______________

Q

66 67. Acres involved in Question 66--- _______________ {)_ 67 68. Farms on which fruit trees were pruned__________________________________________________________________________________ _ ______________

L

68 69. Acres involved in Question 68---

--~---0-

69 70. Farms on which fruit trees were sprayed_________________________________________________________________________________ ---~- 70 71. Acres involved in Question

70---~--- ---~-0-

71 72. Farms on which bush fmits were planted or farm practice relative to bush fruit culture modified___ _ ______________ /__ 72 73. Number of acres involved in Question 72---

---4----

73

(24)

9

CROP PROJECTS-Continued. FRUI'l'-Continued. ·

Number.

74. Boys' and Girls' Clubs incident to crop production agent assisted in organizing in 1920_ --- -- 7 4 75. Members enrolled in above clubs___________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________ 7 5 76. Members in above clubs completing work_______________________________________________________________________________ --- 7 6

77. List below the organizations or associations relating to crops that the farm-bureau committeemen, the agent, or 77 his predecessors assisted in forming:

Organized previous to 1920. Organized in 1920. 'l'ype of organization.

Number. Members. Number. Members.

Potato Growers' Associations ______________________________________________ --- ---Fruit Growers' Associations ___________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _ Market Gardeners' Associations ___________________________________________ --- --- --- __ _

~:~::~::::1:::::::::::::-::::

::1::::::::::::::: :-::::::::::-:

::::::::::::~:::::::1:::::::::::::~:::::::::::::::

STATE SUPPLEMENT.

This space is left for each county agent leader to include supplemental questions relating to crops applicable to his State: