AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION

The development of this work among the farmers resulted from the creation by the Smith-Lever Act, of 1914, of cooperative extension work by the United States Department of Agriculture and the State agricultural colleges, Its object is to extend among the farmers the principles of economic production and to provide for them new chinnels of distribution. The work is carried on by the Extension agents who are established in each county. Over 2,090 of these agents are employed. In addition, there are home demonstration agents in over 800 counties, and leaders of boys and girls club work in about 300 counties. There are also over 800 Extension specialists in the various branches of agriculture and home economics sent down from the agricultural colleges to supplement the work of the county agents. In all, over 5,000 persons were engaged in Extension work in 1922-3. The county agents, a isted by the marketing specialists, aided the farm organizations, which have been established under the operation of the Smith Lever law in the co-operative selling of all kinds of crops and livestock and in the buying of many farm nece ities. The work of the agricultural agents has been largely connected with the organization of co-operative enterprises among the farmers. Its activities also include the formation of community enterprises including recreation centers, rest rooms, libraries, reading circles, and day nurseries. Special attention is given to work among the children, with the idea of interesting them in the proce es of agriculture. Over 10,000 farmers’ institutes are held yearly with a total attendance of over 2,500,000, These institutes are addre ed by lecturers on special subjects. Agricultural Extension work is carried on also in Alaska, Hawaii Porto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands. Agricultural Extension work has long been carried on in foreign countries, especially in England, France, Belgium, Denmark, Italy and Canada. AND MACHINERY. See impLemMEnts AND MACHINERY. AGRICULTURAL