Part 6

Some idea of the substantial nature of the accomplishments of negro agents may be found in the record for 1924, which shows that they helped to procure better sires for the flocks and herds of 3,552 farms and that they had flocks and herds culled on 4,848 farms. They also introduced better balanced feeding for farm animals on 9,520 farms.

Negro demonstrators used 68,126 tons of fertilizer and 8,288 tons of lime in their exemplary farm enterprises in 1924, and they plowed under 13,547 acres of cover and green-manure crops in their soil-improvement operations. Terracing was done on 1,738 farms and soil erosion was thereby prevented on 43,299 acres. Drainage systems were installed on 573 farms and 18,405 acres were thereby made more productive and valuable.

The climax of negro extension work comes in the constructive features just as for the whites. Special import should therefore be attached to the fact that the agents had 463 barns, 411 hog houses, and 787 poultry houses built according to approved plans. Some rural-engineering work of a constructive nature was done on 3,967 farms under the guidance of negro extension agents. All this development means that thousands of the best negroes are learning lessons of thrift, economy, and enterprise. They are coming to realize more and more the importance of owning land and building permanent homes. Another decade will probably show even greater results along these lines.

HOME DEMONSTRATION WORK

It is certainly very gratifying to note that a large number of negro women and girls are doing excellent home demonstration work. When it is remembered that they have to help a great deal in cotton, tobacco, and other fields, there is unusual significance in the fact that they are willing and anxious to take part in the special activities which make for better living and better homes. In 1924, 21,509 women and 27,114 girls were enrolled in the various activities which pertain definitely to the improvement of the home.

It is interesting, also, to compare the figures on home gardens with those on food preservation and preparation. There seems to be a logical sequence here. During the year, 12,355 women and 14,641 girls were enrolled in home gardening; 13,911 women and 13,826 girls, in food preservation; and 14,731 women and 16,537 girls, in food preparation. As a rule, the work begins with garden demonstrations, so it would seem that the interest increases as the work progresses. It should be remembered also that women and girls did most of the work with poultry. The proportion of members completing these demonstrations and the number of method demonstrations necessary for instruction were about the same as the averages of agents in other parts of the country and in other lines of work.

Gardening work is begun with the most staple and standard crops and soon leads to winter and perennial gardens and the growing of small fruits. Wherever home ownership obtains, the garden demonstrations are followed by orchard and lawn demonstrations. Fruit trees suitable to climatic and soil conditions are planted around the homes, and such activities always approach their climax in beautified front yards and lawns.

The number of dwellings constructed and remodeled under the guidance of negro women agents and the number of club members demonstrating the beautification of home grounds indicate clearly the progress of negro home demonstration work. Such activities show that other steps have been taken before the family is ready to build. They show, also, that a great deal of interest has been aroused and that the earning power of the people must have been increased to make such improvements possible. In 1924, 569 houses were built in accordance with plans furnished by negro extension agents and 1,002 houses were remodeled in accordance with the suggestions made by them. The fact that so much work was done to make homes attractive indicates that demonstrators are anxious to make improvements. This point is still further emphasized by the number of members who were enrolled in demonstrations in the beautification of home grounds. A total of 6,433 women and 6,427 girls took up this important enterprise; in 1,336 homes the grounds were laid out according to a definite landscape plan; and 335 school and community grounds were planted according to plans.

Paint and whitewash are good indexes of improvement and prosperity. Demonstrations of this nature exert a fine influence from the standpoint of morals and civilization. In 1924, 2,259 dwellings were painted or whitewashed as the result of extension influence. Many of the dwellings which were built or remodeled installed running water and lighting and heating systems. Altogether, 151 houses installed one or more of these improvements.

Perhaps no phases of home demonstration work are more valuable among negroes than sanitation and health, which were exemplified by more than 10,000 negro homes. In 2,361 homes the doors and windows were screened and in 3,781 homes other methods of insect control and extermination were followed. In most Southern States, negro agents have definite plans with blue prints for the construction of sanitary closets. These plans were followed in 1,890 homes. A total of 9,734 women and 10,351 girls were enrolled in home-health and sanitation demonstrations. The agents gave more than 5,000 demonstrations by way of instruction along this line. The club members and the home demonstrators took much interest in home nursing, first aid, care of teeth, care of skin, good posture, prevention of colds, and similar health activities which the agents were emphasizing.

The statistics on house furnishings by negro women and girls compare favorably with their activities along other lines. (Fig. 12.) During 1924, 7,688 women and 8,656 girls were enrolled to make or buy and install certain house furnishings suggested by the agents. More than 3,000 individuals conducted demonstrations in treating woodwork, walls, and floors. As a result of demonstrations carried on in house furnishings, 4,938 improvements were made in bedrooms, 1,744 in living rooms, 2,190 in dining rooms, and 1,717 in other rooms of the house.

During the year 4,962 demonstrations in home management were conducted by women and girls, most of them pertaining to the kitchen and its equipment. Negro women and girls in their demonstration activities rearranged 2,226 kitchens according to plans outlined by negro extension agents, installed 326 fireless cookers, 312 kitchen sinks, 1,198 kitchen cabinets, and thousands of other articles of equipment and convenience in the kitchen. In equipping the home laundry 277 hand washing machines and 26 power washing machines were obtained. The women and girls also bought 623 electric and gasoline irons and 70 power vacuum cleaners. The record shows that 4,008 club members and demonstrators followed improved laundry practices for the first time.

AGENTS’ ACTIVITIES

In the conduct of demonstration work with negroes the agents made visits to 28,410 farms and 26,515 homes. It required 86,824 farm visits and 49,334 home visits to get the results heretofore reported. It therefore seems that each demonstration farm required an average of three visits and each demonstration home an average of about two visits. If the demonstrations are large and successful enough, the agents will be justified in increasing their visits and also in further magnifying them with field meetings and tours where the demonstrations will be greatly emphasized and the good influences extended.

FIG. 12.—Negro home demonstration agent demonstrating the making of rugs for the home. During 1924, 7,688 women and 8,656 girls were enrolled to make or buy and install certain house furnishings suggested by the agents.]

It may be noted further that the agents spent 37,418 days in the field and 15,435 days in the office. The negro agents reported 46,100 method and result demonstration meetings with a total attendance of 820,366. This was in addition to 1,863 special meetings for demonstrators and leaders, 358 short courses, and 107 camps for special training. Altogether, more than a million people attended the special and regular meetings for the promotion of extension work among negroes. To these impressive totals the number of fairs and exhibits should be added. Negroes made exhibits at 815 different community, county, and State fairs, which were seen and studied by thousands of people. Lantern slides and motion pictures were shown at more than 500 meetings.

OUTLOOK

The extension work for negroes and by negroes has been built up practically in the last 10 years. It is a wonderful development in such a short time. It took about the same length of time to build a similar organization for white people. When it is remembered that negro work has been established in a period of transition, turmoil, and readjustment, the significance is all the more remarkable. It is a fine tribute to the good work of the negro agents that, when the period of retrenchment came soon after the World War, their force and their appropriations were the only ones which were not reduced. With this solid foundation, with this inspiring record, and with this successful history the near future holds out much hope for even more rapid development. There is no field of education in this country now where greater good can be accomplished by earnest, devoted agents working along the right lines.

STATISTICS

TABLE 3.—Number of negro agents and cost of negro extension work for the fiscal years ended on June 30 each year from 1915 to 1924, inclusive

———————————————+————————————————+————————————————+———————————————— | 1915 | 1916 | 1917 State and sex +——————+—————————+——————+—————————+——————+————————— of agent |Number|Estimated|Number|Estimated|Number|Estimated | of | cost | of | cost | of | cost |agents| |agents| |agents| ———————————————+————————————————+————————————————+———————————————— Alabama: | | | | | | Men | 7 | $6,407 | 7 | $6,099 | 9 | $8,688 Women | | | | | 1 | 1,032 | | | | | | Arkansas: | | | | | | Men | 2 | 1,380 | 4 | 2,637 | 6 | 3,017 Women | | | 1 | 314 | 1 | 1,050 | | | | | | Florida: | | | | | | Men | 1 | 590 | 2 | 1,632 | 8 | 3,660 Women | | | | | | | | | | | | Georgia: | | | | | | Men | 2 | 1,245 | 2 | 1,847 | 3 | 3,280 Women | | | | | 1 | 480 | | | | | | Kentucky: | | | | | | Men | | | | | 1 | 165 Women | | | | | | | | | | | | Louisiana: | | | | | | Men | 1 | 625 | 6 | 1,953 | 7 | 4,622 Women | | | 2 | 442 | 2 | 1,380 | | | | | | Maryland: | | | | | | Men | | | | | 1 | 333 Women | | | | | | | | | | | | Mississippi: | | | | | | Men | 4 | 2,175 | 5 | 3,550 | 8 | 4,608 Women | | | | | | | | | | | | Missouri: | | | | | | Men | | | | | | Women | | | | | | | | | | | | North Carolina:| | | | | | Men | 8 | 3,960 | 5 | 4,841 | 5 | 5,170 Women | | | | | | | | | | | | Oklahoma: | | | | | | Men | 1 | 895 | 1 | 1,001 | | Women | 1 | 884 | 1 | 900 | 1 | 879 | | | | | | South Carolina:| | | | | | Men | 7 | 2,721 | 5 | 2,210 | 5 | 1,943 Women | | | | | | | | | | | | Tennessee: | | | | | | Men | | | | | | Women | | | | | | | | | | | | Texas: | | | | | | Men | | | | | | Women | | | | | | | | | | | | Virginia: | | | | | | Men | 16 | 8,638 | 15 | 11,120 | 19 | 12,680 Women | 16 | 2,069 | 1 | 1,310 | 3 | 2,447 | | | | | | West Virginia: | | | | | | Men | | | | | | Women | | | | | | +——————+—————————+——————+—————————+——————+————————— Total: | | | | | | Men | 49 | 28,636 | 52 | 36,890 | 72 | 48,166 Women | 17 | 2,953 | 5 | 2,966 | 9 | 7,268 +——————+—————————+——————+—————————+——————+————————— Grand total | 66 | 31,589 | 57 | 39,856 | 81 | 55,434 ———————————————+————————————————+————————————————+————————————————

———————————————+——————————————+——————————————+——————————————+—————————————— | 1918 | 1919 | 1920 | 1921 State and sex +——————+———————+——————+———————+——————+———————+——————+——————— of agent |Number| Est. |Number| Est. |Number| Est. |Number| Est. | of | cost | of | cost | of | cost | of | cost |agents| |agents| |agents| |agents| ———————————————+——————————————+——————————————+——————————————+—————————————— Alabama: | | | | | | | | Men | 22 |$14,939| 30 |$24,275| 24 |$28,176| 24 |$31,562 Women | 12 | 5,976| 11 | 8,590| 9 | 5,871| 9 | 10,588 | | | | | | | | Arkansas: | | | | | | | | Men | 12 | 5,273| 11 | 13,423| 10 | 13,951| 10 | 19,242 Women | 28 | 6,371| 21 | 5,921| 13 | 10,351| 9 | 14,679 | | | | | | | | Florida: | | | | | | | | Men | 14 | 5,681| 13 | 7,312| 8 | 5,991| 9 | 6,840 Women | 18 | 2,492| 18 | 4,943| 8 | 3,227| 10 | 4,925 | | | | | | | | Georgia: | | | | | | | | Men | 5 | 6,805| 14 | 11,249| 13 | 16,212| 12 | 15,613 Women | 32 | 6,090| 29 | 5,304| 2 | 1,802| 11 | 6,730 | | | | | | | | Kentucky: | | | | | | | | Men | 4 | 2,723| 4 | 4,872| 4 | 4,320| 6 | 10,118 Women | 4 | 1,515| 3 | 1,870| | | | | | | | | | | | Louisiana: | | | | | | | | Men | 12 | 8,148| 17 | 12,728| 12 | 14,420| 11 | 15,894 Women | 5 | 3,174| 8 | 5,923| 2 | 2,027| 3 | 3,562 | | | | | | | | Maryland: | | | | | | | | Men | 3 | 3,110| 3 | 4,960| 2 | 3,792| 2 | 3,975 Women | 5 | 3,445| 5 | 4,242| 1 | 1,553| 1 | 1,160 | | | | | | | | Mississippi: | | | | | | | | Men | 13 | 7,464| 17 | 16,626| 12 | 15,052| 10 | 15,760 Women | 6 | 2,614| 27 | 5,769| 10 | 6,314| 10 | 12,527 | | | | | | | | Missouri: | | | | | | | | Men | | | | | | | | Women | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | North Carolina:| | | | | | | | Men | 17 | 11,696| 18 | 17,237| 16 | 18,510| 15 | 20,988 Women | 18 | 2,062| 43 | 6,723| | | | | | | | | | | | Oklahoma: | | | | | | | | Men | 6 | 3,618| 9 | 9,798| 9 | 17,701| 10 | 19,612 Women | 4 | 4,870| 5 | 4,664| 4 | 6,317| 4 | 6,545 | | | | | | | | South Carolina:| | | | | | | | Men | 10 | 2,220| 11 | 6,430| 7 | 6,160| 6 | 6,042 Women | | | 4 | 1,063| 1 | 900| 10 | 1,788 | | | | | | | | Tennessee: | | | | | | | | Men | 8 | 4,076| 8 | 7,134| 6 | 7,023| 5 | 7,860 Women | 3 | 1,562| 23 | 8,115| 4 | 3,223| 4 | 6,651 | | | | | | | | Texas: | | | | | | | | Men | 7 | 5,233| 8 | 8,094| 12 | 12,046| 13 | 22,524 Women | 12 | 1,517| 15 | 4,429| 11 | 5,393| 9 | 8,810 | | | | | | | | Virginia: | | | | | | | | Men | 23 | 16,065| 26 | 22,850| 23 | 21,148| 23 | 23,863 Women | 56 | 10,525| 56 | 12,798| 10 | 2,252| 6 | 3,340 | | | | | | | | West Virginia: | | | | | | | | Men | | | 2 | 167| 1 | 250| 1 | 1,600 Women | | | | | 1 | 740| | +——————+———————+——————+———————+——————+———————+——————+——————— Total: | | | | | | | | Men | 156 | 97,051| 191 |167,155| 159 |184,752| 157 |221,493 Women | 203 | 52,213| 268 | 80,354| 76 | 49,970| 86 | 81,305 +——————+———————+——————+———————+——————+———————+——————+——————— Grand total | 359 |149,264| 459 |247,509| 235 |234,722| 243 |302,798 ———————————————+——————————————+——————————————+——————————————+——————————————

———————————————+————————————————+————————————————+———————————————— | 1922 | 1923 | 1924 State and sex +——————+—————————+——————+—————————+——————+————————— of agent |Number|Estimated|Number|Estimated|Number|Estimated | of | cost | of | cost | of | cost |agents| |agents| |agents| ———————————————+——————+—————————+——————+—————————+——————+————————— Alabama: | | | | | | Men | 24 | $39,066 | 23 | $44,765 | 25 | $38,576 Women | 9 | 11,351 | 9 | 12,694 | 9 | 11,481 | | | | | | Arkansas: | | | | | | Men | 9 | 19,489 | 10 | 15,429 | 10 | 13,783 Women | 10 | 17,320 | 12 | 15,376 | 11 | 17,841 | | | | | | Florida: | | | | | | Men | 9 | 7,222 | 8 | 8,400 | 8 | 9,063 Women | 9 | 6,628 | 7 | 6,830 | 8 | 7,810 | | | | | | Georgia: | | | | | | Men | 15 | 18,302 | 12 | 17,978 | 13 | 19,703 Women | 17 | 13,302 | 17 | 14,593 | 13 | 10,749 | | | | | | Kentucky: | | | | | | Men | 5 | 7,289 | 5 | 6,744 | 5 | 6,826 Women | | | | | | | | | | | | Louisiana: | | | | | | Men | 9 | 13,391 | 9 | 11,380 | 10 | 13,981 Women | 6 | 6,101 | 5 | 6,513 | 6 | 6,414 | | | | | | Maryland: | | | | | | Men | 2 | 4,040 | 2 | 4,140 | 2 | 4,140 Women | 1 | 1,548 | 1 | 1,650 | 1 | 1,775 | | | | | | Mississippi: | | | | | | Men | 14 | 20,275 | 17 | 28,240 | 19 | 28,292 Women | 14 | 15,906 | 17 | 21,186 | 17 | 20,584 | | | | | | Missouri: | | | | | | Men | 2 | 3,800 | 2 | 4,000 | 2 | 4,239 Women | 1 | 2,000 | 1 | 2,000 | 1 | 2,200 | | | | | | North Carolina:| | | | | | Men | 15 | 22,477 | 20 | 25,286 | 20 | 24,418 Women | 5 | 13,481 | 6 | 9,408 | 6 | 11,413 | | | | | | Oklahoma: | | | | | | Men | 10 | 21,070 | 11 | 21,263 | 10 | 24,188 Women | 4 | 6,982 | 4 | 6,794 | 4 | 5,728 | | | | | | South Carolina:| | | | | | Men | 7 | 10,372 | 9 | 12,077 | 10 | 14,318 Women | 13 | 2,925 | 14 | 3,624 | 6 | 7,283 | | | | | | Tennessee: | | | | | | Men | 5 | 8,096 | 5 | 8,099 | 6 | 8,735 Women | 4 | 6,285 | 5 | 6,137 | 5 | 7,936 | | | | | | Texas: | | | | | | Men | 16 | 24,528 | 23 | 30,145 | 23 | 38,492 Women | 11 | 11,917 | 12 | 15,381 | 13 | 16,932 | | | | | | Virginia: | | | | | | Men | 27 | 30,849 | 26 | 34,130 | 26 | 34,458 Women | 8 | 7,318 | 8 | 10,297 | 8 | 10,329 | | | | | | West Virginia: | | | | | | Men | 5 | 4,582 | 4 | 4,281 | 3 | 4,579 Women | 1 | 1,800 | | | | +——————+—————————+——————+—————————+——————+————————— Total: | | | | | | Men | 174 | 254,848 | 186 | 276,357 | 191 | 287,791 Women | 113 | 124,864 | 118 | 132,483 | 108 | 138,475 +——————+—————————+——————+—————————+——————+————————— Grand total | 287 | 379,712 | 304 | 408,840 | 299 | 426,266 ———————————————+——————+—————————+——————+—————————+——————+—————————

ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

September 13, 1926

Secretary of Agriculture W. M. JARDINE. Assistant Secretary R. W. DUNLAP. Director of Scientific Work A. F. WOODS. Director of Regulatory Work WALTER G. CAMPBELL. Director of Extension Work C. W. WARBURTON. Director of Information NELSON ANTRIM CRAWFORD. Director of Personnel and Business Administration W. W. STOCKBERGER. Solicitor R. W. WILLIAMS. Weather Bureau CHARLES F. MARVIN, Chief. Bureau of Agricultural Economics LLOYD S. TENNY, Acting Chief. Bureau of Animal Industry JOHN R. MOHLER, Chief. Bureau of Plant Industry WILLIAM A. TAYLOR, Chief. Forest Service W. B. GREELEY, Chief. Bureau of Chemistry C. A. BROWNE, Chief. Bureau of Soils MILTON WHITNEY, Chief. Bureau of Entomology L. O. HOWARD, Chief. Bureau of Biological Survey E. W. NELSON, Chief. Bureau of Public Roads THOMAS H. MACDONALD, Chief. Bureau of Home Economics LOUISE STANLEY, Chief. Bureau of Dairy Industry C. W. LARSON, Chief. Fixed Nitrogen Research Laboratory F. G. COTTRELL, Director. Office of Experiment Stations E. W. ALLEN, Chief. Office of Cooperative Extension Work C. B. SMITH, Chief. Library CLARIBEL R. BARNETT, Librarian. Federal Horticultural Board C. L. MARLATT, Chairman. Insecticide and Fungicide Board J. K. HAYWOOD, Chairman. Packers and Stockyards Administration JOHN T. CAINE III, in Charge. Grain Futures Administration J. W. T. DUVEL, in Charge.

This circular is a contribution from

Extension Service C. W. WARBURTON, Director. Office of Cooperative Extension Work C. B. SMITH, Chief.