Cooperative Extension Work in
Agriculture and Home Economics
(Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914)
Agricultural Extension Division, University of Florida,
Florida State College for Women,
And United States Department of Agriculture
Cooperating
WILMON NEWELL, Director
REPORT OF GENERAL ACTIVITIES FOR 1924
WITH
FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR ENDING
JUNE 30, 1924
Cooperative Extension Work in
Agriculture and Home Economics
(Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914)
Agricultural Extension Division, University of Florida,
Florida State College for Women,
And United States Department of Agriculture
Cooperating
WILMON NEWELL, Director
REPORT OF GENERAL ACTIVITIES FOR 1924
WITH
FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR ENDING
JUNE 30, 1924
CONTENTS
PAGE
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA--.......................-..........
BOARD OF CONTROL, SPECIALISTS, SPECIAL LECTURERS ................................ 4
COUNTY AND HOME DEMONSTRATION' AGENTS ......................................... 5
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO CHAIRMAN BOARD OF CONTROL..................-..... 7
REPORT OF D IRECTOR ...................................................-.................... 7
Extension Organization ..........................................-.................. 7
Cooperation with Other Institutions..............---- .........-.......-.....: ....... 7
Changes in Staff ........................................................ ........ ................... 9
Assistance for Increased Efficiency ........................ .................... 9
Annual Conferences --- --------................... ........... ........... 9
Publications ..... ......... ................. ...........--------- ........... .....--. 10
Demand for Trained Leadership ........................................ ................ 11
Financial Statem nt ...........--------- ......- ................-.....-- .. ..................... 13
REPORT OF VICE-DIRECTOR AND COUNTY AGENT LEADER.............................. 14
REPORT OF DISTRICT AGENT, CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN FLORIDA....... ........ 28
REPORT OF DISTRICT AGENT, EASTERN AND NORTHEASTERN FLORIDA.......... 31
REPORT OF DISTRICT AGENT FOR NORTHERN AND WESTERN FLORIDA.......... 36
REPORT OF STATE BOYS' CLUB AGENT .........-..............- ..-...... .............. 41
REPORT OF ANIMAL INDUSTRIALIST ............... ...... .. ............ ................. 46
REPORT OF EXTENSION DAIRYMAN ........ ......... .......................... 48
REPORT OF EXTENSION POULTRYMAN .........................-..................................... 51
REPORT OF EXTENSION ENTOMOLOGIST AND PLANT PATHOLOGIST.............. 53
REPORT OF EXTENSION CITRUS PATHOLOGIST.........................-...................... 57
REPORT OF STATE HOME DEMONSTRATION AGENT ........-.............................. 64
REPORT OF ASSISTANT HOME DEMONSTRATION AGENT ................................ 76
REPORT OF DISTRICT HOME DEMONSTRATION AGENT IN SOUTHERN AND
EASTERN FLORIDA ................. ......-.... .......... ....... .............................. 80
REPORT OF DISTRICT HOME DEMONSTRATION AGENT IN NORTHERN AND
W ESTERN FLORIDA .............----............. ... .............. ............. 84
REPORT OF FOODS AND MARKETING AGENT ....................................... ......... 89
REPORT OF DAIRY AND NUTRITION AGENT ................---- ........ ..-.... .......... 94
REPORT OF LOCAL (Colored) DISTRICT AGENT IN CHARGE OF NEGRO EX-
TENSION W ORK ..................................................................... 98
Hon. Cary A. Hardee,
Governor of Florida,
Tallahassee, Florida.
SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith the report of the
director of the Agricultural Extension Division, College of Agri-
culture, University of Florida, for the calendar year 1924,
including a fiscal report for the year ending June 30, 1924.
Respectfully,
P. K. YONGE,
Chairman of the Board of Control.
Florida Cooperative Extension
BOARD OF CONTROL
P. K. YONGE, Chairman, Pensacola.
E. L. WARTMANN, Citra.
A. H. BLANDING, Leesburg.
JOHN C. COOPER, JR., Jacksonville.
W. B. DAVIS, Perry.
J. T. DIAMOND, Secretary, Tallahassee.
OFFICERS, STATES RELATIONS SERVICE, WASHINGTON, D. C.
C. W. WARBURTON, Director.
C. B. SMITH, Chief.
STAFF
A. A. MURPHREE, A.M., LL.D., President of the University.
WILMON NEWELL, D.Sc., Director.
A. P. SPENCER, M.S., Vice-Director and County Agent Leader,
RALPH STOUTAMIRE, B.S.A., Editor.
RUBY NEWHALL, Secretary.
K. H. GRAHAM, Auditor.
RACHEL MCQUARRIE, Assistant Auditor.
COOPERATIVE AGRICULTURAL DEMONSTRATION WORK
E. W. JENKINS, B. Ped., District Agent.
H. G. CLAYTON, M.S.A., District Agent.
S. W. HIATT, District Agent.
R. W. BLACKLOCK, A.B., Boys' Club Agent.
COOPERATIVE HOME DEMONSTRATION WORK
FLAVIA GLEASON, State Agent.
VIRGINIA P. MOORE, L.I., Assistant State Agent.
EVA RICHARDSON, B.S., Dairy and Nutrition Agent.
ISABELLE S. THURSBY, B.S., Food and Marketing Agent.
RUBY MCDAVID, District Agent.
LucY BELLE SETTLE, District Agent.
SPECIALISTS
JOHN M. SCOTT, B.S., Animal Industrialist.
HAMLIN L. BROWN, M.S., Dairyman.
E. F. DEBUSK, B.S., Citrus Pathologist.
N. R. MEHRHOF, B.S., Extension Poultryman.
SPECIAL LECTURERS
J. R. WATSON, A.M., Entomology.
O. F. BURGER, D.Sc., Citrus Diseases.
R. W. RUPRECHT, PH.D., Soils and Fertilizers.
C. H. WILLOUGHBY, B. Ag., M.A., Animal and Dairy Husbandry.
W. L. FLOYD, B.S., Horticulture.
E. L. LORD, B.S.A., Horticulture.
FRAZIER ROGERS, B.S.A., Farm Machinery.
A. L. SHEALY B.S., D.V.M., Veterinary Science.
G. F. WEBER, M.S., D.Sc., Vegetable Diseases.
J. E. TURLINGTON, B.Ag., M.S., Ph.D., Farm Management.
Annual Report, 1924 5
COUNTY AND HOME DEMONSTRATION AGENTS*
HOME DEMONSTRATION
COUNTY COUNTY AGENTS ADDRESS AGENTS
Alachua............F. L. Craft............... Gainesville...........Miss Lou C. Hamilton
Baker--........-...... R. F. Ward ..............Macclenny ............ .................
Bay..............----R. R. Whittington..Panama City........ ....................
Brevard ..-......P. M. Childers.......... Cocoa ................. ......... ........
Broward-...........C E. Matthews........Fort Lauderdale.................... ....
Citrus ---................ ........................Inverness........................Mrs. E. W. Moore
Collier............. ............... Everglades................Miss Motelle Madole
Columbia.......... C. A. Fulford..........Lake City.............Mrs. Grace F. Warren
Dade...............J. S. Rainey.............Miami-.........................Miss Pansy Norton
DeSoto--..... ----..............Arcadia..................Mrs. Nettie B. Crabill
Duval---..............--W. L. Watson..........Jacksonville........--.......Miss Pearl Lafitte
(Asst.)........-J. O. Traxler............Jacksonville.........Miss Louise Pickens
(Asst.) --......H. B. Lansden..........Jacksonville ................................................
Escambia.---.....J. Lee Smith............Pensacola---.............Miss Floresa Sipprell
Gadsden......... .................................... Quincy.......---...............Miss Eloise McGriff
H am ilton ........ J. Sechrest........... Jasper ............................. ......................
Hendry-......... k. L. Stallings..........LaBelle ..---...... ............
Hillsboro-.........R. T. Kelley..............Plant City...........Mrs. Blanche G: Shore
-- .....................Tampa.....:...-- Mrs. Mary S. Allen
Holmes---..... ---. ....-..----------- ...... Bonifay...----.....................Mrs. Bettie Caudle
Lake........------.. Leo H. Wilson..........Tavares...........................Miss Marie Cox
Lee....................W. R. Briggs...........Fort Myers............Miss Sallie B. Lindsey
Leon.......---..--J. A. Mackintosh......Tallahassee..............Mrs. Ruth C. Kellum
Levy----.................N. J. 'Allbritton ........Bronson .................. ..-......... ......................
Liberty.....----..... A. W Turner..........Bristol ................ .... ...................
Madison............ B. E. Lawton-............Madison ................. .....................
Manatee...........Ed L. Ayers ............Bradenton..................Miss Margaret Cobb
Marion.............K. C. Moore..............Ocala.............Miss Christine McFerron
Nassau............ ..........................Fernand .........Miss Pearl Jordan
Okaloosa..........R. J. Hart............... Laurel Hill ................................... ....
Crestview................. ..Miss Bertha Henry
Okeechobee-..- H. P. Peterson .......Okeechobee ...--.................. ...................
Orange..............C. D. Kime...............Orlando............Mrs. Nellie W. Taylor
Osceola............J. R. Gunn............ Kissimmee- :................. .................
Palm Beach.-.R. A. Conkling--.....iWest Palm Beach.Mrs. Edith Y. Morgan
Pasco............... J. A. Shealy:............Dade City...............Mrs. Harriet Ticknor
Pinellas........................................... Clearwater:.............Miss, Luella M. Rouse
Polk..............-- .................................... Bartow.................... Miss Lois Godbey
......................Miss Mosel Preston, Asst.
Putnam.............D..A. Armstrong..... Palatka ............ .............
St. Johns.......... .............. St. Augustine-............Miss Anna- Heist
St. Lucie......... Alfred Warren ....... ..Fort Pierce...............................................
Santa Rosa.....J. Q. Hudson..........Milton...............Mrs. Winnie W. McEwen
Seminole.......... B F. Whitner, Jr..Sanford ..............................................
Sumter---------------------- Bushnell---------Miss Uarda B--iggs
Sumter............. .................... ..............Bushnell ...........:..........Miss Uarda Briggs
Suwannee ...... ...............................Live Oak......-...........Miss Corinne, Barker
Taylor-..............R. J. Dorsett............Perry---.....--......--...Mrs. Anabel P. Powell
Volusia............. T A. Brown.....D......DeLand.....................Miss Orplka Cole
Wakulla-............G. C. Hodg .......;...:..Crawfordville ................... ..........
Walton...- ........J. W. Mathison........DeFuniak Sp'gs;...Miss Josephine&Nimmo
*This list is correct to December 31, 1924.
)POWg~
~5x ~Sip
PIPe
FIG.L-Wnnig cub irl gaheronc a earat he lorda tat Coleg fo Woen or wek o scool
Report of General Activities for 1924
with
Financial Statement for the Fiscal Year
Ending June 30, 1924
Hon. P. K. Yonge,
Chairman, of Board of Control.
SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith the annual report
of the Agricultural Extension Division, College of Agriculture,
University of Florida. This report embodies the financial state-
ment for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1924, and a summary
of the activities of the Division for the calendar year 1924. I
respectfully request that you transmit the same, in accordance
with law, to the governor of the State of Florida.
Respectfully,
WILMON NEWELL,
Director.
EXTENSION ORGANIZATION
During the year 1924 the supervisory staff consisted of:
Men's work: Director, Vice-Director and State Leader, three
District Agents, Boys' Club Agent and subject-matter specialists
as follows: Animal Industrialist, Dairyman, Poultryman, Citrus
Pathologist, and Entomologist and Plant Pathologist.
Women's work: State Agent, Assistant State Agent, two Dis-
trict Agents and subject-matter specialists as follows: Nutri-
tion and Home Dairy Agent, Conservation and Marketing Agent.
Extension work is carried on in the counties thru county agents
and home demonstration agents.
Negro work: Farm and Home Makers' Clubs. District Agent,
supervising men and women's work, under the direction of the
State Leader and the State Home Demonstration Agent.
COOPERATION WITH OTHER INSTITUTIONS
As the agricultural extension service is one of the divisions of
the Agricultural College, the workers have direct cooperative rela-
tionship with the teaching staff of the Agricultural College, also
Florida Cooperative Extension
those in the Experiment Station, as it is the purpose of the Agri-
cultural College 'to-have all branches coordinate in their research
and teaching. There are also cooperative relations with the State
Plant Board, particularly with the extension work in boll weevil
control, and with many phases of regulatory work in which
county agents and inspectors can cooperate.
As the State College for Women is headquarters for home dem-
onstration work, there is a close relationship between the home
economics courses of that institution and the work of extension
agents in counties; in particular, nutrition investigations as
carried on by that institution.
The Agricultural and Mechanical College for Negroes, located
at Tallahassee, contains the office of the Negro district agent,
who has supervision of local Negro agents' work.
The State Marketing Bureau, the State Live Stock Sanitary
Board and'the State Department of Agriculture have much work
in common with that of extension agents and there is a close
working relationship between these different branches of the
state service.
Other organizations, such as state and county fairs, poultry
associations, dairy associations and horticultural associations,
look to the agricultural extension service for assistance and
cooperation. This is carried out to the mutual advantage of all
concerned.
The managers of the State Fair, Jacksonville, and South
Florida Fair, Tampa, have received assistance from the extension
service in the arrangement of their catalogs and judging. This
particularly applies to the work in home economics and boys' and
girls' clubs, as well as to the larger county and community
exhibits. The live stock management has also been assisted in
the same manner, and by this assistance these fairs have been
built up to a high degree of excellency.
As the agricultural extension service of Florida is working
under a cooperative agreement between the State of Florida and
United States Department of Agriculture, the Florida service
has received much benefit and assistance from specialists of the
agricultural service of the United States Department of Agricul-
ture. This has been rendered principally in the line of poultry
production, dairying, horticulture, entomology and plant path-
ology, and thru this relationship other departments of the United
States Department of Agriculture have been given assistance and
Annual Report, 1924
much assistance has been rendered to the Federal service thru
specialists and county agents of the Florida service.
CHANGES IN STAFF
There have been comparatively few changes in staff during the
year. These were as follows: Resignation of Miss Louise R.
Carter, Home Dairy and Garden Specialist, who was succeeded
by Miss Eva Richardson, a graduate of the State College for
Women.
Resignation of Mr. John R. Springer, Entomologist and Plant
Pathologist, effective November 1.
Resignation of Mr. H. B. Lansden, Poultryman, effective
December 1, who was succeeded by Mr. N. R. Mehrhof on Decem-
ber 15.
Several changes-have taken place in resignations and transfers
with the county and home demonstration agents, due, principally,
to resignations, to enter other fields of work or promotions from
one county to another.
ASSISTANCE FOR INCREASED EFFICIENCY
County and home demonstration agents are supplied with
expert assistance to carry out their county projects. The limited
number of specialists employed by the Extension Service assist
in the more important phases of extension work in counties. This
side of the work is also strengthened by the press association,
members of the Experiment Station staff and specialists from
the United States Department of Agriculture, who give assist-
ance in counties with the more difficult problems. This makes it
possible to promote extension work on a high plane of efficiency,
as the workers have access to the most recent investigational
data and can apply it in the field work. The work has also been
materially assisted by help from commercial agencies, who pro-
vide expert assistance that is frequently used by county exten-
sion workers.
ANNUAL CONFERENCES
During the year an annual conference was held at University
of Florida for all extension workers and at Florida State College
for Women for home demonstration workers. This was in the
nature of an extension program, principally to discuss ways and
means of doing extension work, also to come in communication
with investigational workers that the work might be coordinated
in the different branches of the college. This extended over 10
Florida Cooperative Extension
days, four days of which all county and home demonstration
agents were in session together and the remaining period in
which they were separated to carry out their particular programs.
At the beginning of the year group conferences were held in
three different points in Florida for the purpose of making plans
for the coming year. Each plan formed a basis for the project
work in the county and provided a working agreement in which
the district agents, specialists, county and home demonstration
agents could fully cooperate.
ae,
FIG. 2.-A beautiful Florida farm home.
The supervising staff also attended a conference for extension
workers, held in connection with Southern Educational Workers,
which took place in Birmingham.
The Negro workers were assembled at the State A. and M.
College for Negroes, at Tallahassee, principally for instruction.
This program was conducted largely by the white extension
workers from the State College for Women and from the College
of Agriculture, University of Florida.
PUBLICATIONS
Number Numbel
Title. Pages Copies
Bulletin No. 37-"Diseases of Cattle"............. ........... 35 216
Bulletin No. 38-"Florida Poultry Production"................. 27 350
Bulletin No. 39-"Grape Culture". .............- .............. 28 8,500
Bulletin No. 40--"Strawberry Culture".............. ...............- 16 15,472
Annual Reports ................. ............ 86 2,000
Yearly Calendars .................................... 12 9,075
-Weekly Agricultural News ............... 1 28,515
Annual Report, 1924
The Agricultural News Service is distributed weekly to the
press of the state. It contains timely news articles that are very
generally used.
The yearly calendars are distributed to farmers, principally
thru lists furnished by county and home demonstration agents,
which contain calendars of work applicable to the different months
and these have been highly appreciated by farmers, live stock
owners and horticulturists.
The Agricultural Extension Service distributes thru county
and home demonstration agents' offices and direct to farmers
large numbers of agricultural bulletins and timely information.
The county workers' offices are supplied with these, making
them available to every one who requests them. On account of
the large number of publications issued by the United States
Department of Agriculture and College of Agriculture many
bulletins are supplied only in limited number, but farmers can
receive them upon request, which service has been considered of
more than usual value because of the large number of.people it
reaches.
Large quantities of bulletins are secured from the United
States Department of Agriculture, many of which are supplied
by members of Congress and United States Senators.
DEMAND FOR TRAINED LEADERSHIP
There is a strong demand for service which requires well-
trained county and home demonstration agents with initiative
and such training as will equip them for the particular work in
counties. So definite has been this demand in several counties
that some of the best-trained men on the supervisory force have
been attracted to county positions, due to the larger salaries paid.
As Florida's development tends to be toward horticultural
lines, particularly in the southern part, men with special training
are in constant demand by commercial firms, which have also
attracted agents having special training. This character of work
will continue to require men of the very best training and such
men will command higher salaries than the extension service
has been permitted to offer. In many counties this fact is being
fully appreciated by those interested in agricultural development,
Florida Cooperative Extension
and while many counties are still unable to provide sufficient
means for this, there is a decided improvement on account of it.
It is the policy of the Florida Agricultural Extension Division
that each county and home demonstration agent develop to a
very large extent the program for each county, with the assist-
ance of the district agent and specialists. They are expected to
see the program carried thru when once agreed upon, with as little
interruption and modification as conditions will permit.
FIG. 3.-Daily records kept by club members show whether or not chickens
are earning their keep. The Home Demonstration Agent helps to keep
them correctly.
Annual Report, 1924 13
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
RECEIPTS
College of Agriculture Funds-
Smith-Lever, Federal ...................... ........... ................ ...... $ 58,872.25
Smith-Lever, State ............................-----.......... ...................... 48,872.25
Supplementary Smith-Lever, Federal....................................... 15,496.08
Supplementary Smith-Lever, State............................................ 15,496.08
U. S. D. A. Appropriation.................................. ..... ..................... 22,500.00
State Appropriations ......................... ... .............. ...................... 12,400.00
County Appropriations ......................... ... ............... -..... ............ 73,951.82
$247,588.48
EXPENDITURES
Administration ......................... -- -- .....--.................. 13,773.84
Printing and Publications.........................---.. .. -........... 2,696.32
County Agents' work--....................................----..- -... 111,106.79
Home demonstration work..... ..... ...........---..................... 78,958.20
Boys' club w ork................................................................ ................. 5,391.05
A animal industry ........................................ ................................. 4,708.66
Negro farm and home makers' work.... .................................... 16,980.43
Plant pathology and entomology............... ...... ........... 7,479.41
Poultry industry ......................... ......................... ......... ...... ........... 2,708.38
Extension schools ............................ ........... ........... .............. 1,785.20
Exhibits at fairs (upkeep and maintenance)................................. 2,000.00
$247,588.48
Florida Cooperative Extension
REPORT OF A. P. SPENCER, VICE-DIRECTOR AND
COUNTY AGENT LEADER
(Summary Report of Work Accomplished on Projects)
County Agent Work.-During the fiscal year ending June 30,
1924, county agent work was conducted in 41 counties. Full time
agents were employed, with the exception of five counties, where
the work was .discontinued after two or three months. These
were in each case due to failure on the part of county boards to
provide necessary funds for continuing cooperation. This did not
reduce the total number of counties, as four additional ones
cooperated. There are 63 counties in Florida, abodt 40 percent
of which are without county agents. In some counties the import-
ance of agriculture is so small that it is a question whether these
counties could really benefit by the employment of an agent.
Some counties should have agents, but it has been impossible to
make cooperative arrangements carrying sufficient amounts of
money to make possible the employment of competent agents.
The work undertaken has been as diversified as the various
agricultural and horticultural interests and it requires special
training for county agents in many of the peninsula counties,
where developments are taking place at a rapid rate and subtropi-
cal horticultural crops are of much more importance than are the
general agricultural crops. This diversity applies not only to the
horticulture, but, on account of soil conditions, modifies the line
of work carried on by poultry raisers, dairymen and other live-
stock raisers.
County agents are called upon in the general farming area to
meet a very difficult marketing problem that has not been satis-
factorily dealt with by any marketing agency. The farmers'
crops in these sections have been marketed at a disadvantage for
the past two years, resulting in considerable unrest among
farmers. The income in most cases was not sufficient to warrant
expenditures for improvements either on the farm or in the home.
Farmers have been working under a severe handicap, which has
made it almost impossible to work out a satisfactory agricultural
program.
Attempts have been made to establish additional cash crops
for the general farming section. This resulted in an increased
acreage of perishable winter and spring vegetables, which, on
the whole, did not result in a profit.
Annual Report, 1924
Dairying has been fostered and promoted by county agents
with a moderate degree of success. Owing to distances from
markets, those who engaged in dairying were compelled to mar-
ket their dairy products on a sour-cream basis, giving the
farmers 12 to 15 cents per gallon. As dairy products cannot be
produced at this price, the next problem was to utilize the
skimmed milk at a profit. Farmers were able to feed the skimmed
milk to hogs and poultry and have made fair progress with this
program, but those who failed to get full value for the skimmed
milk have not been successful.
The dairy farmers in the general farming section who are in a
position to ship to whole milk markets, if for only six or eight
months of the year, have made good progress and are inclined to
expand their business. This dairy program has also dealt with
the matter of economical production, principally as this applies
to home-grown feeds.
On the peninsula dairying has been conducted principally on a
whole-milk basis, and while there was a small surplus during the
summer months, the prices paid during the winter season was
sufficient to enable producers to produce milk at a profit, improve
their equipment and enlarge the herds. On the whole, the dairy
project has been fairly successful.
There has been decided stimulus in the production of poultry
products. The progress has been gratifying, and it is one of the
most satisfactory projects with which county agents have had
to deal. Quite a number of commercial flocks have been estab-
FIG. 4.-The county agent shows the poultry club member quality eggs
which bring the best prices.
Florida Cooperative Extension
lished and progress made-in improving the-quality of farm flocks.
The horticultural interests, as apply to county agent work,
have been largely dealing with the problems in citrus culture.
There is a general demand for expert service among grove
owners. This service applies to the management and fertilization
of young groves and general care of the trees for maximum
production. However, a greater problem has come up that might
be considered more of a marketing problem. It is conceded that
one of the solutions in relieving this marketing problem is to
produce fruit of the best quality. In order to do this it is neces-
sary to have not only proper fertilization, but control of insects
and diseases. In cooperation with and under the direction of the
Citrus Pathologist, county agents have been working with this in
view in conducting spray schedules. Citrus work has consumed
more than 50 percent of the county agents' time in many counties
of the citrus growing area.
The vegetable growing area has commanded the attention of
county agents in the many phases of vegetable production.
This work has called for expert assistance in crop management,
fertilization and control of insects and diseases and to assist
these growers in producing and selling their products coopera-
tively. As individual counties have different conditions and
produce a variety of money crops, county agents must meet the
emergency, whatever it may be. 'This is especially true in the
winter vegetable growing area, where the crops are produced
at a high cost and may be sold at a loss.
The personnel of county agents has changed very little in
the past year, and where changes have come about it has been
due to local conditions rather than conditions arising in this
office. Some changes have occurred due to dissatisfied condi-
tions- on the part of county boards; others have occurred
because of low salaries, and still others to accept more remu-
nerative positions. On the whole, county agents have rendered
satisfactory service to the state and this office, which has
resulted in an increased total allotment from counties for the
support.of county agentwork.
Boys' Clubs.-Boys' club work has proceeded about as in.the
past. In numbers the membership has not. improved, but in
quality of work there is a marked improvement. The clubs
producing the greatest number of records have been pig and
corn clubs. Due to low prices for these products, there was
Annual Report, 1924
some lack of enthusiasm where we expected better clubs. The
club agent has been developing a successful short course for boys
at the University. The funds necessary to bring the club mem-
bers to the University for this occasion were provided entirely
from outside sources, principally railroads, banks and county
boards.
FIG. 5.-This prize winning poultry club member keeps his poultry house
clean.
Pig club work has become more centralized in a few counties.
The 1924 exhibits at fairs in pig club work exceeded in quality
that of former years; in fact, this exhibit at the State Fair was
the best hog exhibit on display.
In the horticultural section, principally in South Florida, club
work has been difficult to arrange. In the large commercial
trucking sections we have not found that truck clubs have
amounted to very much, due to the speculative nature of the crop.
In citrus production educational clubs are being established
with some agents who are particularly interested in citrus cul-
ture. This consists of a series of studies given principally by
demonstration in the groves. Club members are taught to recog-
nize and study insects and diseases and are given instruction in
the methods of handling these pests. It requires intensive study
and a very definite amount of enthusiasm and interest. The
poultry clubs have been largely handled by the home demonstra-
tion agents.
Home Demonstration.-The home demonstration work is under
the direct supervision of Miss Flavia Gleason and her assistants.
During the past year 30 counties cooperated in the employment
of home demonstration agents. Assistant agents were employed
Florida Cooperative Extension
in Duval, Polk and Hillsborough, and part-time assistants in
Volusia, Lake and Manatee counties.
The extension work for Negro women is also conducted under
the direction of Miss Gleason. As with county agent work, the
main objective is to conduct work with rural people thru the
county home demonstration agents, who plan their work to give
instructions to groups of women and girls as far as possible.
The organizations of women's clubs thruout the state have
given excellent support and cooperation in carrying out county
programs. They have assisted in providing means for club mem-
bers to attend short courses and have provided leadership in
every phase of work that has been of valuable assistance to county
workers.
In practically every county the county and home demonstration
agents have their office together, and while their work takes
them into different fields of service, yet the plans call for many
definite projects to be carried out cooperatively.
It is the idea to assist in developing the farm and the home in
such a way that each phase of it will receive the greatest amount
of assistance. The home demonstration work is carried out
according to projects. These are home gardens, beautification of
home grounds, home dairying, poultry production, marketing,
foods, nutrition and miscellaneous community activities. In this
entire program the recreational side is not neglected and it has
proven a valuable means of holding the work together and
creating a state-wide interest.
Dairy Husbandry and Forage Crops.-Grass plot demon-
strations have been difficult to establish in the past. The Experi-
ment Station, however, is making a definite and specific effort to
experiment with imported grasses, some of which have proven of
much value, particularly for grazing purposes. Using their
material as a basis, the Animal Industrialist distributed grass
seed to counties thru the county agents and seeded five-acre plots.
This project has met with a fair degree of success and, while
disappointing in a few instances, some excellent pastures have
been established.
The dairy project has been confined to a limited number of
counties where dairying offered the greatest opportunity for
development. Two situations must be taken into consideration
regarding markets. Our best markets are those requiring large
amounts of fresh, whole milk and these markets pay from 60
cents to $1 a gallon for whole milk. Those farmers within
Annual Report, 1924
shipping distance, who can deliver by truck, are fortunate in
having an excellent market for nearly all they can produce during
the six or seven months of the year. The problem of these
farmers is, principally, securing suitable cattle and keeping the
feed cost low enough to make a profit. In many instances these
cattle are not handled on farms, but in lots, where everything
consumed is purchased and where dairying does not enter into a
general farming program.
This situation always presents the question of a surplus sum-
mer milk supply. The Extension Dairyman has directed his
project with a view of finding a market for this surplus amount
of milk, which must be made into butter or ice cream.
Another phase of the production that affects the general
farmer is the disposition of dairy products at a profitable price.
Some attention has been given to marketing sour cream. As this
is not as profitable as the sale of whole milk, the project has not
gone along with as much enthusiasm as we had hoped for. Never-
theless, there are farmers in almost every community who are
getting a cream check every month that has been of much benefit
to them inasmuch as they are in position to feed their skimmed
milk to poultry and hogs. We can hardly expect, however, our
general farmers to go into dairying on a large scale on the sour-
cream basis. This situation, too, calls for more economical pro-
duction and the producing of home-grown feed, and it is with
such farmers that we believe the establishing of permanent
pastures will be very helpful in years to come.
The dairy interests of the state continue to be severely handi-
capped by the presence of the cattle tick. While some progress
has been made toward general tick eradication work, much more
time will be consumed and much money spent before a large part
of the Florida territory can be expected to be tick free. Until
that time comes it is difficult to make substantial improvement in
the grade and production of our average dairy cows.
Milk plants are being established in Central and South Florida
that will improve the situation, particularly for those living close
enough to consuming centers to take advantage of the better
markets that these creameries afford and the Extension Dairy-
man has given much time and attention to the demands and
problems surrounding these milk plants.
Farm and Home Makers' Clubs.-This work among Negroes
has been confined to 15 counties, with seven men and eight women,
one person in a county, all under the direction of a supervising
Florida Cooperative Extension
district agent. In the men's work there has been little opportu-
nity for constructive, organized work. Due to the character of
farms, the number of tenant farmers and the general agricultural
situation, the greater part of the time has been given to personal
service work. Their most beneficial work has been confined to
improvement of poultry and hogs, to better culture of farm crops
and to give definite assistance in marketing perishable and other
farm crops.
These agents have also cooperated with the county agents and
have been able to secure the benefit of reduced prices in fertilizer
and other supplies by purchasing these thru the white farmers'
organizations. They have also given assistance in grading and
packing of perishable products. This work has gone along in a
fairly satisfactory manner, altho it seemed advisable for the
agricultural extension service to pay the entire cost of this
service.
The Negro agents are called together at least once a year for a
program making conference.
Both Negro men and women conduct their work thru boys' and
girls' clubs and are able to do most effective work when these can
be organized. The women have been a little more successful in
organizing clubs than the men, altho both report good yields of
corn and better livestock as a result of their club work. The
district agent of Negro work has headquarters at the A. and M.
College, Tallahassee, and works in cooperation with the Agricul-
tural Department of that institution. His work calls for much
travel and very much assistance from the local workers.
Entomology and Plant Pathology.-Two men are engaged on
this project.
Citrus Pathologist.-This particular phase was instituted Sep-
tember, 1923, altho county agents had done much before a spe-
cialist was appointed. A growing demand for assistance in the
control of melanose, stem-end rot and blue mold was responsible
for this kind of work. The increased acreage of citrus indicated
plainly that there would be an over-production of at least low
grade fruit, and in order that growers should get the maximum
price for their fruit it must be free from blemishes and be
received on the market in good condition. The work of the Citrus
Pathologist has been largely the control of these injurious dis-
eases, and in cooperation with the Plant Pathologist of the Experi-
ment Station, has done very effective work in establishing well-
planned demonstrations, particularly with the use of Bordeaux-
Annual Report, 1924
oil in the control of melanose, in the handling of fruit to prevent
decay and general assistance to county agents in citrus disease
work. This work is confined, principally, to the peninsular sec-
tion of the state, altho a small amount of work has been done in
the new satsuma area of West Florida.
Entomology and Plant Pathology.-This work has been con-
fined, principally, to disease and insect control of vegetable crops.
During the winter and spring months, there is a demand for
special service in the control of diseases and insects by spraying
and other methods. This agent works in cooperation with the
Plant Pathologist and Entomologist of the Florida Experiment
Station and with the county agents. This agent also con-
ducted insect control work in citrus groves, principally
in the control of rustmite, red spider and whitefly. He has
also been called into service because of insects and diseases
appearing on other horticultural plants, as well as diseases and
insect pests of our general farming crops. The latter, however,
has required less time than do the horticultural crops.
Poultry Work.-This project has made favorable progress
during the past year. The Extension Poultry Specialist has pre-
pared a series of Poultry Hints, being issued monthly. He has
given much assistance to county agents by helping them in select-
ing breeding stock and in culling work. He has assisted in hous-
ing problems and has done much in working out feeding problems.
There has been unusual demand for his services scattered over a
very large area.
FIG. 6.-Poultry is becoming a major farm enterprise in some parts of
Florida.
Florida Cooperative Extension
The work has been, principally, more of a personal service type
than definite demonstrations, but the demand was so great for
such work that it was impossible to set it aside. This agent
worked with both county and home demonstration agents and
was able to give them valuable assistance in handling the general
problems of poultry.
The interest in poultry has increased in every section of the
state. Many farmers in the general farming section who formerly
grew cotton as a cash crop have turned their attention to a large
extent to poultry and other side lines, poultry being the main
cash crop on the farm. There has developed because of this
service much interest in state and county poultry shows, and
those conducted during the past year have exceeded by far, in
importance and educational value, those of former years. Poultry
is considered one of our leading enterprises and will be fostered
by both county and home demonstration agents in 1925 to a
greater extent than in former years.
Extension Schools.-This project has been carried out in the
usual way, principally with field meetings and other schools
arranged and conducted by county agents, with the assistance of
specialists and district supervisors. The most effective work this
past year was done in the citrus producing area, where field
schools were conducted to give growers a good insight as to the
effect of various things interfering with citrus production.
FARMERS AND FRUIT GROWERS' WEEK
The third annual Farmers and Fruit Growers' Week was held
on the University of Florida campus during August. This was
made possible by a special appropriation from the State Legisla-
ture. It is the purpose of this event to bring together the farmers
and their wives from the different portions of the state for a
week's instruction and pleasure on the campus of the University
of Florida. Appropriate programs were planned to handle each
phase of agriculture, horticulture and livestock. These programs
consisted of lectures, demonstrations, conferences, and were
arranged so that those attending could make their selection as to
courses. The recreational feature was emphasized each day.
Appropriate entertainment was arranged for each night, princi-
pally from home talent.
The College dormitories and dining hall were thrown open to
visitors and a minimum charge made for their-entertainment,
making it possible for those in attendance to spend the entire
week at a cost not exceeding $1.25 per day for each person.
Annual Report, 1924 23
A special program was prepared for women under the direct
supervision of the home demonstration staff. Many friends of
the College, living within the State of Florida, assisted in the
program and much help was given by officers of other institu-
tions outside of the state and from the United States Department
of Agriculture. This event was one of the most important educa-
tional features of the year for a large number of rural people, and
it is planned to develop this part of extension work to the fullest
extent.
Fairs and Exhibits.-The Legislature of 1923 provided a work-
ing fund for handling exhibits at fairs. No one in particular has
been appointed to this special work, altho District Agent Hiatt has
gven it more thought and attention than anyone else. It has
taken considerable time on the part of those most interested. The
purpose is to make exhibits at fairs more educational, and with
that end in view the work has been planned.
STATISTICS
The following statistics will give some idea of what was accom-
plished in the major projects. As there are many minor projects
that come into county agent work, much that took place during
the year cannot be so reported. It has been emphasized that
extension work is primarily educational and, therefore, cannot be
correctly estimated in money values.
GENERAL ACTIVITIES
Communities where extension program was cooperatively worked out 527
Voluntary county, community and local leaders.......... ............. ... 277
Clubs carrying on extension work......................... ..... ........... 287
Memberships ....................................... ... ...... ........................ 1,588
Farm visits made by county agents....................... ...................... 17,558
Different farms visited......................... .... .. ................... .. 9,392
Home visits made by county agents........................ .............. .. 2,331
Different hom es visited................................ ............ ........ .. ...... ..... 2,009
Office calls on agents relating to extension work................................. 26,199
Average number days spent in office......................... ............. 78
Average number days spent in field........................... ................... 197
Official letters written.................................................25,852
Exhibits at fairs...:......................... ........... ............ 81
-Community .................-... ...... ............ 33
County ........ ...... ..... ........... .......... ..- 29
State ........ ........................ ........ ...... .............. 5
-Interstate ................................ ........... 14
Number Attendance
Demonstration meetings held........................................ 442 7,772
Farmers'* institutes held................................ 35 2,752
Extension schools and short courses held...................... 30 1,355
Total attendance club members, junior encampments and rallies........ 785
Club boys entering college..................... ... .... ...... ..................... 16
24 Florida Cooperative Extension
PROGRAM SUMMARY
Communities participating in various projects......................................... 1,142
Demonstrations ........... .. ....... ......................... 3,095
-Boll weevil control.................................... 160
-Dairying ...............-.. ........ ............... 115
-Poultry ....................................... ........ 261
-Citrus ................................ ...........................1,903
-Other fruits --................................4,114
-Insects and their control................................................... 65
-Cooperative purchases and sales.................................... 201
-Truck crops ........................... ...... ........ 348
Organization ............................-- .............. 0
-Soil improvement ...................................... 474
-Livestock .......... -----........---------..................... 262
-Community and county exhibits...................--....-.. 8
-Club work ..........-------- -----. ----- .................... 178
Meetings held for definite project work......... .......... -.................. 323
Attendance ........... ..................---......... .................... 6,747
Cereal Demonstrations
(Corn, Oats, Etc.)
Demonstrators .-..................... ........................ ........ 224
Acreage grown under demonstration methods....................................... 753
Boys' and girls' clubs.......................................... ...602
Acreage grown by club members ..............- .... .......................... 227
Yield of cereals grown by club members (bushels) .........-..-- ........ 3,559
Farmers influenced to adopt better practices....... --- ............... 450
Farmers who planted selected or improved seed.................................. 233
Farmers who treated seed grain for smut....................................... 40
Cotton Demonstrations
Demonstrators ........ -------...........................-............ 154
Acreage grown under improved methods ................................ 776
Farms influenced to adopt better practice ................ .................. 303
Boys and girls' clubs........ .......... ........................... 13
Members enrolled .......................... .. .............. 18
Acreage grown by club members........... .................................... 17
Farmers who planted improved or certified seed................................... 253
Farmers who sprayed or dusted to control insects and diseases.............. 160
Legume Demonstrations
(Cowpeas, Soybeans, Velvet Beans, Etc.)
Demonstrators ...................................... .................... 528
Farmers influenced to adopt better practices...................................... 289
Acreage in these farms..... ....................................10,286
Farmers who planted selected seed.................... ................. 205
Farmers who inoculated for these crops .............. ................. 23
Orchard Demonstrations
Demonstration orchards ....................................... 751
Acreage of these orchards. ................. .................14,722
Farmers influenced to adopt better practices................ ......... 1,079
Farmers who planted selected or improved stock............................ 167
Farmers who pruned.. ................ ......... ............ ...................... 281
Farmers who sprayed or otherwise treated to control disease and
insect pests .................... .................. ........ 1,296
Annual Report, 1924 25
Truck and Garden Demonstrations
Demonstrators ........................ ....... -- ....-.. .......... ... 349
Acreage in these demonstrations....--...............................................2,457
Farmers influenced to adopt better practices............................. .......... 40
Farmers who planted selected or improved seed.................................... 0
Farmers who pruned...................................... ................ ............. .......... 0
Farmers who sprayed or otherwise treated for disease and insect pests 13
Irish Potato Demonstrations
Demonstrators ....................................... ....... .. .. .............. 118
Acreage grown under improved methods.............................. .......... 356
Farmers influenced to adopt better practices............................ ... 80
Farmers who planted improved or certified seed..................................... 80
Farmers who treated seed for disease............ ................................... 38
Farmers who sprayed or dusted to control diseases and insects-............ 81
Crop improvement associations organized at suggestion of extension
service ........... .............. ........ ... .... ... .............. .. 1
Membership................................................. 42
M em bership ........................................................................................................ 42
Sweet Potato Demonstrations
Demonstrators ........................................ ... ..... ... ....... 54
Acreage grown under improved methods....................... .. ........ 36
Farmers influenced to adopt better practices............................................ 81
Farmers who planted improved or certified seed....................................... 51
Farmers who grew improved or certified seed for sale............................ 33
Farmers who treated seed to prevent disease........................................ 53
Farmers who sprayed or dusted to control diseases and insects............. 50
Storage houses constructed...................................................... 1
Capacity this house (bushels)............ ........................... 1,000
Dairy Cattle Demonstrations
Demonstrations .................. ......................... 240
Animals in completed demonstrations.........................................3,758
Saving resulting from better practices............ ..... ................ 5,236
Farmers influenced to adopt better practices........................................ 231
Farmers assisted in securing purebred sires........................................... 52
Farms assisted in securing high grade or purebred females................... 68
Farmers who culled their herds....................... ............. ........ 57
Associations organized......................... ............ ..... ........... ........ 0
Breed associations or clubs organized....................... ................. 1
M membership .............. .. ................. ....... .................. 10
Number cow-testing associations organized during the year............... 2
Farmers not in associations who tested cows for production.................. 3
Cow s so tested.................................. .... ....... ...... ...... 22
Farmers who fed better balanced rations................ ....... ........ 151
Farmers who controlled insect pests............................ ........... 81
Farmers who tested animals for tuberculosis.................... ..... 151
Number of farms adopting more sanitary production methods.............. 223
Hog Demonstrations
Demonstrators ..................................... ........ .... ...... ............ 57
Animals in completed demonstrations.................... .............. 3,031
Savings resulting from better practices.......................................... $3,659
Farmers who secured purebred sires............................................ ....... 77
Farmers assisted in obtaining purebred females.................................. 80
Farmers who fed better balanced rations............................... .. 205
26 Florida Cooperative Extension
Farmers who controlled insect pests............................................ 289
Farmers who controlled livestock diseases.................................... 1,376
Poultry Demonstrations
Demonstrators ........... ........ ........ ... ...... ..................... 127
Birds in these demonstrations..........................................................32,977
Farms influenced to adopt better practices............................... 491
Saving resulting from better practices................. ...........$2,475
Number of farms assisted in securing purebred breeding stock.......... 652
Number of birds in these flocks................................. .... .............21,003
Farmers who culled their flocks..................................... .............. 211
Breed associations organized.................................. .................. 1
Membership these associations............. ....... ..............8....... 32
Farmers who fed better balanced rations............. ................ ...... 315
Farmers who controlled insect pests.......................--............ 307
Soil Improvement Demonstrations
Demonstrations started or under way........... ................... ...... 173
Demonstrations completed ........................................ 159
Acres involved in completed demonstrations........................................ 2,059
Farmers influenced to change methods soil management.......................... 1,072
Farmers following advice in use of commercial fertilizers.................... 2,178
Tons commercial fertilizer involved............................ ..................44,775
Farmers taking better care of farm manures............................... ........ 1,298
Farmers using lime or limestone......................... .. ................ 170
Tons of lime or limestone so used-....-..-............ ........... 1,000
Farmers who plowed under cover or green manure crops for soil
im provem ent ...................................... ................... 36
Acres of cover and green manure so plowed under.......................... 1,076
Rural Engineering
(Things Done with Agents' Assistance and Advice.)
Demonstrations .......................... ...... .... .......... ................... 52
Number Acres
Drainage systems installed................ ............. ... 61 2,537
Irrigation systems installed............................... 13 255
Terraces constructed ............................ ... ......... 86 2,530
Water systems installed................... ......... ................ 27
Heating systems installed......................... ............... 12
Lighting system s installed............................. .................. .................. 9
Farms on which buildings were constructed or remodeled...................... 90
Buildings on these farms constructed or remodeled........................ 163
Number sewage-disposal systems installed....................... ......... 13
Farmers who cleared land..... .................................... 271
A cres cleared .. .......................... ....... ...................................................... 3,762
Number of farms adopting above practices for the first time................. 125
Demonstration in Control of Rodents and Other Pests
Demonstrations .................................................. 122
Farmers adopting control measures.......................... ................... 691
A cres involved ................................................ 2,278
Farm Management
Number method demonstrations given............................. ................... 11
Farm account books distributed............................... ..... ........ 104
Farmers who kept records....... ..................................... 41
Annual Report, 1924
Farmers assisted in keeping accounts..................... .......
Farmers who changed methods as result of keeping accounts..................
Farmers who adopted cropping, livestock or complete farming systems
according to recommendations...... ----........ ..-...
Farmers advised relative to leases................................. ..........
Number of junior farm account clubs.................... ..........
Farmers assisted in keeping cost of production records....... .............
Number members enrolled............................................................ .
Number members completing.... ......... .........................
Number of farm management and farm account schools held...............
Supplies Purchased and Products Sold
Fruit trees. ---...............---$.
Fertilizer .......................
Vegetables ......................
Poultry products............
Citrus fruits.................
Peanuts ..--....................
Sweet potatoes...........
Irish potatoes ...........
Livestock ................
Hogs .............................
Dairy products...-.......
Insecticides ..---..........
Melons ..........................
Crates ----...--- ....
Seeds ............ ................
Miscellaneous ..................
Supplies Purchased
Value Saving
3,500
126,515
8,000
1,374
168,000
5,100
583,350
1,666
1,864
3,000
289,394
Total..... .........$1,191,763
$ 250
33,825
1,500
229
17,000
1,000
101,189
710
385
400
7,678
$164,166
Products Sold
Value Saving
$ 6,000
11,826 $ 2,200
17,291 4,190
1,675,000
4,200 400
60,100 15,130
3,675 675
24,614 851
5,400 1,400
23,419 2,250
1,297,497
$3,129,022
22,814
$49,910
28 Florida Cooperative Extension
REPORT OF E. W. JENKINS, DISTRICT AGENT,
CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN FLORIDA
The Supervisory Program of Work for 1924 for the counties of
Alachua, Hendry, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Levy,
Manatee, Marion, Osceola, Orange, Pasco and Polk included work
in citrus, truck, livestock, poultry, corn, sweet potatoes, pastures,
organization and club work.
PROGRAM OF WORK FOR 1924
The program of work for 1924 included the following: (1)
improvement of county agents' equipment; (2) soil improvement
by the use of cover crops; (3) improvement of livestock by con-
trolling diseases and producing better feeds; (4) improvement of
seed corn by selection; (5) a series of citrus meetings and demon-
strations in the control of diseases and insects; (6) assistance in
the production and marketing of truck crops; (7) assistance to
poultrymen in production and marketing; (8) organizing boys'
citrus clubs where possible.
By comparing project activities with the above program it will
be noticed that at least 98 percent of plans made were put into
effect.
County Agents' Equipment.-Each county agent's office,
except one, is supplied with a typewriter. All offices have letter
files and bulletin racks. Three counties furnish stenographic
help. With the exception of two or three counties, card index
systems are used for recording daily visits to farmers and
growers. These cards also are used to show assistance given to
individuals and organizations in making purchases and sales.
Three agents have fertilizer sampling tubes. Two agents are
supplied with soil acidity testers.
One group meeting for making plans was held in January.
A suggested program of work was submitted to the county
agents for their approval.
The different projects in the county agents' program were
taken up and such assistance as could be was given by the district
*agent and specialists from the Extension Division. A series of
citrus field meetings were held, when the general problems of the
citrus grower were discussed.
PROJECTS
Soil Improvement.-Soil improvement work was done in citrus
groves. Large acreage was planted thruout the citrus area to
Annual Report, 1924
cover crops. This is especially true with young groves. Some
work was done in growing cover crops in connection with regular
field crops.
Cotton.-Due to the heavy loss from boll weevil damage in
1923, very little cotton was planted, Alachua being the only
county to carry on any work with the county agents. The work
of the county agent with cotton in Alachua County consisted
chiefly of weevil control.
Livestock.-County agents cooperated with the Bureau of Ani-
mal Industry, United States Department of Agriculture, in test-
ing cattle for tuberculosis and in treating hogs to control cholera.
In Hernando and Alachua the county agents assisted farmers in
improving the grade of dairy cattle by purchasing better bred
cows and grading up by the use of well-bred sires. The agent of
Pasco County organized his farmers into a dairy association to
purchase dairy cows and develop a market for their milk. A milk
route was established to the Brooksville Creamery, where satis-
factory prices were received. The county agent of Alachua,
assisted by the district agent, gave demonstrations in cutting and
curing pork on the farm. The sugar-cured method, described in
Farmers' Bulletin 1186, was practiced, the amount of each
ingredient used in the cure being increased by 50 percent. From
former experience it seems that the amount of each material sug-
gested in this bulletin is not sufficient in this climate. By making
this change in the formula there was no difficulty in curing the
meat where cold storage was also available.
Citrus.-A series of meetings was held in Marion, Lake, Her-
nando, Hillsborough, Osceola, Pasco and Orange counties to assist
the growers in producing better fruit at less expense. Citrus
insects, diseases, cultural methods and fertilizers were taken up
and fully discussed.
The three insects which received the most attention of county
agents in their citrus work were rust mite, whitefly and scale.
Demonstrations were carried out to control these. The principal
work consisted of cooperation with growers in mixing sprays and
applying them properly.
Truck Crops.-The main work with truck crops was the control
of insects and diseases. The work with farmers of the Williston
section in the control of downy mildew and angular leaf spot was
continued, but due to low prices, farmers did not gather the
entire crop, which made it impossible to give accurate results
obtainedd from spraying. The county agent of Manatee County
Florida Cooperative Extension
put on some demonstrations in the control of nailhead rust, also
seed and seedbed disinfection. The agents of Hillsborough and
Osceola were successful in assisting farmers with their straw-
berry work.
Poultry.-The county agents of Alachua, Pasco and Marion
promoted poultry work. In Pasco County, thru the organiza-
tion of poultry associations, a poultry show was held at Dade City
in December. A 10,000-egg incubator, which was bought by the
Alachua County Creamery, was operated for the purpose of
placing as much poultry as possible on each farm. Eggs were
hatched at expense plus a small profit.
Pastures.-The county agents of Marion and Hernando coun-
ties by cooperating with the forage crop specialist of the Florida
Experiment Station, assisted in putting on demonstrations of
pastures, using Bahia, carpet and Dallis grass, mixed with
lespedeza.
Organization.-In Alachua County the LaCrosse Potato
Growers' Association and the Alachua County Cooperative Asso-
ciation were organized. Fertilizers and seed were bought coopera-
tively at a saving of $8 per ton on fertilizer and a like amount
on seed.
Club Work.-The three principal lines of club work conducted
in the district consisted of corn, pig and citrus clubs. Hills-
borough and Alachua held boys' club contests. Citrus club work
was carried out in Osceola, Orange, Lake and Hillsborough.
Annual Report, 1924 '
REPORT OF S. W. HIATT, DISTRICT AGENT,
EASTERN AN'D NORTHEASTERN FLORIDA
SUPERVISORY PROGRAM FOR 1924
The program for this district, as outlined at the beginning of
the year by the district and county agents, included the follow-
ing: Corn, potatoes, cotton, peanut and tobacco culture, truck
growing and citrus fruits (with special reference to the control
of insects and diseases), tropical and sub-tropical fruits, soil
improvement and cooperative purchase and sale of farm supplies,
poultry, dairying, permanent pastures, club work, organization,
fairs and exhibits.
Each county program was made up of such of the above
projects as were peculiarly adapted to its soil and climatic condi-
tions. As a whole, the county plans were fairly well carried out.
OFFICE ORGANIZATION
Records and reports show: Two counties furnished steno-
graphic help; all were equipped with typewriters; nine agents
are especially well furnished with office equipment, including
desk, typewriter, bulletin racks, filing cases, charts, etc. One
county has furnished a very complete reference library and
laboratory appliances. Four agents have,very little equipment;
all agents are furnished with card-index filing systems.
MAINTENANCE AND TRAINING OF PERSONNEL
Vacancies and new positions were filled as far as possible by
men selected for special fitness for such -position by reason of
technical and practical training and personality.
Four positions were filled this year. One man selected had a
college training, practical farm experience and excellent leader-
ship qualifications. Another was selected who previously had
been county agent in the same county. He had made good and
possessed a store of practical knowledge and had the confidence
and endorsement of the people of the county. One agent was
transferred from a county in the northern part of the state to a
county in the southern part at an increase in salary. Still another
was selected largely on his practical experience and ability to fit
into the peculiar conditions of the county in which he was to
work.
PROJECT ACTIVITIES
Soil improvement was included in four county programs and
considerable work was done in stimulating interest in the plant-
Florida Cooperative Extension
ing of legume and cover crops. Particularly good results were
obtained in the winter trucking sections. Legumes planted in the
summer gave a two and three crop ration in a single year.
Corn Culture.-Favorable weather conditions made it possible
to secure much better results in corn demonstrations than were
obtained last year. A spirited corn-growing contest in Duval
County resulted in increased interest in this crop, the highest
yield per acre being 97 bushels;
Cotton.-Demonstrations in cotton proved very satisfactory.
Thru the efforts of the county agents better and more seed
were secured and a considerable amount treated-a better grade
of fertilizer was used. The Florida method of boll weevil control,
as advocated by the State Plant Board, was employed to some
extent, as was also the mopping with sweetened poison and the
dusting method. Favorable weather conditions and the late
infestation of weevils were further factors in the production of a
better than the average crop. Cotton is included in five county
programs in this district.
There was a slight increase in acreage of peanuts this year.
The more liberal use of land plaster and favorable weather condi-
tions produced a much more profitable crop than last year, and
more and better seed has been saved. The greater portion of the
crop is being utilized as hog feed, the hogs being turned into the
fields to feed on them at will.
Tobacco.-While the growing of tobacco is of minor import-
ance, a considerable acreage was planted to bright or sun-cured
tobacco for the first time this year. The plantings have, in most
instances, been supervised by tobacco demonstrators. County
agents have been called on in some instances. Three counties
participated in the production of this crop, with fairly good
results.
Citrus Fruits.-Nine counties in this district grow citrus fruits
on a commercial basis and the program of work in these counties
included demonstrations of methods for the control of insect
pests and fungous diseases. The major projects in this line were:
Melanose, scab, rust mite, whitefly and scale insects. Cultural
methods and fertilization were important items in these pro-
grams. There was a noticeable increase in summer cover crops
in the groves in this district this season.
Citrus field meetings were held in all of the citrus producing
counties. Specialists from the Experiment Station assisted at
these meetings and rendered valuable service. The meetings
Annual Report, 1924
were held in or near some grove, centrally located. Specimens of
diseases and insects were collected and discussed with the grow-
ers. A microscope was used and proved itself of interest and
value. Propagation, fertilization and cultural methods were also
discussed. A two-day farmers' school in Volusia County proved
very successful. A special program was arranged to meet the
needs of the farmers in this section and again valuable assistance
was rendered by specialists from the Experiment Station, the
Bureau of Agricultural Economics, Washington, D. C., and the
State Plant Board and the State Market Commissioner.
FIG. 7.-The county agent demonstrates nursery budding to a group of
club members.
Truck Crops.-Twelve counties specialize in commercial grow-
ing and shipping of truck crops. The East Coast section majors
in tomatoes, snap beans, peppers, eggplants, celery, lettuce and
Irish potatoes. The northern section majors in watermelons and
cucumbers. Assistance is being rendered the growers thru
county and district agents and specialists, particularly in con-
trolling insects and fungous diseases and in marketing. Uni-
formly good results were obtained. Considerable improvement
was made in grade and pack thru cooperation with the State
Florida Cooperative Extension
Market Bureau and the Bureau of Markets, United States Depart-
ment of Agriculture, in their work of car-lot inspection at ship-
ping point.
Dairy Work.-Experiment Station specialists gave valuable
assistance in carrying out programs for dairy development. Con-
siderable grass seed and a quantity of grass roots were supplied
and plantings' supervised for the establishment of permanent
patures in several counties. Gradual improvement is being made
in dairy equipment and sanitation.
Hogs.-County agents have been active in the hog producing
counties in treatment for the prevention of hog cholera by the
serum and virus method. There has been an increase in hog feed
production, and with consistent work by county agents, better
markets are being secured thru more timely marketing and
cooperative sales.
Poultry.--County agents have assisted greatly in the poultry
work this year, especially with reference to marketing eggs and
live poultry. Two agents have been instrumental in establishing
a 10,000-egg incubator in each of their counties. One of these,
running thruout the season, gave excellent results. The other is
now ready for operation.
Cooperative Sales and Purchase of Farm Supplies.-Eight
counties have cooperative organiaztions thru which a certain
amount of farm supplies, such as fertilizers, seed, shipping crates.
barrels, etc., are purchased and thru which the marketing of
potatoes, watermelons, hogs, poultry, vegetables, avocados and
pineapples are handled. The saving on purchases of fertilizer
and other supplies represents a large sum and very satisfactory
results were obtained by cooperative marketing.
Organizations.-Three counties are served by what is known as
the County Farm Bureau, thru which fertilizers, seed, poison
mixtures for insect pests, spray materials, etc., are purchased
cooperatively and more or less farm products marketed. Eight
cooperative commodity organizations in seven other counties sat-
isfactorily handle large amounts of Irish potatoes, celery, lettuce
and other vegetables and somefruit. Thruthe efforts of the tomato
growers' organization and the county agents in St. Lucie and
Dade counties, arrangements have been made to cooperate with
and financially assist the State Experiment Station and Federal
Department in the study and control of nailhead rust and propa-
gation of disease-resistant plants. Thru the efforts of an agricul-
tural committee, appointed by the Chamber of Commerce of
Annual Report, 1924
Duval County, the county commissioners appropriated a sum of
money sufficient to employ an assistant county agent and a
poultry specialist to work under the supervision of the county
agent and also to provide and equip an office for their accommo-
dation.
Fairs and Exhibits.-Five counties held county fairs, one held
a fruit festival and five held poultry shows. There were four
community fairs in counties where no county fair was held before.
Four counties took exhibits to the State Fair at Jacksonville, five
to the South Florida Fair in Tampa and six to the Florida State
Exposition at Madison Square Garden, New York City.
The district agent judged agricultural and horticultural
products at nine fairs, including the State Fair and the South
Florida Fair, and acted as assistant manager of the New York
exposition.
Thirteen counties showed at the State Fair and 22 at the South
Florida Fair. Nineteen counties took exhibits to New York. The
success or failure of these exhibits rests largely with the county
and district agents and thru their efforts these fairs are becom-
ing more educational each year.
Florida Cooperative Extension
REPORT OF H. G. CLAYTON, DISTRICT AGENT FOR
NORTHERN AND WESTERN FLORIDA
SUPERVISORY PROGRAM
The supervisory outline included such items as: (1) Corn cul-
ture, (2) sweet potato culture, (3) boll weevil control, (4) hogs,
(5) dairy cattle, (6) cooperative sales and purchases, (7) sat-
sumas and other fruits, (8) club work, (9) poultry work, (10)
watermelons and other truck crops, (11) insects and disease con-
trol, (12) organization, (13) fairs and exhibits, (14) soil improve-
ment, (15) records and reports, (16) miscellaneous.
Seasonal conditions were very favorable for most growing
crops. One of the best crops of feed and forage ever grown was
made this year. It was a very satisfactory year for cotton, and
on less than half the acreage of last year nearly double the num-
ber of bales was harvested, the yield being over three times as
large per acre. The weather turned dry, however, in the late sum-
mer and this has materially reduced the yield on late sweet pota-
toes and seriously injured the cane crop.
OFFICE ORGANIZATION
Of the 11 county agents, one has clerical help to do steno-
graphic work and take care of the office. Seven have offices at
the courthouse, two have special offices and two have offices in
their homes. Eight agents have typewriters. Demonstration
equipment is confined to a few terracing levels, pruning shears,
spray pumps and hog cholera vaccination outfits. Each agent
keeps a supply of bulletins in his office for distribution.
MAINTENANCE AND TRAINING OF PERSONNEL
Of the county agents in this district, one has been in the work
for 11 years, two for seven years, one for six years, three for four
years each, one for three years, two for two years and one less
than two years.
The annual county agents' meeting was held this year at the
University in September. The agents were divided into groups
which made possible a more careful consideration of certain sub-
jects in which particular groups were vitally interested than has
been possible heretofore.
Group meetings were held at the beginning of the year. Each
agent submitted a plan of work for his county, he having pre-
viously received the plans of the various specialists and the dis-
trict agent. Each agent's plan was taken up in detail, criticized
and commented on by those present.
Annual Report, 1924
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT.
The carrying out of the county program of work is supervised
by the district agent and help rendered wherever possible.
Assistance in development of county programs is given county
agents by helping them in studying the needs of the counties and
suggesting ways and means of adding to the development of the
county by adding certain lines of endeavor to the operations
already being carried on. At the close of the year county pro-
grams are checked over and analyzed.
Subject Matter Assistance.-Satsuma culture is relatively new
in these counties and the district agent has given important
service to the county agents and growers upon this industry.
Meetings were held in five counties and fruit schools were held
in two counties.
In club work assistance has been given county agents in pro-
moting club work, securing club pigs, holding club camps and judg-
ing club contests; have assisted in holding six club camps, judging
six county fairs and in holding six club contests; have taken part
in 43 meetings, with an attendance of 4,391. These meetings
were on satsuma and fruit growing, fertilizers, trucking, club
work, fairs, etc.
Corn Culture.-This was a most favorable growing season for
corn, and western Florida made one of the best crops in her his-
tory. There was more good seed used than in the past. The
results of this were seen in increased yields and in the fine quality
of the corn exhibited at the fairs and club contests. In Santa
Rosa County the 26 boys reporting made an average of 331/2
bushels per acre. In Walton County 60 farmers were members of
a "Who's Who" corn club, the object of which was to see who
could grow the most corn on an acre. These men made good
yields, the highest being 92 bushels. Ninety-nine adults and 298
boys were enrolled in demonstrations on 532 acres. One hundred
and twenty-four farms used improved seed for the first time and
96 farms practiced seed selection for the first time.
Sweet Potatoes.-The acreage of sweet potatoes was less than
anticipated. Plants and seed were very scarce. Those who
secured plants early made fairly good yields. Dry weather
reduced the yields on late potatoes. Forty-seven farmers used
improved seed for the first time and 53 farmers started some
seed selection work.
Cotton.-This was a favorable year for growing cotton;
weather conditions were unfavorable for the reproduction of the
Florida Cooperative Extension
boll weevil. The mopping method was most used in treating
cotton, using a syrup and calcium arsenate mixture. Favorable
results were secured from the use of high analysis fertilizers and
practically all of the high yields were made by adult and junior
demonstrators following the use of nitrate of soda applied either
at planting time or as a side dressing. There were 95 demonstra-
tions on 455 acres of cotton with adults and 25 acre demonstra-
tions with junior club members. Seven of these boys made a bale
per acre. Two hundred and eleven farmers used improved seed
for the first time. (Wilt resistant seed has given good results.)
Hogs.-The upturn in the price of hogs came too late to influ-
ence production to any extent for this year. With a good feed
crop and a slight shortage of feeders, hogs have been kept on
feed for a longer time than usual, and consequently reached a
heavier than average market weight. There has been an active
interest, especially during late summer or early fall, to get hogs
inoculated. In Madison County the cooperative selling system is
growing, 13 cars having been sold this year against nine last year.
The price received by the farmer has averaged around 10 per-
cent over local prices. The results of pig feeding by junior club
members justify enlarging this activity for the coming year. The
fat barrow club in Madison County, where more work has been
done with it than in any other county, has been steadily growing.
Agents assisted farmers in securing 69 purebred boars and 56
purebred gilts and sows. Thirteen demonstrations, using 261
animals, were carried on to completion among the men and boys.
Cooperative Sales and Purchases.-This movement is steadily
growing and this year $30,928.07 was saved to the farmers in this
type of work where the agents rendered direct aid. This was an
increase of 25 percent over last year. In addition, various
cooperative associations made large savings to their members.
The purchases were of items that go into producing a crop such
as seed, fertilizer, spray material, crate material, etc. The sales
were of truck crops, potatoes, hogs, poultry, peanuts, etc. The
cooperative effort is resulting in the use of higher grade fertil-
izers and in more thought being given by the farmer to the kind
of goods he buys. Another noticeable effect is in better grading
and the standardization of varieties of truck crops.
Satsumas and Other Fruits.-The cold of January, 1923,
greatly injured the satsuma plantings. In some localities fully
50 percent of the trees were killed. All weak trees and those
badly affected with scale were killed. Two lessons were driven
Annual Report, 1924
home to the growers, one, to keep the trees clean and in a vigor-
ous, healthy condition, and the other, that banking is cheap cold
insurance on young trees. The plantings made this year run
over 100,000 trees and at this time the larger nurseries are about
sold out for planting early in 1925. Increased plantings have been
made of blueberries, sand pears, grapes, pecans and peaches,
together with a few plums.
Horticulture on a commercial scale is still new in this section
and the growers are eager and willing to get information. The
county agents have devoted much time to this line of work. They
have given individual advice on planting, cultural methods, fer-
tilizers, cover crops, disease and insect control and have helped
in every way they could. One hundred twelve meetings, with an
attendance of 7,947 people, were held to consider horticultural
subjects. The general purpose of these meetings has been to
interest and instruct farmers in cultural methods and practices.
The time is almost here when the programs will need to include
preparation and handling for market, as already a few shipments
have been made and these will be greatly increased the coming
year. The State Plant Board and railway industrial agents have
rendered valuable assistance at many of these meetings.
Watermelons and Other Truck Crops.-This year has been very
unsatisfactory for truck growing. Early cold, poor markets and
a season which threw upon the markets at one time produce from
sections which normally follow each other in marketing, made
things so that only a few sections made much profit. The season
of 1923 had been one of poor markets for staples and truck crops
had sold well, so truck was planted in 1924 in localities which do
not normally plant such crops. County agents succeeded in help-
ing to hold down the acreage to small plantings per farm. Beans
and Irish potatoes were two of the most satisfactory crops grown.
In a few localities, where practical market methods have been
worked out, trucking has come to stay. Cooperative shipping and
the standardizing of grades, containers and varieties has been
fostered by the county agents.
Organization.-Three new cooperative marketing organiza-
tions were started this year, one in Taylor County and two in Bay
County. These had a total of 234 members.
Fairs and Exhibits.-Six counties in this district had county
fairs. Leon had the Centennial, so did not hold a county fair.
Three counties showed at the West Florida Fair and seven coun-
ties from this territory showed at the State Fair and three at the
40 Florida Cooperative Extension
South Florida Fair. Two counties which held no county fair had
one or more community fairs. The Walton and Madison county
fairs probably showed the greatest improvement over last year.
An excellent club contest, which was almost a fair in itself, was
held in Santa Rosa County.
Soil Improvement.-In almost every county some work has
been done in growing legumes for soil improvement. Sixty-six
demonstrations on 958 acres were conducted and on 621 farms
improved practices in the use of commercial fertilizer were
adopted, these dealing with 1,848 tons of fertilizer.
Home-mixed fertilizers, with low nitrogen content, have given
satisfactory results for staple crops on land where a legume crop
had been grown the previous season.
Annual Report, 1924
REPORT OF R. W. BLACKLOCK, STATE BOYS'
CLUB AGENT
Supervision.-The supervision of club work is divided between
the boys' club agent and the three district agents. The district
agents have supervision of all county agents' projects, while the
state club agent has general supervision of the work with special
reference to phases of state-wide nature, such as short course,
club exhibits and contests.
Community Clubs.-Organized club work begun in Escambia
County is being continued. The citrus clubs are all conducted as
organized bodies, with officers elected by the members.
The club work in St. Johns County was done thru organized
clubs. Mr. Traxler is very successful in forming organizations
among the boys. The club at Moultrie is an example of what is
possible to do with organizations in a rather thinly settled
community.
An attempt was made to extend cotton clubs in the cotton
growing counties. The number of reports from cotton club mem-
bers has increased over 100 percent. The yield was above the
average and was produced at a profit. Club boys applied calcium
arsenate in fighting the boll weevil. Thirty-five club boys
reported an average yield of 281 pounds lint per acre. A Santa
Rosa County boy produced 450 pounds of lint on his club acre at
a profit of $81.95.
The improvement in prices for livestock has increased interest
in pig clubs. The Madison County agent made a special feature
of fat barrow clubs. The barrow club showed a profit and will be
extended into six additional counties in 1925.
The clubs conducted were as follows in the order of importance
as given: Corn, pig, sweet potato, citrus, cotton, peanut and calf.
The corn club work of 1924 was the best in years, when judged
by the profit produced. The yield was the highest in years. One
hundred and seventy-five boys raised 175 acres of corn, producing
39.3 bushels per acre. In 1923 the average yield was 37.4 bushels
per acre. Santa Rosa County led with 30 boys reporting an aver-
age yield of 40.6 bushels per acre.
The pig club was a slight improvement over 1923, showing an
increase of 10 percent. The barrow club showed the most
improvement, with members in four counties as against one in
1923.
Florida Cooperatice Extension
The citrus club is an innovation and is conducted only in citrus
counties. Hillsborough County organized four local clubs, with a
membership of 44. In Lake County the agent carried out the
program and gave tests at the completion of the year's work.
The tests proved that the citrus club boys have a better knowl-
FIG. 8.-This poultry club learns about caponizing.
edge of citrus insects than the average grove operator or owner.
The work in Lake County was a success and the enrollment prom-
ises to increase to beyond the agent's allotment of time for club
work.
The sweet potato club will be enlarged in 1925 to include pro-
ducing potatoes for the early market. Escambia County will lead
in this phase. Seminole County started this club in a small way.
The sweet potato has not been a big crop in that section of the
state and it was thought best to start in a small way to avoid too
great a loss if the club proves unprofitable.
Annual Short Course.-The first prize in boys' club work in
every county is a scholarship to the Boys' Short Course, which is
held annually. One hundred boys from 26 counties spent the
week of May 28 to June 2 at the University. The value of the
short course is being appreciated to a larger extent by the
members.
To increase the interest of the county agents in this big event
of the club year, five of the agents were brought in to assist.
Annual Report, 1924
These agents went home with a clearer understanding of what a
week at the short course can mean to a farm boy. It is planned to
continue the practice of selling the club work to the county
agents thru bringing them into the short course.
A decided improvement was made in the manner of grouping
the boys. In the past every boy received the same instruction.
So many boys are returning to the course that this system
became inefficient. This year four advanced courses were added,
soils and crops, citrus, dairy and mechanics. The advanced
courses were open only to boys attending for the second or third
time and to first-year boys of 16 years of age. The results were
better than expected and the new method will be used next year
with such improvements as the trial showed to be advisable.
Club Camps.-The club camp has become as much a part of the
club work in some counties as is the corn club. The boys look
forward to the four days of fun at the club camp. This bit of
recreation is not only of value to the boys as a change from their
routine work, but also assists the county agent in holding his
members from year to year.
The addition of a swimming instructor to the club force during
the camp season is of value. Many Florida boys and girls do not
know how to swim, altho the state offers unlimited opportunities
for this healthful sport. A regular course in life saving is given
at every camp. The instructor is licensed by the American Red
Cross to award certificates and many boys won their certificates
at the camps.
Enough instruction is given along farm and home lines to make
the camps profitable from the educational viewpoint. Recreation
is the big object of camps and this feature is given the most
consideration.
Nine camps were held this year, with an attendance of over 250
boys. It is hoped that at least two or three other counties will
take up this important feature of the work next year.
Scholarships.-The idea of giving educational trips as the
larger prizes is steadily growing. One hundred scholarships to
the Boys' Short Course were given as county prizes. Armour &
Co. gave a trip to the International Live Stock Show as state
prize in the barrow club. The Florida Bankers' Association gave
three $100 scholarships to the Agricultural College. These schol-
arships were awarded at the Short Course on an examination
given by the Boys' Club Agent.
Florida Cooperative Extension
The bankers are to be commended on continuing this gift. We
are proud to be able to say that every boy who has attended the
College of Agriculture on a bankers' scholarship has passed every
course of work taken. One boy has tried for three years to win a
scholarship so he would be able to secure a college education.
Exhibits.-Exhibits at fairs tend to bring club work before the
people of the state. The exhibit at the 1924 State Fair
was put up in a new way. Two pictures were used to show
that club work enlarges the farm boy's vision. One of the pic-
tures showed the boy and the farm when he joined the club, the
other picture showed the farm and the man after he had been to
college. Some motion was put into the exhibit to attract atten-
tion. An educational exhibit was added to the regular exhibit of
corn, peanuts, potatoes and cotton raised on the club acres.
A balopticon was purchased to show series of slides depicting
club work in all the phases. This machine proved a profitable
investment and will be used several times during the year to
acquaint people with the club work and its aims.
Pig Club Work in Madison County.-Madison County offers a
striking example of the possibilities of well-conducted club work.
FIG. 9.-The farmer who raises plenty of meat doesn't have to buy it on
credit.
---1
Annual Report, 1924 45
B. E. Lawton, the county agent, decided to make an effort to
develop a barrow club. A local bank furnished the money to buy
the barrows on the understanding that the barrows were to be
sold at the State Fair and the notes to be paid from the proceeds.
Pigs of the right type were bought and instructions given for
their care. The result was that a pig from this county was made
grand champion barrow in the open ring at the State Fair. The
quality of the exhibit was commented upon favorably by the
breeders and several offered to furnish purebred barrows for use
in an enlarged barrow club for next year.
Madison County also won first prize on the best 10 breeding
pigs fed by club boys. Altogether this county won over $1,100 in
prizes on pig club pigs and sold their barrows at a fancy price.
Next year a much larger barrow show is expected. The nearby
breeders have agreed to furnish plenty of good barrows for the
boys to grow out and a local livestock man has agreed to raise at
least $200, which the fair association will match as prize money.
Florida Cooperative Extension
REPORT OF J. M. SCOTT, ANIMAL INDUSTRIALIST
The work of the year just closing may be divided as follows:
1. Establishing permanent pastures.
2. Attending farmers' meetings, county fairs, judging live-
stock and farm products at county fairs, and making personal
visits to farmers on their farms and giving advice where possible
regarding crop rotations, feeding and care of livestock on the
farm.
3. Advising farmers and dairymen thru the county agents and
by correspondence regarding the feeding and care of livestock
and the growing of grasses and forage crops.
Permanent Pastures.-Many farmers realize the importance
and the value of a permanent pasture for the economical produc-
tion of meat and dairy products. -
For the purpose of -demonstrating the feasibility and value of
permanent pastures, demonstrations were established in 10 coun-
ties: Leon, on the College for Women Farm; Jefferson, on the
farm of W. W. Bassett, Monticello; Madison, on the farm of A.
Strickland, Greenville; Suwannee, on the farm of Franz Schmitz,
Live Oak; Columbia, on the farm of M. C. Houser, Lake City,
Route A; Duval, on the farm of Wendel Smith, Jacksonville;
St. Johns, on the farm of Mr. Wolf, Hastings; Marion, on the
farm of Parker Painter, Ocala; Flagler, on the farm of Mr.
Fowler; Hernando, on the farm of O. P. Wernicke, Brooksville.
The area of the pasture plots varied from three to five acres
and were located as near as possible to a good highway so that
they would be of the greatest value as a demonstration, as more
people would have an opportunity to see them.
The grass seed mixture was sowed at the rate of 15 pounds per
acre as follows:
Carpet grass ................... ........... ...... .. ......... 6 pounds
Dallis grass ........ ...-........................ ......... ... .. 4 pounds
Bahia grass .......................................................... 2 pounds
Lespedeza ........................................................ 3 pounds
This was sowed between April 25 and May 15, 1924.
These demonstrations were established on different types of
soil, such as a good type of flatwoods, hammock, Orangeburg
sandy loam, light sandy loam with clay subsoil, and one on light
sandy loam with sandy subsoil.
By using these various types of soil some information should
be obtained as to the best type of soil for these various grasses.
Annual Report, 1924
This work was in cooperation with the county agents, the
farmers, the Seaboard Air Line Railway Company, the Florida
East Coast Railway Company. 'The Florida East Coast and Sea-
board Air Line railroads purchased one-half the seed used in the
counties thru which their roads operate.
The farmer supplied the land, prepared it for planting, planted
the seed and supplied the necessary fertilizer.
It is believed that the above method of pasture grass demon-
stration is a very desirable and necessary line of work to follow
up and should be put into nearly every county in the state.
On one farm in Columbia County there was a complete failure
to secure a stand. The soil was loose and sandy. This, together
with the lack of moisture just after the seed germinated, resulted
in nearly a complete failure of any of the grass to live.
The seed sowed on the better types of soil, and especially where
there was a good clay subsoil, or where there was sufficient mois-
ture to insure germination and growth of the seedlings, a reason-
ably good stand was secured.
Seven county fairs were attended during October and Novem-
ber to assist with the judging of livestock and farm products.
Florida Cooperative Extension
REPORT OF HAMLIN L. BROWN, EXTENSION DAIRYMAN
Method of Conducting Dairy Work.-The county agent is rec-
ognized as the leader in dairy work in each county, working in
cooperation with the Extension Dairyman. Hernando, Palm
Beach, Dade and Pasco counties have producers' organiaztions
which cooperate in carrying on the dairy work.
The distrcit agents and home demonstration agents also have
an active part in promoting dairy extension work, including home
dairying, butter making, home cheese making and nutritional
work.
Fluid Milk Commercial Dairies.-One of the big dairy market-
ing problems is due to the large increase of population during the
winter tourist season. Central distributing stations located in
Jacksonville, Tampa, St. Petersburg, West Palm Beach, Miami,
Orlando and Pensacola, providing a market for milk shipped from
distant farms, have helped to put dairying on a more stable basis.
This has helped to establish shipping stations in the agricul-
tural sections where soils are suited for growing pastures and
forage crops, and the prices of land are not prohibitive. This has
taken place at Brooksville in Hernando County and at Ocala in
Marion County.
Brooksville had a maximum milk production of 300 gallons of
4 percent milk a day in 1922, with a minimum production of
around 150 gallons, with 50 percent of this that had to be made
into butter during the summer season. Now, with the improved
plant with artificial refrigeration Pasteurizers, with 56 producers
trained to produce milk of low bacterial and sediment content, the
minimum production has increased to 460 gallons and the maxi-
mum production about 800 gallons per day. The producers have
received sweet milk prices the year round in 1924 and the cream-
ery churned less than 1,000 pounds of butter during the season.
The ice cream plant has been utilizing from 100 to 200 gallons of
sweet milk a day, which paid the producers an average price of
35 cents a gallon delivered to Brooksville. Dairying in this com-
munity is building on a safe and sound basis. The plant is owned
and controlled by the producers. They are growing their forage
and some grain. These dairymen buy all their concentrates
cooperatively in carload lots for cash.
A new plant has been established in Ocala on a safe basis, pay-
ing for milk on the butterfat basis, and is cooperating in helping
the producers work out a real dairy program. This plant has
Annual Report, 1924
worked up to 300 to 325 gallons of milk a day and is returning a
profit above operating costs. Under present conditions these
plants each can market 1,000 gallons of milk a day and can pay
prices which will justify farmers in producing good milk.
Pasco County Dairy Work.-The county agent, J. A. Shealy,
put dairying as one of his major projects for 1924 in Pasco
County. Seven successful dairies have been equipped with barns
and milk houses that have enabled them to produce grade A milk.
Dairymen Move to Farming Centers.-A survey made in the
Brooksville area in February, 1924, showed that five of the lead-
FIG 10.-The scales will tell which cows are producing and which are not.
Florida Cooperative Extension
ing dairymen were getting an average Qf 75 percent of their milk
checks from home-grown feeds. A successful dairyman near
Brooksville received $410 for milk during January, 1924, from
26 cows. His feed bill for concentrates was $110. The other
feeds were grown on his farm. This dairyman stated he could
produce milk for 15 cents per gallon if forced to with the equip-
ment he now has.
Farm Dairying.-With farm dairying, the milk is skimmed on
the farm, the skimmed milk being used to feed calves, chickens
and pigs, and the cream being sold to a creamery for making
butter. This work was carried on by 89 farmers in Washington,
Gadsden, Leon, Jefferson, Madison, Suwanee, Columbia, Baker,
Putnam, Alachua and Levy counties principally. These farmers
shipped their milk to Tallahassee, Gainesville, Ashburn, Cordele
and Valdosta creameries.
Owing to the big demand for fresh whole milk in Jacksonville,
Tampa, St. Petersburg and Miami many farmers ship whole milk
to these centers.
The Alachua County Creamery was completed in December at
an expense of $34,000. The plant is doing a monthly business of
around $20,000. The creamery, as an institution, is succeeding
and there is every reason to believe that farm dairying will grow
as the individual dairyman learns how to grow his feeds and
properly manage his cows.
Dairy Club Work.-There were 37 purebred Jersey calves
brought into St. Johns County in 1923, of which 34 were heifers.
Eighteen of these are now milking. Two heifers have produced
over 30 pounds of milk a day and the 18 are averaging more than
two gallons per day (more than the average for grade mature
cows in the community). They are demonstrating the value of
good dairy calves bred for milk production and grown out under
Florida conditions.
Marion County has organized a purebred junior calf club and
expects to have 10 members using Jerseys and Guernseys. They
have purchased four Jerseys. Marion County is well suited for
calf club work, with a good market for milk and good farm condi-
tions for growing feeds.
Feeding Problems.-Many dairymen have difficulty in combin-
ing profitable dairy rations. I have made out feeding formulas
for 287 dairymen during the year.
Annual Report, 1924
REPORT OF H. B. LANSDEN, EXTENSION POULTRYMAN
The Poultry Specialist has been unable to center his efforts on
any particular program, due to the large area to be covered and
the almost daily requests from cooperators thruout the state for
assistance. It has been necessary to devote but little time to any
one county where cooperative work is in progress. There is
every evidence of rapid progress being made along lines of poul-
try development on general farms, commercial or specialized
poultry farms, backyards, commercial chick hatcheries and boys'
and girls' poultry clubs.
Quality and standardization have been stressed and liberally
responded to. Modern and efficient equipment was found lack-
ing. Field observation reveals a marked improvement along this
line and many demonstrations have been established in communi-
ties where increased income and better control of common diseases
and parasites has had the desired effect of pointing out the bene-
fits and increased profits to be derived therefrom.
Economical production has been discussed and field demonstra-
tions in feeding home-grown and home-mixed rations as a means
of reducing feed costs have been conducted by farmers, resulting
in a lower cost of production.
County and community cooperative poultry associations have
been formed where conditions justified. These organizations have
been the most successful project undertaken. Thru such organ-
ized effort county cooperative chick hatcheries have been
established; marketing of poultry and eggs, buying of feed and
supplies cooperatively have added materially to the profits, as
well as stimulating interest in poultry growing as a profitable
asset to the farm.
Poultry schools and exhibitions have been conducted thru these
organizations as an educational feature.
The specialist has received the most hearty cooperation from
the State Poultry Association, bankers, business and civic organi-
zations, transportation and industrial corporations lending their
moral and financial support. The county agents have manifested
a deep and enthusiastic interest in the work of the specialist and
have developed some valuable and lasting service. The home
demonstration agents have shown an active interest in the boys'
and girls' poultry club work and in assisting the farm women to
solve their problems and materially increase their incomes thru
the sale of poultry and eggs. They have been especially active in
Florida Cooperative Extension
conducting culling demonstrations, teaching farm women and girls
the art of detecting and eliminating unprofitable hens from the
flock, resulting in the saving of much expensive feed. Field
demonstrations have revealed that for every non-producing hen
eliminated a saving of $2 is effected.
F-C
FIG. 11.-A club member and her flock of prize winning Rhode Island
Reds, which bring her good profits.
In addition to his field activities, the specialist has maintained
an office where general correspondence was handled promptly,
poultry bulletins mailed, special inquiries answered for informa-
tion urgently needed, etc., and each month has edited and dis-
tributed thru county and home demonstration agents, both white
and colored, timely poultry instructions and suggestions, which,
in.turn, were distributed to farmers. This has proved of great
help and value as evidenced by increased demands for this
material from month to month.
Recapitulation of Activities
Number of days in field................ .......................... .. 191
Number of days in office ---...... ... .................. .......... 98
Number of miles traveled in official status...... ......................16,923
Number of meetings attended...................----. ..... .......... 156
Approximate number in attendance ................................. 11,755
Approximate number of demonstrations given....................... 112
Number extension poultry schools--.................................. 8
Number counties organized-..- .. -...........----- --- . .... ........ 12
Number hens culled (farm demonstrations)............. .....-.. ....... 9,490
Number letters written--- ----........--........--.............. --530
Number articles published..........................- .... ......-- ...... 56
Number visits to county and home agents................. ............ 92
Annual Report, 1924
REPORT OF JOHN R. SPRINGER, EXTENSION
ENTOMOLOGIST AND PLANT PATHOLOGIST
A number of definite projects for the control of insects and
plant diseases were undertaken as follows:
1. The improvement of spraying and dusting methods.
2. The control of insects and diseases on cucurbits.
3. The control of disease by seed disinfection.
4. The improvement and development of citrus insect control.
5. The control of tomato insects and diseases.
Spraying Methods.-Experience of previous years showed a
need for better spraying methods, particularly for truck crops.
The failure of recommended remedies had often been due to the
use of poor spraying machinery and improper methods of applica-
tion.
Efforts were made this year to improve spraying methods as
follows: (1) To increase the power of spraying machinery in
use, thereby increasing the pressure. It is impossible to do effi-
cient spraying with less than 100 pounds pressure to the nozzle.
(2) To assist growers to know the proper spraying material to
use. They often use materials that do not give satisfactory
results. (3) To assist growers in studying and procuring proper
equipment, extensions, nozzles, hose, etc., for their spraying
machines. (4) Demonstrations in the proper mixing of spray
compounds and the correct method of applying to the plants.
Insects and Diseases on Cucurbits: Watermelon.-The most
important troubles of the watermelon were aphis (Aphisgossypii)
and anthracnose (Colletrichum logenarium). Both the aphis and
anthracnose were of minor consequence this year. The aphis
was readily checked by spraying with nicotine sulphate (40 per-
cent), half pound; laundry soap, five pounds, and water, 50
gallons.
Dusting with various forms of nicotine dust also gave good
results.
Anthracnose did not appear to any great extent until late in the
season. Where spraying for anthracnose was recommended a
4-4-50 Bordeaux mixture was used.
Cucumbers.-The work on cucumber diseases was conducted at
Winter Garden, in Orange County; Leesburg, in Lake County,
and Williston, in Levy County. In the latter county 1,900 acres
were planted to this crop and three tons of seed were disinfected
for disease control. A treatment in corrosive sublimate, 1 to
Florida Cooperative Extension
1,000, for a period of 10 minutes was used. Demonstrations were
for the control of downy mildew (Peronoplasmopera cubensis),
and angular leaf spot (Bacterium lachrymans). Due to climatic
conditions, unfavorable markets and other factors beyond our con-
trol, the demonstrations were greatly interfered with. In many
cases spraying stopped and the fields were abandoned before any
fruit had been picked.
From observations made and data collected during and after
the active growing season much valuable information was
obtained which may be summarized as follows:
Disinfecting cucumber seed with corrosive sublimate 1 part to
1,000 parts of water for 10 minutes for the control of angular leaf
spot may be expected to prevent infection from this disease until
infection takes place from outside sources.
Bacterial rot of cucumbers (caused by the angular leaf spot
organism) can be successfully controlled by systematic sprayings
with 4-4-50 Bordeaux mixture.
When angular leaf spot and downy mildew are present and the
vines are systematically sprayed with 4-4-50 Bordeaux mixture a
picking season of from 10 to 15 days longer than from unsprayed
fields may be expected.
The best control was obtained when the spray used averaged
100 gallons for the first spraying, 125 to 150 for the second spray-
ing, and 200 to 225 gallons for the third, with a spray pressure
not exceeding 125 pounds. If the spray pressure does not exceed
125 pounds and the material is properly applied no spray injury
will result and the sprayed fields will pick fruit as early as the
unsprayed fields.
Dusting with a 20 to 80 copper-lime dust for the control of
these two diseases was observed, but the results did not compare
favorably with those of spraying.
Seed Disinfection.-Growers were advised in regard to seed
disinfection by personal visits, thru the county agents and the
press. Corrosive sublimate 1 part to 1,000 parts of water was
used and seed were soaked according to the following schedule of
minutes:
Cabbage............ 15 Cauliflower.... 15 Lettuce.......... 8 Squash.............. 10
Cantaloupe ...... 10 Celery.............. 8 Okra................ 10 Tomato.............. 8
Cucumber.......... 10 Eggplant........ 5 Peppers.......... 5 Watermelon.... 10
Citrus Insect Control.-Work on this project was limited to
personal visits on growers, accompanied by the county agent. The
grower was instructed in proper mixtures, methods of application
Annual Report, 1924
and identification of insects. Stress was placed on timing the
spray applications so that the insect was caught in its young and
tender stages before injury to the tree and fruit resulted.
Tomatoes.-There was a large amount of nailhead rust (Mac-
rosporum solani) in most of the tomato producing areas. Some
headway was made in the control of this disease with Bordeaux
mixture, but cold weather and heavy rains interfered with the
work and the results obtained were not satisfactory. The horn
worm (Phlegethontius sp.) and tomato fruit worm (Heliothis
absoleta) were present, but were controlled by adding two pounds
of lead arsenate to every 50 gallons of Bordeaux mixture or by
dusting with calcium arsenate.
Vegetable School.-At Samsula (Volusia County) a very suc-
cessful two-day school was held. Attendance the first day was
over 300 and 500 attended the second day. Lectures on the con-
trol of serious insects and diseases were given and specimens
were exhibited so that the growers could familiarize themselves
with their appearance.
Land Crab Survey.-In the fall of 1923, from October 22 to
November 22, inclusive, an intensive campaign was conducted in
Dade County against the land crab. A survey was made in March
of this year to determine how effective the demonstration had
been. This anti-land crab campaign was undertaken thru an
arrangement between the Biological Survey, United States
Department of Agriculture, and the Florida Extension Division.
The method of control, as demonstrated, consisted of squirting
approximately 10 drops of carbon bisulphide into each crab bur-
row and closing the entrance to the burrow by a sharp pressure
of the heel, or by covering each hole with a piece of sod or damp
earth.
The United States Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Agri-
cultural Economics, reports 11,675 acres planted to tomatoes in
Dade County for the season 1923-24. Of this acreage approxi-
mately 8,000 acres are infested with land crabs.
Sales of carbon bisulphide show that 7,795 pounds were
distributed. Each acre, figuring average infestation, requires
about six pounds of carbon bisulphide for two treatments.
This means that 1,300 acres were probably crab free, or
1614 percent of the total acreage planted on infested land. A
pound of carbon bisulphide will treat about 500 burrows. The
total amount used in Dade County this season 'would therefore
account for 3,897,500 crabs. It is significant that many growers
56 Florida Cooperative Extension
who used this control method ordered at first only a small quan-
tity, apparently for trial, but soon placed an order for a sufficient
number of pounds to treat'their entire plantings. During the
tomato season of 1922-23 only 400 pounds of carbon bisulphide
were used in Dade County on land crab control.
Growers who had used the control as recommended were unani-
mous in stating that a great saving was experienced in using
carbon bisulphide instead of the poison bait used heretofore. It
is practically 100 percent effective, easier and quicker to dis-
tribute and the control was much cheaper per acre.
The growers were somewhat reluctant in using the material at
the beginning of the season, but are now fully convinced that
carbon bisulphide when used according to directions will practi-
cally eliminate the land crab.
Everything points to a much greater adoption of the method
next season and a consequent reduction in losses due to the
ravages of the land crab.
Fairs.-Eight county fairs were attended and county agents
assisted in placing exhibits, etc. Also assisted in judging of
citrus fruts.
Summary of Field Work
Counties visited ................... ............................ 34
M iles traveled by auto.............................. ... ....................11,260
Miles traveled by rail......................... ........ 3,136
Visits to county agents......................... .....-........ 69
Days on citrus insects.......................... ... .......... ... .... 45
Days on cucumber insects and diseases................................... 33
Days on club work, meetings, fairs, etc..........................- 30
Days on watermelon insects and diseases............................. 16
Days on general truck crops............................ ........... 14
Days on tomatoes............................ ........ ...... ........ 6
Days on potatoes......................... ...... ................... ................. 6
Days on beans ........ ........... ... ...................... 5
Days on pecan and small fruits............ ............... 4
Days on land crab survey.,........................... ................... 3
Days on miscellaneous (palms, ferns, bananas, seedbed, sur-
veys, collecting specimens, etc.).................................. 9
Annual Report, 1924
REPORT OF E. F. DEBUSK, EXTENSION CITRUS
PATHOLOGIST
The program of work of the extension citrus pathologist for
the current year has centered largely around the control of mela-
nose and stem-end rot, citrus scab and blue mold decay of citrus
fruits.
Citrus Conditions or Problems.-A preliminary survey of dis-
ease conditions thruout the citrus belt early in the year reveals
the following facts: First, melanose is the greatest single factor
in lowering the grades of citrus fruits in Florida; second, as a
rule, citrus scab is not being commercially and economically con-
trolled by spraying with lime-sulphur; third, improper methods
and rough handling of citrus fruits from the tree to the car are
largely the direct cause of the heavy losses resulting from blue
mold decay.
Melanose (Phomopsis citri).-In 20 packing houses of Orange,
Lake, Marion and Volusia counties, on a recent survey, it was
found that 81 percent of the russet oranges and 83 percent of the
russet grapefruit were so classed because of melanose blemishes.
About 31 percent of all the oranges and 27 percent of the grape-
fruit packed by these houses fell into the russet grades. There-
fore. melanose control has been given first place in the program
of work.
Definite demonstrations with the use of Bordeaux-oil in the con.
trol of melanose were outlined for each citrus producing county
having a county agent, to be conducted in cooperation with county
agents, plant pathologist and growers. A 3-3-50 Bordeaux
plus 1 percent oil emulsion was used, being applied largely during
the first half of April when the fruit was about the size of a pea,
and at only one application. Records from counties in which the
spraying demonstrations were completed show the following
results:
Grading of Fruit on Basis of Percentage of Melanose Russetting
Kind Average Sprayed Not Sprayed
of for Percentage of: Percentage of:
Fruit County Brights Goldens Russets Brights Goldens Russets
Oranges-Brevard ............. 74.4 18.1 7.5 17.4 33.0 49.6
Oranges-Marion ........... 82.0 14.0 4.0 42.0 46.0 12.0
Oranges-Osceola .............. 67.4 30.5 2.1 26.1 50.5 23.4
Oranges-Seminole ............ 89.3 9.0 1.7 20.8 41.5 37.7
Oranges-Volusia ............... 89.1 7.8 3.1 53.4 26.7 19.9
Average.............................. 80.6 15.7 3.7 31.9 39.6 28.5
Grapefruit-Brevard ........ 46.3 28.1 25.7 20.1 33.7 46.2
Florida Cooperative Extension
Grapefruit-Manatee ...... 69.2 -25.4 5.4 23.4 37.8 : 38.8
Grapefruit-Osceola .......... 67.2 28.5 4.3 33.7 43.6 22.7
Grapefruit-Pasco .............. 87.4 9.6 3.0 34.1 35.4 30.5
Average.............................. 67.5 22.9 9.6 27.8 37.6 34.6
Bright fruit usually sells for 50 cents to $1.10 per box more than russets.
The above spraying was done at an average total cost of 3 cents
per box for the Bordeaux-oil application, and 21/2 cents per box
for an extra oil emulsion application, which usually is necessary
in the control of scale insects.
It has been found that proper spraying for the control of mela-
nose reduces materially the amount of stem-end rot on the fruit
from such sprayed groves.
Citrus Scab (Cladosporium citri).-Spraying demonstrations
with Bordeaux-oil in the control of citrus scab were outlined for
the citrus producing counties in which scab is an important fac-
tor in the production of quality fruit. In a few cases, parallel
demonstrations with the use of lime-sulphur in the control of this
disease were conducted for comparison, at the request of the
grove owner. While the records of the scab spraying demonstra-
tions have not been completed, owing to the fact that the fruit
has not been picked and graded, the following preliminary data
taken from 12 of these demonstrations is given:
Demonstration Plots
S 11 21 31 4 51 61 71 81 i| 101 111 12
Sprayed with Bordeaux oil-I | 1
average number scab culls 1
per tree ...... ._ ........................ 39 401 5 26 9 42
Not sprayed-average num- I I 1 3 9
ber scab culls per tree........ 143109 25 42 31 6 1 33122 54
Nos. 1 to 9 received one application each when about three-
quarters of the petals had dropped. No. 10 received a second
application 10 days later. Nos. 11 and 12 weie sprayed with lime
sulphur 1-40 when three-quarters of the petals had dropped.
The above demonstrations were with young trees producing an
average of about two boxes per tree., The scab-cull fruit was
clipped from the trees and counted before maturing. A 3-3-50
Bordeaux plus 1 percent oil emulsion was used. The percentage
of scab-infected fruit will be worked out when the fruit is picked,
graded and counted.
Blue Mold, Green Mold (Penicillium spp.).-In the preliminary
survey referred to above, 73 inspections were made of the quality
of picking and methods of handling the fruit in 12 representative
groves distributed over five counties. In the picking inspections
Annual Report, 1924
made attention was given to such defects as long stems, clipper
cuts, pulled and bruised fruit. Not less than 10.69 percent of all
fruit so inspected was found to bear one or more of the above
defects. In the case of certain pickers, long stems ran as high as
33.1 percent, while in other cases clipper cuts ran as high as 11.2
per cent. In one grove, where there was no supervision of pick-
ing, the total of long stems and clipper cuts ran as high as 48.9
percent.
The percentage of defects referred to above is in direct propor-
tion to the percentage of cull fruit either in the packing house or
at the place of consumption. A large percentage of the clipper
cut fruit, bruised and pulled fruit, is observed and culled out by
the grader on the grading belt, while the long stems go by the
grader and puncture a few more fruit in the process of sizing and
packing. These defects should, therefore, be considered more
seriously than those that are caught by the grader as they con-
tinue their work of destruction right on to the consumer.
A number of tests were made to determine the extent of the
injury done by a long stem. It was found that the number of
stem punctures from a long stem ranges from one-half to three,
depending upon the variety and condition of the fruit, stage of
maturity and methods of handling same. It is very conservative
to place the average at one stem puncture, or cull fruit, to each
long stem. A stem is considered long when it can be caught and
reclipped with the clipper held in the proper position in reference
to the fruit. Many long stems were found to be clipped at an
angle, leaving them sharp, causing them more readily to puncture
the fruit with which they come in contact. This is due to holding
the clipper in the hand improperly. Many pickers clip with the
concave side of the clipper turned to the fruit. This always
results in a high percentage of clipper cuts and many sharp
stems, and should not be permitted.
It has been demonstrated time and again that an orange of
which the rind has been broken or the oil cells ruptured is poten-
tially a decayed orange. Injuries, such as clipper cuts, stem punc-
tures and bruises break the rind or rupture the oil cells, making
openings for blue mold fungus and result in decay.
The mechanical injuries, and consequently the percentage of
culls, ran highest during the early part of the shipping season
while much of the fruit was being artificially colored. Especially
was this true with reference to fruit that was picked soon after a
rain. The rains seemed to make the fruit more turgid and more
Florida Cooperative Extension
easily injured. In one case where oranges were picked immedi-
ately after a rain, under poor picking supervision, and artificially
colored, the fruit came on to the grading belt with 98 percent
showing green or brownish-green spots and 16.9 percent going
into the the cull heap because of such spots. In this case 99.8 per-
oent of the culls in the cull heap were so classed because of these
green or brownish-green spots. A commercial packed box of
this lot of fruit developed 16.8 percent blue mold decay within
seven days from the day it was packed. Here was a total loss of
33.7 percent of the fruit within 10 days from the day it was taken
from the tree. But this is not all of the story-fruit arriving on
a weak market showing 16.8 percent decay usually sells for less
than packing and carrying charges.
An inspection of the fruit going thru five different packing
houses during the early shipping season showed that the oranges
that were artificially colored ran from 63 to 98 percent green or
brownish-green spotted in varying degrees, and that from 4 to 17
percent of this fruit was going to the cull heaps because of this
spotting.
The green or brownish-green spotting referred to appears on
artificially colored fruit and is due to injuries received in handling
before coloring. Oil liberated from the oil cells of the rind of the
fruit by any cause produces this spotting. The liberated oil
spreads over the surface of the fruit and injures it so that when
the fruit is put thru the coloring process the injured spots
either remain green or turn to a brownish-green. Fruits so
affected are in great danger of decay.
It was found that old field boxes were generally repaired by
common laborers with no skill at driving nails and with less
thought as to the damage protruding nails do to the fruit. In one
large packing house it was found that 32 percent of the field boxes
so repaired contained from one to four protruding nails each. It
so happened that these boxes were being refilled twice a day.
It is still too common to see pickers riding on truck loads of
fruit. This should never be permitted. A. great deal of fruit is
being bruised by rough handling of picking ladders, by careless-
ness in emptying picking bags and by general rough handling of
field boxes.
Under the above described conditions much of the fruit shipped
arrived on the market showing 5 to 10 percent blue mold decay
and in many cases as high as 40 to 50 percent. To meet these
conditions an effort has been made by means of demonstrations,
Annual Report, 1924
field meetings, press articles, personal contact with packinghouse
managers and picking foremen to encourage more careful han-
dling of the fruit, especially from the tree to the packinghouse,
and consequently reduce mechanical injuries which pave the way
for blue mold decay. Demonstrations in proper methods of pick-
ing and handling fruit have been conducted in cooperation with
county agents, packinghouse managers and growers. The value
of a systematic inspection of packing has been demonstrated to
growers, picking foremen and packinghouse managers and same
a=, .
"t " .
FIG. 12.-Spraying for citrus aphis control.
has been adopted in many cases. The importance of careful super-
vision of pickers, the proper use of clippers, picking bags, field
boxes and ladders and the proper mechanical condition of all pick-
ing and handling equipment has been stressed in field meetings,
citrus schools and thru the press. It is a matter of education
and requires time and organized effort to impress those concerned
in the handling of fruit, with the importance of handling it in a
manner that will reduce the mechanical injuries to the minimum.
Citrus Field Schools.-Seventy-eight citrus schools and field
meetings were held in practically every citrus producing county,
with a total attendance of 3,000 growers, during the year. In
these schools growers were instructed in when and where to look
for citrus diseases, how to recognize them, the damage done and
the best methods of control. Microscopes and binoculars were
used extensively in studying mounted and fresh specimens. An
effort was made to familiarize the growers with the diseases and
their control from a purely practical standpoint. Of course, lec-
tures were given and tours made thru the groves, observing
Florida Cooperative Extension
conditions and demonstrations conducted in methods of pest
control.
These schools were well attended and much interest was mani-
fested in the subjects as they were presented. It is interesting
to note that where schools have been held a second and third year
at the same place the attendance has almost doubled from year to
year. This would lead one to believe that the field school is one of
the best agencies or means of teaching the growers all they
should know about plant disease control. Many of these schools
were followed up by timely articles going more or less into details
of the subjects discussed and keeping important matters before
the minds of the growers in a timely manner.
Miscellaneous.-T'he cooperation of a number of packinghouse
managers has been secured in recording and reporting to county
agents and the Extension Citrus Pathologist the condition of cer-
tain crops of fruits that grade low, especially because of melanose
and scab infection. Many of the groves producing such low grade
fruit will be used in demonstrations.
Pruning out dead wood has been recommended as a very prac-
tical and, in many cases, economical method of reducing the
amount of melanose and stem-end rot.
An effort has been made in a general educational way to
improve the methods of spraying for melanose control. First, by
using fresh, properly made Bordeaux-oil; second, by spraying at
the proper time (many growers spray too late; others have been
induced by unscrupulous fungicide salesmen to waste their money
and time by spraying in the fall and winter for melanose con-
trol); third, by spraying properly, spraying only the fruit and
fruiting branches of the tree and leaving the trunk and large
limbs unsprayed; fourth, by having the proper spraying equip-
ment and keeping it in good mechanical condition; fifth, by
making the extra application of oil spray and scale control follow-
ing the Bordeaux-oil at the proper time and in the proper manner.
A trip was made in June to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas to
assist in a series of citrus schools for the citrus fruit growers of
that section.
A number of special meetings have been attended and talks
given along lines of better fruit and more economical production
of same.
A survey was made of conditions in the satsuma belt, a num-
ber of meetings attended and plans outlined for controlling citrus
scab and other citrus diseases of the satsuma.
SAnnual' Report, 1924' 63
Some time has been given to improving the methods of con-
trolling foot-rot, gumosis and other citrus diseases.
Services have been rendered a few packinghouse managers by
informing them as to the proper use of the stove in the pre-color-
ing of citrus fruits, and thereby obviating heavy tolls from blue
mold decay, due to improper use of the pre-coloring method.
Florida Cooperative Extension
REPORT OF FLAVIA GLEASON, STATE HOME
DEMONSTRATION AGENT
ORGANIZATION
The year 1924 closed with 30 counties supporting organized
home demonstration work. These counties are divided into two
districts, 17 in the south and east district and 13 in the north and
west district. This number shows an increase of two counties
over the number organized at the close of 1923. Duval, Polk and
Hillsborough counties support two home demonstration agents
each, making a total of 33 county workers. Part-time assistants
were placed in Volusia, Lake, Manatee and Polk during the
summer.
The plan of organized home demonstration work has been
more fully developed in 1924 than in 1923, as shown by the
increased enrollment among the women and girls, also the
increased number of county councils and the development of the
state home demonstration council for women and the junior state
council for girls' work. These organized clubs have a membership
of 6,289 girls and 4,063 women.
SUPERVISORY PROGRAM
The four main objectives of the state agent and her staff in
S1924 were establishing and strengthening the organization
thru county councils for both seniors and juniors in organized
counties; developing undeveloped territory; training a sufficient
number of women and girl leaders to assist in carrying out the
plan of work as outlined; standardizing and marketing Florida
products, and giving agents the necessary subject matter assist-
ance thru state meetings, literature and work with agents
and people in counties supporting the work.
Subject Matter Assistance Given Agents.-At the beginning of
the calendar year group meetings of from one to two days were
held for the purpose of discussing work accomplished and outlin-
ing new plans. The annual meeting of county and home demon-
stration agents was held during September. Three days were
spent at the University of Florida for discussions on subjects per-
taining to work of all agents, and for seven days following the
home demonstration agents assembled at the State College for
Women for laboratory work. These meetings were timely, helpful,
thoroly enjoyed and appreciated by the agents.
By spending several days at a time in the various counties
working with the agents and their demonstrators, specialists
Annual Report, 1924
have assisted the agents in developing poultry raising, home
dairy, food conservation, nutrition work among the club mem-
bers and the undernourished, standardizing home products, mar-
keting, beautifying home grounds, interior home improvements
and organization of work in the counties.
The supervising agent assists with special demonstrations
which the agent has on during the time of visit. She arranges
for special assistance from subject-matter specialists, and if there
is none along the line in which she needs assistance, the super-
visor assumes the responsibility of seeing that she gets the
needed information.
Equipment Supplied to County Workers.-All agents are fur-
nished large loose-leaf books containing record sheets, outlines
for all phases of the work, programs of work and special instruc-
tions from the United States Department of Agriculture and the
state office. They are also furnished card-filing cases. Seven
counties furnish clerical help and in two others stenographers
were provided for a part of the year. Three agents have
purchased typewriters. All of the agents own or have access
to pressure cookers, canning outfits and some of the necessary
equipment for giving demonstrations. The district agent for
South and East Florida says: "Each agent in the district has
access to an equipped demonstration kitchen, with the exception
of the agent in Dade County, which has had the agent only since
October 20."
The state offices frequently send motion picture machines to
counties for use on special occasions. The Chamber of Commerce
in Marion County furnishes the agents with a machine.
Summary of Agents' General Activities
Number of communities in which the extension program has been
cooperatively worked out by extension agents and people concerned. 461
Number of voluntary county, community, or local leaders actively
engaged in forwarding the extension program........................................ 343
Total number of farm visits made in conducting extension work........... 373
Number of different farms visited ........................... ... ...957
Total number of home visits made in conducting extension work.......... 6,994
Number of different homes visited..................................... ...... .... 4,500
Number of calls relating to extension work...........................................17,524
Number of days agents spent in office................................ .............. 2,027
Number of days agents spent in field............ ....... ...................5,989%
Number of individual letters written................ ......... .................28,351
Number of fairs at which extension exhibits were made.................. 85
Training meetings held for local leaders....................... ........... 97
Attendance .............................. - ..... .... .......... ...... ......- 1,367
Method and result demonstration meetings held.............................. 4,626
Attendance .................................................65,122
Short courses held....... .................. .. .................. 61
Florida Cooperative Extension
Attendance ........... ............ .... ..... ... ..... ---- .. ..-------- ..- .........- 4,900
Number of junior judging or demonstration teams trained.................... 38
Number entering college this year who have been club members............ 40
Club encampments and rallies held................................. ............... 27
Attendance ............................... ......... .................................... .......... 2,459
Other extension meetings attended and not previously reported............ 322
Attendance .................................. ......-- ......................... 19,070
PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND RESULTS
Home Gardens.-Vegetable gardening is stressed that there
may be a supply of vegetables for use in the diet the year round.
The surplus of garden products is often marketed when fresh or
is canned. Reports show that during 1924 1,018 women and 908
girls worked with part-year gardens, and 599 women and 240
girls worked with all-year-round gardens.
Club members are urged to plant fig and grape vine cuttings.
Some of the older club girls report good financial results from
such plantings. The following paragraph is taken from the
Volusia County home demonstration agent's report:
"Nearly every family has planted fruit of some kind to provide
a supply for the table. Their totals read as follows and include
no grove plantings: 2,858 grape vines, 901 orange trees, 12 grape-
fruit trees, 116 figs, 37 persimmons, 2 pineapples, 177 guavas, 54
loquats, 6 tangerines, 5 blueberries, besides chestnuts, English
walnuts, Venezuela nuts and a large variety of other kinds. There
is also added interest in the planting of home gardens."
Beautification of Home Grounds.-All juniors and adults
enrolled in home demonstration work are given instructions in
improving the home grounds. The circular prepared by Miss
Louise Carter on beautifying the home grounds proved very pop-
ular thruout the state and has been most helpful in selecting
plans and border flowers for the home grounds. Eleven counties
report 632 homes beautifying the home grounds and 45 schools or
community grounds planted according to a landscape plan this
year.
Home Dairying.-"A dairy club in every county: A dairy cow
on every farm" is the slogan adopted for the dairy work. The
object of this phase of the work is to increase the quantity,
improve the quality and stress a greater use of dairy products in
Florida. Demonstrations and illustrative lectures were given
during the year on such subjects as feeding dairy cows, proper
handling of milk and utensils, nutritive value of milk and milk
products, making of choice farm butter, cottage and cream
cheese, and simple farm remedies for the dairyman. The agent
in Pasco County reports the following:
Annual Report, 1924
"Ten girls and 40 women completed the dairy work as outlined
for the year. In Pasco County club members are interested to
the extent of 3,441 pounds of butter made, and only 469 pounds
sold, the remainder being consumed in the home. Of 2,640 pounds
of cottage cheese made, only 289 pounds were sold. In reports
from the homes I find 30 percent increase in the use of milk in the
home."
Home Poultry.-The fact that during 1924 1,158 girls and boys
and 1,139 women undertook some phase of standard poultry work
under the supervision of the home demonstration agents, and the
State Poultry Specialist, shows that interest is being aroused in
poultry development in Florida. Poultry is the chief source of
income to farm women and girls. The projects undertaken with
them by the home demonstration agents are: Standardization of
flocks, poultry houses, development of better feeding methods,
care of baby chicks, culling flocks for better egg production, poul-
try clubs with girls and boys, community and county poultry
associations and marketing of poultry products.
Number of homes culling flocks for the first time.................................... 388
Number of homes feeding better-balanced poultry rations for first time 314
Number of individuals assisted in obtaining Standardbred eggs for
hatching this year.................................................................................. 946
Number of homes assisted in obtaining Standardbred cockerels this
year ........ ................. ------- --------- ................... ........................... 313
Number of individuals adopting improved practices in early hatching
and chick rearing this year.................................................................. 1,114
Number of homes directly assisted in increasing the family income
this year thru poultry........................................ ................................. .. 1,050
Number of homes controlling poultry insects for the first time......... 530
Total number of different homes adopting improved practices relative
to the home poultry work reported on this page............................... 2,134
Number of poultry houses constructed during year according to plans
furnished ................................................... 126
The following comes from the agent in Lake County:
"There could not be any more ideal conditions for poultry rais-
ing than Lake County has. The County Poultry Show that is
being held at this time is proof that no better birds are raised
elsewhere. This poultry show is held annually and grows each
year. It has about 500 entries this year. The girls and boys are
exhibiting chickens raised by them in their club work for the
first time and there are 50 entries by them. We meet with
encouragement from the Poultry Association members in every
way for these boys and girls, and with both young and old work-
ing to have better and more poultry, we will some day be a great
poultry county. The County Poultry Association has been work-
ing for over two years now and holds quarterly meetings. An
Florida Cooperative Extension
Exchange Bulletin is being issued weekly for the benefit and
development of the poultry work of the county."
Home Marketing.-Realizing the need of marketing surplus
home products, much attention has been given to establishing
curb markets, women's exchanges, egg circles and poultry asso-
ciations thru which much interest has been aroused in marketing
of dairy, poultry, garden and canned products and such miscel-
laneous products as basketry and other articles made from pine
needles, honeysuckle, wire grass and palmetto, and from home
cookery. An idea as to what some scheme of marketing home
products means to the women of the state may be obtained by the
following report from Volusia County:
"The roadside market at Daytona, with which the home demon-
stration organization cooperates, is conducted more along the
line of a stall market, each woman selling her own products. One
woman reported an average of $10 a week, selling for three hours
on Saturday mornings. In the West Volusia Home Products
Exchange $1,131 have been banked in the past three months.
One member reported over $200 worth, another $264 worth, a
third $155 and a fourth $96."
During Farmers' and Fruit Growers' Week one of the women
gave an interesting report of her home industry project covering
a period of eight months. It is as follows:
Home cooking (cakes, pies, bread, meats, candy, etc.).........$ 900.45
Crystallizing .... .................... ............... ............ 116.75
Jellies and marmalades........... .................. ................ 24.00
Hand work at spare time................................ 27.00
$1,068.20
The Home Demonstration Shoppe in Hillsboro County is filling
a long-felt need for not only the home demonstration members,
but also furnishes splendid home products to Tampa housewives.
Foods.-Food preservation is stressed so as to preserve food
for home use, thus protecting health and reducing the cost of
transporting food from a distance to insure varied diet all thru
the year and to put surplus home products into marketable shape.
Since the food conservation specialist has been added as leader
for this phase of the work there has been a decided increase in
the interest and amount of surplus home products canned for
home use and standardized for market. Particular attention is
given to special work with fish, figs, vegetables and tropical fruits.
The following comes from Marion County agent's report:
"One hundred and sixty-six club girls worked thru the canning
season with splendid results. These girls were instructed not
Annual Report, 192.
only in canning tomatoes, but also in fruits and vegetables, and
especially to can for home use as well as for the market. Many of
the girls who exhibited canned fruits and vegetables at the recent
fair sold their products at a .good profit. Demonstrations have
been given in preservation of the home products, such as the
guava, chayote and citrus fruits. In addition to the work carried
on in the clubs, there were a number of people who secured sealers
and steam pressure cookers and dilvers thru the influence of the
home demonstration agent in order to do more successful canning
at home."
Nutrition.-Nutrition work as carried on by home demonstra-
tion agents, under the leadership of the nutrition specialist,
included the following:
1. Food selection and body requirements. Special emphasis
was given to the reason for using fruits, vegetables, unrefined
cereals, poultry and dairy products in the diet.
2. Food preparation and utilization developed thru demon-
strations and the study of principles of cookery. Development of
club demonstration bread teams among the girls aroused much
interest in bread making. Twenty-seven school lunches, which
provide for better nourishment for the children during the
school day, have been established. General cookery was taught
in all the counties.
3. Child feeding and care thru which study was given to
bringing children to normal weight and health received emphasis
from the workers. Nutrition programs were developed as a result
of examinations made by the State Board of Health showing a
large percent of undernourishment among the growing children.
The following article by Dr. Tilt explains an experiment as con-
ducted by the Research Department of Home Economics, Florida
State College for Women, in cooperation with the Home Demon-
stration Department:
"In order to collect more data on the value of oranges as a
supplementary lunch, an experiment was carried out at the
Florida State College under the supervision of the Research
Department of the School of Home Economics, in cooperation
with the Home Demonstration Department. The children of the
primary and kindergarten division of the demonstration school
were used for the test. At the beginning of the experiment the
age, height and weight of each child was obtained. Thru the
cooperation of the college physician, a physical examination of
each child was made. Only those children who were free to gain
Florida Cooperative Extension
were used in the test. Two groups were selected, containing about
the same number of normal and underweight children. At the
recess period the members of one group received a glass of milk
and the members of the second group the juice of one orange. All
children were weighed weekly. In most cases the children were
getting a liberal quantity of milk at home. The experiment con-
tinued for seven weeks. The oranges were furnishd by the
Florida Citrus Exchange.
"The result showed that with both the milk and the orange
juice there was a gain in excess of the expected gain. The 17
children in the milk group made an average gain of 54 percent
above their expected gain. The 21 children in the orange juice
group made an average gain of 92 percent above their expected
gain. It would thus seem that if the children are receiving a lib-
eral supply of milk at home, a supplementary lunch of orange
FIG. 13.-Living room before it was worked over by club girls. Compare
with fig. 14.
juice will produce a greater gain in weight than a lunch of milk.
It was interesting to note that 31 children who did not have either
milk or orange juice showed a loss of 29 percent below the
Annual Report, 1924
expected gain. This certainly shows the beneficial results of
mid-morning lunch, whether it be milk or orange juice."
i..
rji
FIG. 14.-The same living room as in fig. 13 after it was worked over
by club girls.
4. Food preservation and year-round gardens were encour-
aged in order to insure a varied diet all thru the year.
5. Home demonstration club members were required to reach
a certain physical standard before being allowed to represent the
state at state and out-of-state meetings.
Home Improvement.-The work covers home management,
house furnishing, home health and sanitation. All juniors and
adults enrolled in home demonstration work are given special
instructions in improving the interior and exterior of farm homes.
The "Better Homes Contest," which was conducted in 1924,
aroused much interest in refinishing household furniture, decora-
tions, and working over old furniture, installing labor-saving
devices, improved equipment, screening and remodeling dwellings
according to plans furnished by home demonstration agents, home
health and sanitation, as well as the improvement of the home
grounds by plantings according to plans furnished by home dem-
Florida Cooperative Extension
onstration agents, and in painting buildings around the home.
Interest is rapidly increasing in this phase of the work.
A cottage near the College campus, the interior of which, with
furnishings worked over during the Club Girls' Annual Short
Course, College for Women, in June, proved a wonderful example
as to the improvement the girls could make in their own homes.
Reports showing the home work which the girls have done in this
connection since June 6, 1924, are most gratifying.
Emphasis is given to the necessity for adopting better sanitary
practices. Special work has been done to emphasize the need for
installing sanitary toilets, screening of homes, cleanliness in con-
trol of flies, mosquitoes and other insects.
The following statistics will give an idea as to definite improve-
ments made in club members' homes during 1924:
Home Management
Number of individuals following a systematized plan of household
work for the first time........................ ................... 87
Number of homes obtaining additional labor-saving equipment........ 550
Number of kitchens planned and rearranged for convenience.................. 266
Number of individuals making budgets and keeping accounts for the
First time .................................. ... ............. 189
Number of individuals following improved laundry practices for the
first tim e ................................................................................ 82
Total number of different homes adopting improved practices relative
to the home management work................................ ..... 699
Among the labor-saving appliances added during the year to homes as
the result of home demonstration work are: Hand washing machines,
power washing machines, fireless cookers, kitchen sinks, power
vacuum cleaners, kitchen cabinets, electric or gasoline irons, pres-
sure cookers, iceless refrigerators, dilvers, jelly bags, canners, sew-
ing machines, can sealers, couches and bath tubs.
House Furnishings
Number of members enrolled in house furnishings.......... ................ .. 1,870
Number of individuals adopting improved practices in selection and
arrangement of furnishings............. ........................ 980
Number of individuals adopting improved practices in the repairing
and remodeling of furnishings......... ............................ 422
Number of individuals adopting improved practices in wall, wood-
work and floor treatment ............................... ............... 238
Rooms improved are: bedrooms, 1,107; living rooms, 135; dining
rooms, 211; other rooms, 114.
Total number of different homes adopting improved practices relative
to the house furnishing work.......................... ...... ............. 1,504
Clothing.-Clothing work designed so as to be the means of a
great financial saving to those who take advantage of it, was one
of the most popular projects put on by the home demonstration
workers last year, and 3,936 girls and 2,267 women enrolled in
clothing with the following results:
Annual Report, 1924
Number of individuals adopting improved practices in renovation and
remodeling ...... .......................................... .......... .......... .................1,932
Number of individuals adopting improved practices in millinery............ 3,113
Number of individuals adopting improved practices in costume
designing -- ..................... ................. ..... ......... .... .. ........ .... 410
Number of individuals adopting improved practices in infant ward-
robe planning ........................................................... ............................. 90
Number of individuals adopting improved practices in children's ward-
robe planning .......................................... ......................... ................... 609
Number of individuals adopting improved practices in adult wardrobe
planning .............. ...................................................................... ........... 862
Total number of different homes adopting improved practices relative
to the clothing work reported-.---..................................... 3,896
Number of dress forms made....... .............. 251
Number of dresses and coats made..---- .................................... 7,290
Number of undergarments made ---- ....................................... 19,063
Number of hats made.....-- ................................................ 4,292
Home Demonstration Councils.-Members representing the dif-
ferent clubs in the county act as advisory boards and meet with
the agents at regular intervals, usually monthly, give reports and
discuss the progress of the work and plan for future development.
They assist in securing appropriations as home demonstration
leaders and general promoters.
During Farmers' and Fruit Growers' Week, held at the Univer-
sity of Florida, excellent reports were made from the different
county organizations, which resulted in the organization of a
strong state home demonstration council, in addition to the 12
senior county councils.
During the Girls' Short Course, held at the College for Women,
the Palm Beach Junior County Council gave a demonstration in
conducting a county council meeting. As a result 10 junior
councils have been organized.
Training Local Leaders.-Other than the training of leaders at
23 camps, 97 local leadership training meetings were held, with
an attendance of 1,369 leaders. These have been of invaluable
assistance in getting timely demonstrations to the people in the
communities thruout the counties where they were held.
Contests, Camps and Rallies.-Twenty county contests were
held, where the club girls completing their work, placed exhibits,
had their products judged and where demonstration club teams
entering various contests aroused much interest among both the
juniors and the adults. Four rallies and 23 camps, which have
proven very popular among the juniors and adults, were held.
They are excellent for recreation and provide means for giving
special instructions for training in groups which could not be
given otherwise.
State Short Courses.-One of the most important meetings held
Florida Cooperative Extension
at the College annually is the Club Girls' Short Course. This
course is attended by girls who have done outstanding work in
their counties, and whose expenses, including travel, are given
them as a reward for such work. These scholarships are pro-
vided by organizations among the club members themselves,
county commissioners, school boards, civic clubs, women's clubs,
banks, merchants and individuals interested in the work.
During 1924 184 girls were sent to the College on these scholar-
ships. Other than the information which the girls receive on
various lines of work while there, it is evident that the inspiration
which they receive thru this educational trip and personal con-
tact with other club girls in the state, is developing wonderful
leadership among the girls as they return to their county to put
into practice those things which they have learned during the
Short Course. Some idea as to inspiration and knowledge
obtained during the Short Course may be had from the following
extract from a club girl's letter regarding the Short Course.
After describing the Short Course in full, including its many
activities, the letter was closed as follows:
"The most wonderful Short Course from which we derived so
much fun and education has meant much to all the girls from
each section of the state who have had an opportunity to meet
and know each other personally and learn varied lines of work.
It gives us enthusiasm and ideas to take home to our clubs and
communities. It makes us ambitious to be prize winners, good
club members, and come back next year bringing new girls with
us and to look forward to the time when we will be in school at
the College."
More than 200 interested women took advantage of the Short
Course for Women given during Farmers' and Fruit Growers'
Week at the University of Florida.
Awards for State Prize Winners.-The Federation of Women's
Clubs offers two state prizes of $50 each to the outstanding club
girl in gardening and poultry work each year, the money to be
used for educational purposes. These prizes were won by Gladys
Mainor, of Okaloosa County, and Mary Whittington, of Putnam
County. A Florida railway gave $150 to the outstanding club
girl along its lines and a Chicago mail order house gave to the
outstanding club girl of the state $140 to defray expenses to
the National Club Congress, which was held in Chicago. The
winners of these awards were Josephine Boydston, of Palm
Beach County, and Hilda Burtscher, of DeSoto County.
Annual Report, 1924
Scholarships to the State College for Women.-Interest in
Extension Work in Home Economics has led the following coun-
ties to make appropriation for full scholarships for training in
home economics: Hillsborough County, two; Palm Beach
County, one; Dade County, three.
Publicity.-Splendid publicity is extended to home demonstra-
tion work thruout the state. The Associated Press asks for at
least two articles weekly. Daily papers seem glad to use all
articles sent them. The weekly newspapers are also liberal in
publishing home demonstration articles. The agents state that
their trouble is the lack of time to supply enough articles, as they
would like them published. Agents' weekly reports and activi-
ties in this department are given publicity thru the University of
Florida Agricultural News Service. The Home Demonstration
Department maintains a column in this paper for "Hints to
Housewives." Material in these columns is copied in Florida
newspapers. State and out-of-state magazines frequently pub-
lish articles describing home demonstration activities. Florida
Federation of Women's Clubs, business and professional women's
clubs and fairs thruout the state afford splendid opportunities of
interesting the public in home demonstration work.
Literature prepared for distribution during the year includes
circulars on: Home canning, beautifying the home grounds, tie-
ing and dyeing, rag rugs, breads, school lunches, salads, the valu-
able and versatile tomato, and the peach.
Work Among Negroes.-Negro home demonstration agents
have been working in eight counties during 1924. The state office
and home demonstration agents in the counties, where these
Negro workers are located, give general supervision to the work
and advice to the workers. The work is supervised and reported
in detail by the local district agent, A. A. Turner.
Florida Cooperative Extension
REPORT OF VIRGINIA P. MOORE, ASSISTANT STATE
HOME DEMONSTRATION AGENT
Supervisory Program.-I have assisted agents in the general
strengthening of the work as a whole by stressing the need of
conserving Florida products, standardizing these products, the
establishment of local markets and as fast as possible reaching
out to larger markets. The year-round garden has been stressed,
and as a result there is a great growth in home gardens. In sev-
eral counties that had nothing from the gardens for sale on the
local markets last year, I noted this year head lettuce, carrots and
beans, peas, turnips and greens. Last year these same counties
either had no green vegetables or else had only a few imported.
The interest in gardening is encouraging, but there is room for
more work to be done. Much good is being done by linking this
up with the nutrition work. "Grown ups," as well as the children,
are having this subject vividly brought to their attention.
Holmes County, in North Florida, had 48 winter gardens. In
Nassau County 37 girls have enrolled in gardening, and 12,000
onion plants were put out to be sold cooperatively.
In Alachua County 76 girls planted a garden.
In Pasco County 31 girls and 104 women were enrolled, $1,056
worth of fresh vegetables were sold, 63,000 pounds saved for home
use and 13,066 cans put up for the home pantry. More interest
is being taken in gardening, but much yet can be done along this
line.
The food conservation work is always stressed to federated
clubs, business men's organizations and to the local home demon-
stration clubs. I appeared twice on a program arranged by the
Florida Citrus Exchange in Polk County to create a greater
awakening in the utilization and use of the citrus products in the
homes, hotels and soda fountains, and I emphasized the utiliza-
tion of the by-products of the pectin found in the rag of the
orange and grapefruit as a commercial product if conserved for
commercial purpose.
Home Improvement.-Home demonstration agents are doing
some definite home improvement work, either on the interior or
the exterior. Forty-five homes were beautified in Pasco County.
One agent reports the following:
"In one strictly rural community a home improvement program
was adopted. Not a home had any kind of window curtains,
except shades of the poorest kinds. The women were told of the
76
Annual Report, 1924
attractive curtains, table covers and bedspreads that could be
made from unbleached domestic. They all wanted to try them-
and they did. It is interesting to note that every 'front room' in
the community now has curtains and in some instances they have
gotten into the kitchen. 'Thirty-five club members were helped
in the selection of shrubs, trees and vines in their beautification
work."
I had charge of the home improvement work at the Short
Course for girls at the Woman's College. In one week the girls
completely did over a five-room house, 188 girls working on the
project. Groups of girls worked in all phases, from cleaning,
removing paint from furniture, repainting woodwork, furniture,
lessons in wall papering, etc. A county home demonstration
agent was in charge of each room and of the drapery, accessory
and rug-making departments. Everything was. completed and a
reception held the closing day. As a result many girls went home
and did much home improvement, a few did over the entire house.
One of the biggest lessons taught in this demonstration of a home
improved was the team work and cooperation of all. Every detail
was minutely planned and a schedule for each day was given to
each helper. Every room had been visualized carefully, even to
the smallest detail, and the work was completed for the recep-
tion three hours before the guests were to arrive. Correct color
notes were emphasized by using certain flowers in just the right
places in each room.
The fact that all draperies were made of used sheets, 9-cent
brown domestic which had been dyed, pictures cut from maga-
zines and passe portouted, rugs crocheted made of dis-
carded materials, shades made of brown domestic sheeting with a
large scallop which was outlined with heavy twisted fringe and a
heavy tassel tacked in the middle of the shade; all accessories
such as dresser sets made of old cold cream jars, a sherbet cup
and toilet water bottle, candlesticks and glass bowls, which did
not exceed 10 cents in price, were real works of art after they had
been enameled and decorated. This gave the girls a real desire
to make something beautiful of discarded things. The woman
who loaned the house was poor and needy and her transformation
is said by some to have been as great as the transformation of
the house itself. As a result of this demonstration and the stress-
ing of this subject, 987 women and girls have done some phase of
home improvement work in 697 homes. Several county home
Florida Cooperative Extension
demonstration agents have entered the State-Wide Home
Improvement Contest.
During Farmers' and Fruit Growers' Week at the University of
Florida I gave a home improvement course. The course was
grouped around a "living room at a cost of less than $50." The
women had a part in the development of this work. Women who
had never painted or done anything artistic were as proud as
children of what they had accomplished. The living room con-
sisted of an inexpensive daybed which could be converted into a
regular bed, a home-made writing desk, bookcase and screen, and
a mingled rag drugget and two colorful crocheted rugs; artistic
and suitable pictures cut from magazines and passe partouted;
accessories such as a desk set, sofa pillows and artistic arrange-
ment of wild flowers, enameled bowls and candlesticks. Many
women obtained the exact dimensions of the home-made furni-
ture. The lessons in the process of finishing the furniture to
"look like" mission was much appreciated. A Windsor chair rep-
resented one good investment, and, altho it was in the
,.V,
FIG. 15.--Bedroom before it was worked over by club girls. Compare
with fig. 16.
Annual Report, 19!2.
Colonial period, by properly placing it in the room it fitted into the
general harmony of the room.
A home improvement booth was displayed at the State Fair,
showing an inexpensive living room with the proper treatment of
a plain pine floor to resemble hardwood, and with artistic, colorful
I
FIG. 16.-The same bedroom as in fig. 15 after it was worked over by
club girls.
plaited rugs. The wall paper was artistic and exhibited good
taste. The draperies were made of used sheets dyed a pretty
medium blue, the home-made mission furniture, pretty lights and
a demonstration of a common glass oil lamp which was enameled,
good pictures which were masterpieces, but were cut from maga-
zines and decorated with a simple passe partouted frame; the day-
bed, with its pretty cover and attractive sofa pillows, made a most
charming little living room and created great interest all during
the fair. I was kept busy answering questions about how to do
"this" and "that" around the home.
Florida Cooperative Extension
REPORT OF LUCY BELLE SETTLE, DISTRICT AGENT
IN SOUTHERN AND EASTERN FLORIDA
Organization.-This district is composed of the 31 counties,
from Alachua south through Monroe, 17 of which have home
demonstration workers. Two agents each in Hillsborough and
Polk counties make a total of 19 full-time agents for the dis-
trict. Part-time assistants worked during the summer in
Volusia, Lake, Manatee and Polk counties. No important
changes in plan of organization have taken place during the year,
except the addition of a second worker in Polk and the securing
of appropriations in Citrus and Dade counties.
Assistance has been given by the district agent in the organi-
zation of the home demonstration work, especially where the
work was new or the agent new in the work. In the latter
instance the district agent spent several days in the county for-
mulating a program of work with the agent and home demonstra-
tors and assisting with the organizing of clubs. In five counties
help was given in the organization of county units, one being a
council for home demonstration women, one a poultry association
and three councils for juniors.
Subject matter assistance was given mainly at camps, rally
days and leadership schools, there being nine camps, three rallies
and two leadership schools. The district agent usually assists
the home demonstration agent in whatever demonstration she is
presenting at the time of her visit.
Program of Work.-In Volusia and Citrus counties community
programs of work are regularly carried thru. In Volusia County
poultry raising is the project around which interest centers and
in Citrus County school ground improvement forms the basis of
the organization.
Suggestive outlines from which programs of county-wide
interest can be made are supplied to the agents from the state
office, Each worker submits the one from her county, which is
made by a county program committee working in conjunction
with the agent. This is carefully checked by state and district
agent and returned to the agent with further suggestions where
deemed necessary.
The two programs which follow are included in this report as
types.
1. The work for the year 1925, as I see it, should consist by
subjects as follows:
Annual Report, 1924 81
Foods
Batters and doughs:
(a) Corn muffins and bread.
(b) Biscuits, baking powder and soda.
(c) Yeast breads.
A study of the use of breads in the diet.
Vegetables
(a) Planting a greater variety.
(b) Preparation of and use of salads.
A study of the use of vegetables in the diet.
Fruits
(a) Planting of a variety for home use.
(b) Study of the different sprays and care of the orchard.
(c) Conservation of fruits by canning.
Cows and Milk
(a) A good milk cow on every farm.
(b) Preparation and care of dairy products.
(c) A study of the use of dairy products in the diet.
(d) Study of the importance of care and feeding of milk cows.
Hot Lunch
In schools where domestic science is taught and others where possible.
Poultry
Culling and standardizing flocks.
Putting in of more flocks, consisting of the home flocks and some com-
mercial flocks.
Building of homes for poultry:
House.
Feed hoppers.
Drinking founts.
Some trap nests, and other nests.
Building runs on which green feed may be grown.
Study of diseases and insects and feeding.
Caponizing at the right season for Thanksgiving and Christmas markets.
Early hatching above all other.
Home Improvement
Finishing the inside work, painting and arranging and elimination of
unnecessary articles outside.
Arranging the plantings and planting lawns.
Removal of all unsightly materials, including outhouses improperly
located.
Building of sanitary outhouses, especially toilets.
Clothing
A study of becoming colors and costume planning.
Plain sewing and the use of attachments.
No millinery unless felts are used in the fall and winter.
Girls' Clothing Work
Plain sewing with finishes.
No hats, except that which they wish to do at home.
Florida Cooperative Extension
Fairs and Exhibits
In order that a better community spirit exist in each and every commu-
nity in the county it is necessary that good rivalry exist. This will come
through the re-establishment of the county and state fair work. This is very
well assured already, and plans for this will be worked on at an early date.
I hope to get some real good competitive exhibits for the county fair next
year. I have been working on this since in the county.
Miscellaneous
There has been a highway committee in the different clubs and they have
been working toward getting something worth while done. Thru their
efforts and others on like committees there have been some definite steps
taken. Money has been appropriated to help with the plantings one mile in
two directions, from Crystal River and Inverness, half mile from Lecanto in
two directions and a mile at Floral City when road is finished.
II. This year's program for home demonstration clubs follows:
October-Discussion of clothing budget. "The well-dressed woman picks
her gowns because they become her, not because other people are wearing
that style."
November-Canning of vegetables. "Conservation saves a nation."
December-Canning of fruits. "Fruit every day keeps the doctor away."
January-Study of fabrics. Demonstration of set-in pockets.
February-Study of design. Demonstration of a French and fell seam.
March-Pattern making. Make simple pattern, alter commercial pattern.
April-Informal reception. Each woman wearing hat and dress she made.
May-Summer folds. Salad demonstration.
June-Making novelties, camp. "To play well is to work well."
July-Community picnics. "For self, for club, for community, for good
citizenship is our aim."
"In June we held the contest, when six girls won scholarships for the
Short Course. Also in June the annual camp for tl-e girls was held at Cortez
Beach. Sixty girls enjoyed this four days' outing. The clubs are united in
a junior federation which meets often for all-day meetings, when demonstra-
tions are given.
"July of this year each club held a community picnic. There were 12 of
the picnics held with the attendance of 710. Local committees made all
arrangements and games and sports were entered into by all. The picnics
were so successful that the board voted to put picnics on the program for
next year. They get the community interested in home demonstration work
and they realize what it means to their community "
Project Activities.-Appreciation for any kind of work can be
measured to a certain extent by the amount of financial aid given
by the people supporting it. In practically every county in the
southern and eastern Florida district appropriations for the con-
ducting of home demonstration work have been substantially
increased in the last year. This increase provided better salaries
for agents, as well as equipment for offices and demonstration
kitchens. The establishing by the county of permanent, con-
venient and adequate headquarters for home demonstration
workers speaks gratifyingly of the outlook for permanency in
most counties.
Annual Report, 1924
Viewing the completed year of 1924, certain accomplishments
stand forward, proving themselves worthy of special notice.
Closer and more purposeful organizations among adults and
juniors probably takes first place. Because of the accomplish-
ment of this other development was made possible. The 100
percent increase in attendance at the State Short Course was a
direct result of stronger county organization. Higher standards
in creative work done by women and girls have been made pos-
sible thru organiaztion with profitable marketing following as a
natural consequence.
In two Southern Florida counties well established exchanges for
the marketing of home demonstration products are operating for
the first time this year, and give promise of continuing for many
more. Both of these received their inspiration and business back-
ing from their county organization of women. The furnishing
and maintaining of club rooms in rural communities, which has
been a project undertaken this year by a great number of home
demonstration clubs, is further testimony of the growing spirit
of home and community betterment, resulting likewise from
better organization.
The 11 adult poultry associations of southern Florida show
marked growth and improvement. Six splendid poultry shows
have been held. The poultry department of the Lee County Fair
is in charge of a home demonstration woman, who is responsible
for its development from an exhibit of a few birds displayed
under a small shed, into a creditable poultry show now occupying
a building of its own. The interest in these exhibitions has spread
beyond the limits of the state, thereby furnishing real stimulus
to the growth of Florida. The poultry associations have supple-
mented and strengthened their educational program of work by
assisting the individual member with the marketing of his
products and the problem on that.
Junior work in southern Florida has grown in number of mem-
bers and excellence. Better percent in completed work, as well
as an advance in grade of work done, is indicated in exhibits dis-
played at contests, camps and fairs. The source of this advance-
ment can be traced, as in adult endeavor, to definite organizations
such as most counties are forming.
Florida Cooperative Extension
REPORT OF RUBY McDAVID, DISTRICT AGENT IN
NORTHERN AND WESTERN FLORIDA
Organization.-Home demonstration work has been conducted
in 13 counties in this district and arrangements have been com-
pleted for extending the work into two additional counties during
the coming year.
Assistance has been given to agents in helping to organize six
junior county councils. The goal set at the beginning of the
year was to organize four county councils, but as a result of a
demonstration given by a junior county council at the State Short
Course, six organizations have been perfected and are function-
ing. These organizations mean much towards furthering home
demonstration work thru regular organized monthly club meet-
ings with both women and girls, community problems, such as
school lunches, beautifying school grounds, better community
health and sanitation, beautifying highways, etc., have been
studied with good results.
Ten counties, Santa Rosa, Gadsden, Leon, Wakulla, Jefferson,
Madison, Taylor, Columbia, Nassau and Duval, have had county
project committees to prepare an exhibit for the State Fair.
Columbia County has put over a poultry project thru the
County Poultry Association that has meant much to the county.
A 10,000-egg incubator in Lake County is in operation.
FIG. 17.-Club members learn to make attractive hats at small expense.
Annual Report, 1924
Okaloosa County has had a county-wide home improvement
program which brought about many changes in both the interior
and exterior of the homes over the county.
Agents are required to follow general outline as given in the
field book and to make out their program of work at the begin-
ning of the year. A typical example is as follows:
Program of Work by Months
January-Enrollment of members, distribution of garden seed and pro-
gram bulletins. Poultry: Incubation of hen's eggs or selection of eggs for
setting. Candled eggs with commercial chandler. Feeding baby chickens.
Garden: Selection of soil. Sewing: Darning and buttonholes. Music:
Christmas records on the phonograph. This was carried out in 11 junior
and one senior clubs.
February-Election of officers. Poultry: Feeding growing chickens.
Exhibit of drinking fountains and balanced chicken feed. Garden: Demon-
stration with garden cultivator. Planting. Sewing: Scarfs-hemming of
scarf. The Lord's Prayer. Parable of the Sower. Ten junior clubs and
three senior clubs.
March-Poultry: Mites and lice. Prevention of mites and lice on
chickens. Garden: Planting and transplanting. Sewing: Patching and
making of caps. Nutrition: Setting the table. Selection of food. Eleven
children's clubs and two women's clubs.
April-Poultry diseases. Garden cultivation. Sewing: Making of gown
and dress. Home improvement. Twelve junior and four senior clubs.
May-Poultry: Feeding hens. Garden: Plant diseases and cultivation.
Cooking: Use of vegetables in the diet. Salads and cooking vegetables.
Better Homes Week, May 11 to 18. Fourteen junior and three women's
meetings. Better Homes Week received honorable mention.
June-Poultry: Infertile eggs. Preserving eggs in water glass. Garden:
Harvesting. Canning. Sewing: Articles for the bedroom. Camp for girls
and boys. Took three girls to the Short Course at Tallahassee and post-
poned the camp until July. Ten junior and six senior meetings used canning
program.
July-Poultry: Sanitation and care of eggs. Garden: Harvesting.
Canning: Fruits and vegetables. Sewing: Finishing work started. The
camp for girls and for boys was held in July and culling lessons and demon-
strations were given to 16 junior and 10 senior clubs in July and August.
August-Poultry: Molting hen. Culling. Garden: Begin the fall
gardens. Sewing: Completed articles. Trip to Gainesville. Culling hens
was continued. Mr. Carl B. James showed moving pictures at Silver Springs,
Wright's, Baker, Blackman and Holt.
September-Agents' conference. Poultry booklets. Garden booklets.
Sewing booklets. Getting exhibits ready for the fairs. The agents' confer-
ence was attended at Gainesville and at Tallahassee. Booklets were started.
October-Poultry, garden and sewing booklets and exhibits.
November-Completed year's work. Annual report. The county contest
was held and work was done on annual report. The county federation of
women's clubs was held and the junior home demonstration county council
was organized.
December-Annual leave and Christmas program.
Supervisory Program.-One hundred and twenty-one days
have been spent in the office and 166 in the field. Fifty-seven
supervisory visits have been made in the 14 counties in the dis-
trict having home demonstration agents and five visits have been
Florida Cooperative Extension
made to counties without agents. Have attended six county con-
tests, four county fairs and two state fairs. Attended meeting of
Southern Leaders in Agriculture and Home Economics in Bir-
mingham, also attended the three district meetings held in the
state during the month of January.
Twelve of the 13 county home demonstration agents have
offices. These offices are furnished with bulletin racks, table,
desk and filing cases. These filing cases were given each agent
during their annual meeting in September. Duval and Escambia
counties furnish clerical help for the county and home demonstra-
tion agent, but three county agents have bought their own type-
writers. Every agent has a steam pressure cooker, canning outfit
and some of the necessary equipment for giving demonstrations.
Each county in the district appropriated a small sum which is to
be used for traveling expenses and demonstration materials.
Each agent was asked at the beginning of the year to make out
a program of work for her county and submit same to district
agent. The district agent, with the state agent, went over these
plans very carefully and made suggestions wherein the agent
might improve or strengthen her work. These plans have been
followed very largely and good results have been obtained.
In view of the fact that there are only three specialists on the
state staff, it becomes necessary for the district agent to give
some subject matter assistance to the agents out in the counties.
Project Activities and Results.-There are 200 organized clubs
with both adults and juniors in the district holding regular
monthly club meetings. These different clubs chose at thebegin-
ning of the year the phases of work they desire to undertake.
These programs of work include home improvement, textile work,
canning and gardening, poultry, dairy, basketry, foods and nutri-
tion and community activities. The following excerpts, taken
from the agents' reports, will show the trend of the work during
the past year.
FOODS
Taylor County.-The greater percent of lecture demonstrations
with the women is with foods. Club members have been taught
better ways of cooking meats, cereals, preparing attractive and
nutritious salads and desserts and making breads. In one com-
munity we have an equipped kitchen for the girls and have regu-
lar cooking lesson, both the women and girls are taught canning
and the food value of the different products is stressed as we
conserve them. Canning results this year are a great improve-
Annual Report, 1924
ment over last year in quantity, quality and attractiveness. Our
county won second highest score at the State Fair this fall. Six
communities are using steam pressure cookers and other
improved equipment.
Nutrition. T a y 1 o r
County: Nutrition is a
part of food and garden-
ing work. Never in a
lecture demonstration of
foods either in meal
preparation or canning
do we fail to study the
nutrition properties of
the food. I do some indi-
vidual nutrition work,
for we have a splendid
county nurse who ex-
amines the children and
often refers me to an in-
dividual who needs
special instructions.
Home Improvement.-
St. Johns County: "In
one strictly rural com-
munity a home improve-
ment program was
adopted. Not a home had
any kind of window cur-
tains, except shades, /
which were of the poor- Fig. 18.-Club work taught this 14 year
est kind. The women old girl how to make prize winning jelly.
were told of the attractive curtains, table covers and bed-
spreads that could be made from unbleached domestic. They
all wanted to try them, which they did. Neat hems and bord-
ers of colored ginghams were used, and in some cases hems of
the domestic were used and outlined with simple stitches in
colors. It is interesting to note that every 'front room' in the
community now has curtains and in some instances they have
Florida Cooperative Extension
gotten into the kitchen." This is the type of work conducted
in home improvement.
Millinery.-Walton County: "The main thing this week was
millinery training school. Nine local leaders attended, each one
made a hat, all were very good. We had 10 and 12 visitors each
day. They were all delighted with the work and each one asked,
'When will we have a chance to make one ?' They valued the hats
at $5 to $8. None cost over $2.50. Besides making the'hats, we
had discussions of lines, color, materials, frames, trimmings and
hand-made flowers, as well as studied the duties of local leaders.
At the meeting at Gaskin Tuesday two girls came four miles to
see if they might attend the training school. One of the mer-
chants here lent us a sewing machine and mirror to use during the
training school. The local leaders have already ordered three
dozen shapes to use at club meetings."
Canning and Home Improvement.-Okaloosa County: Thelma
Stephens, of Okaloosa County, attended the Short Course at Tal-
lahassee and reported that she had canned 40 quarts of peaches,
18 quarts of tomatoes, 30 quarts of blackberries, 7 quarts of
cucumber pickles, 2 pints of strawberries, 6 quarts of home-
grown apples, 7 quarts of soup mixture, 4 glasses of jelly, 2 bot-
tles of juice and since the Short Course had helped to fix up the
house by making 4 pillow cases, 1 bedspread, dyed and made 5 cur-
tains, made 5 shades of unbleached domestic and crocheted 2
rugs; she made 2 hats at the camp and also made a dress, apron
and sofa pillow. This is her July and August report.
School Lunch.-The Junior 4-H Club at Maxville, Duval County,
made $33 at a box supper given in February. With a part of this
money they have bought all necessary utensils for their bread
demonstrations. A part of the money they use in buying milk,
cocoa and sugar. Each day they serve hot cocoa with their
lunches.
Poultry.-Gadsden County: Cecil Rowan, Gadsden County,
won $10 in prizes with his chickens, and with the money he is
getting wire to fence his poultry yard.
John Lee Bateman has 12 White Leghorn pullets and they are
laying. He has built one of the most complete and well-arranged
poultry houses I have seen. He also made his own feed hoppers
and his records show very careful work.
Annual Report, 1924
REPORT OF ISABELLE S. THURSBY, FOODS AND
MARKETING AGENT
How the Work Is Conducted.-Demonstrations are held in
halls, schools, etc. The state worker carries appliances needed
for convenience and ease of work, as well as a varied exhibit of
fine canned products in her equipment trunk. Effort is made to
enter county the day before the demonstration begins in order to
do the preliminary work required in making citrus spreads, mar-
malades and preserves necessary to show a finished product the
next day. These steps are then repeated at the demonstration
for the benefit of the audience and for the audience that will
follow them at the next place, thus making it possible to show
entire process (when one day only is given), and to serve same,
since the "proof of the pudding is in the eating."
The simple cookery of vegetables or of sea foods, or both may
be demonstrated, according to local needs. Citrus fruit, papayas,
guavas, pitangas and other tropical products are prepared invit-
ingly in order to make them more popular.
Attractive posters are used to further drive home the slogan,
"Florida products for Florida people."
Usually it is planned to spend a week in a county for these
demonstrations.
The demonstrations or other assistance are called for and pro-
moted by the county home demonstration agent.
During the year 1924 interest has grown in canning, showing
a considerable increase in the amount of food conserved over past
years, two counties reporting 73,000 containers and 26,570,
respectively.
The splendid showing that a good exhibit of canned products
makes at the county or state fairs, at the citrus festivals, etc.,
usually helps to gain additional support for home demonstration
work.
The awards at the State fairs, the trip to the Florida Exposi-
tion in New York City, all stimulate greatly the interest of the
women and girls, as well as the interest of the home demonstra-
tion agents themselves in the conservation project. Interest,
born of the desire to make a good showing at the exposition, for
instance, naturally will not die out with its closing. This interest
in conservation work has been built up in the same manner from
somewhat similar circumstances in previous years, and enthusi-
astic gardeners and canners are thereby developed in a county.
Florida Cooperative Extension
As an example of the material appreciation so often given the
work by boards of county commissioners, Hillsborough County is
outstanding, as $300 prize money is offered by them for an annual
canning contest. This contest is held just before the opening of
the South Florida Fair and Gasparilla Carnival, at which the
prize-winning products are exhibited. Another opportunity is
then given for these same women and girls to compete for other
cash premiums.
This county also made an exhibit (and sale of products) at the
All-Florida Exposition in New York City; an exhibit duplicating
the Home Demonstration Shoppe at Tampa, in November, at the
annual meeting of the Florida Federation of Women's Clubs and
an exhibit at the State Fair held annually in Jacksonville the
latter part of November.
How Interest Has Spread-Some Examples.-Manatee County:
"Most of the women are interested in food conservation, espe-
cially for home use. This year I had committees working in nine
communities. Each committee came up 100 percent on their com-
munity canned exhibit for the county fair. The exhibit consisted
of 30 containers, 6 quarts, 6 pints, 6 12-ounce containers, 6 14-pint
bottles and 6 jelly containers. In these community exhibits there
were only 13 points difference in the score from the highest to the
lowest. Besides these community exhibits, we had a good many
specials, also individual exhibits.
"At the South Florida Fair we had 192 varieties of canned
products and won first prize. We also sent an exhibit to the All-
Florida Show at Madison Square Garden, New York. We took a
canning exhibit to the Canadian National Exhibition at Toronto,
August 23 to September 6, which received much favorable com-
ment."
Lee County: "Home Bureau gave $120 for girls' scholarships,
the money being made by them thru prizes awarded on exhibi-
tions, thru Home Bureau Exchange, which was run thru tourist
season, and by making and selling decorated flowers.
"Women and girls send exhibits to Madison Square Garden and
county fair. Won $50 at Tampa Fair on various club exhibits.
At county fair entered over 500 containers in home demonstra-
tion booth, clubs competing for the $100 worth of prizes given
them by fair association to encourage home demonstration work.
"Two women who sent in reports average $15 each on Satur-
days selling bread, cake, jellies, etc. One man has averaged $60
Annual Report, 1924
each Saturday for over a year. This shows the curb market is a
splendid thing for the rural, as well as the town people."
Marketing.-The making and marketing of quality citrus,
guava, fig and other products is growing and the demand for qual-
ity home canned products is becoming an important industry for
those taking it up from a business point of view. The rapid
growth and development in Florida, bringing the influx of visitors
from all parts of the United States and Canada, brings the mar-
ket to our very doors. In fact, the opportunities are all but ready
made for those who are acquainted with the formulas for pro-
ducing quality, and who put quality in their jars and packages.
The responsibility for marketing all home-canned products
should be assumed as nearly as possible by the people having
them to sell. The agent to give assistance with containers,
processes, suggesting prospective markets, etc.
Miss Godbey, of Polk County, reports two more women to
market home products this year. They have standardized the
FIG. 19.-"The rag man" gets no business in communities where home
demonstration work is taught. The rags are made into rugs.
Florida Cooperative Extension
quality of their product at the beginning. The Food and Market-
ing Agent believes they will maintain that standard without
material modification, except for improvement.
The Home Demonstration Shoppe, Hillsborough County,
(Tampa), carried a fine line of jellies and preserves, and the Home
Industries Exchange at DeLand, in Volusia, sold over $1,873.68
worth of products in less than a year.
A Tallahassee demonstrator this fall sold over 200 boxes of her
high grade crystallized fruit, which she markets in attractive
boxes at $1.25 per pound.
Orange County has sold 2,470 quarts of jellies, preserves and
marmalades, and has orders for 5,000 individual containers of
orange and grapefruit marmalade.
However, money is made or saved, just the same, whether the
products are used at home or sold. All too frequently in Florida
we do not "live at home." Hence, it has been more important to
teach that the way to health and wealth is by saving, rather than
making.
I made the suggestion of featuring an exhibit window of roselle
(Florida cranberry) for the Thanksgiving trade for the purpose
of encouraging the planting and use of the Florida cranberry.
The growing plant was to be shown with printed recipes for the
use of the fruit. As a result a Hillsborough county agent writes:
"We had the roselle exhibit Thanksgiving week, as planned,
and have sold all the roselle products we had and are able to get
this year in the county. We had juice, syrup, jelly, sauce and the
fresh roselle, as well as pies, jelly rolls, etc. Much interest was
expressed and many said they would plant for themselves next
spring.
"Roselle, the 'Florida cranberry,' is often called 'jelly okra,' the
edible portions are large, fleshy, red calyces. These make a
jelly and a sauce similar in color, texture and flavor to cranberries
and a refreshing and healthful drink may be made from the more
tender stems and leaves."
For another illustration, in the papaya, or tree canteloupe, we
have a most easily grown and interesting ornamental. It pro-
duces enormously and constantly in southern Florida.
Delicious preserves, conserves and pickles are being made from
this all-too-infrequently cultivated plant. This and other fruit
and vegetable products will be featured in similar ways over the
state, as it is found these exhibits create much interest in our
products and are of direct educational value besides.
Annual Report, 192.4
Many -demonstrations with citrus products have been given.
These products were an innovation, almost without exception.
Hence, this past year's demonstrations might be considered in
the nature of a campaign for educating Florida women to a
greater use and wider appreciation of citrus and other native
foods, showing the great need of them in the diet and the most
economical and satisfactory way of preparing them, as well as
endeavoring to develop more community, county and state pride
in these products.
The Food and Marketing Agent serves as judge at fairs, ren-
ders assistance at camps, both women and girls; citrus festivals,
etc.; gives assistance to home demonstration agents in assem-
bling material for exhibits in and out of their counties; gives
talks before Florida Federation of Women's Clubs and other
organizations; assists with schedule of work for Farmers' and
Fruit Growers' Week and at the Extension Agents' Annual Meet-
ing and Annual Short Course for Club Girls; writes publicity
articles and circulars, also compiles information of importance to
the agents in developing the food conservation, standardization
and marketing work in the state.
Florida Cooperative Extension
REPORT OF EVA RICHARDSON, DAIRY AND
NUTRITION AGENT
My duties as Dairy and Nutrition Agent were taken up May
15, 1924, and the work as outlined and accomplished is given in
the following report:
NUTRITION
Program of Work.-Nutrition work in Florida emphasizes the
need of vegetables, fruits and dairy products in the diet and is
serving as a means of proving the need for all-year-round gar-
dens, and "a cow on every farm."
Nutrition work was carried out during the year under the
following projects: General studies in nutrition by women,
nutrition classes for underweight children, nutrition courses for
mothers, health clubs, camps, contests, short courses and fairs.
Agencies cooperating in this program of work were home dem-
onstration workers, State Board of Health, Federated Women's
Clubs, local organizations and physicians and various educational
authorities.
General Studies in Nutrition by Women.-Women have become
very much interested in various phases of nutrition work and in
their clubs have arranged special programs, including demonstra-
tions, lectures and discussions, on subjects relating to health and
nutrition.
Reports from 20 counties show that 1,332 women and girls
have completed the work as outlined in a nutrition program and
that such a program is now in progress with 3,185 women and
girls.
The school lunch program was a very popular one and a number
of clubs selected this, with the idea in mind of serving one hot
dish at the noon hour in the schools, thereby improving the
lunches of the children. As a result 20 schools have been induced
to serve a hot dish or school lunch for the first time, which
involved 2,619 children.
Besides the school lunch to be served at school, others were
interested in the preparation of better and more nourishing
lunches to be carried from home and reports show that 954
women and girls are preparing better school lunches for the first
time.
Nutrition Classes for Underweight Children.-This part of the
nutrition program has proved to be beneficial to a number of
underweight children. It was thru the splendid cooperation and
Annual Report, 1924
work of the State Board of Health that our department was able
to receive the names of all the children who were found to be
underweight or in need of some nutrition instruction, and with
this information on hand, nutrition classes were organized in
Polk and Citrus counties, 66 schools being included, involving
1,470 children in need of some nutrition instruction.
Nutrition lesson leaflets and weekly record cards were given
each pupil by the home demonstration agent and the monthly
record was checked on the wall charts in the classrooms. The
teachers were much interested and cooperated in every way
possible. The work is handicapped because scales are not avail-
able for use in the rural schools.
Nutrition Courses for Mothers.-These courses included the
specific knowledge needed in bringing the underweight child up
to standard weight, improved practices in child feeding, sugges-
tions and instructions for planning and preparing well-balanced
family meals. Reports indicate that 752 homes, involving 1,017
children, carried out improved practices in child feeding for the
first time, and that 648 women and girls were preparing well-
balanced meals according to approved methods for the first time.
Health Clubs--Some junior clubs were organized into health
clubs which made a special study of health and nutrition prob-
lems, gardens, games, etc.
Camps.-In the club camps held last summer good health
habits and proper nutrition were emphasized and particular
attention was given to the serving and eating of the right kinds
of food. The children were encouraged to drink milk and at
several camps a glass of milk was given to every child as a mid-
morning lunch.
Short Courses.-In several counties short courses were given
instead of a camp, which afforded a splendid opportunity for gen-
eral instruction in different phases of club work. Food conserva-
tion, millinery, home improvement, bread making, the value of
milk, fruit and vegetables in the diet, and simple nutrition could
always be taught them easily, and a visit to a poultry farm was
an interesting feature of the Walton County Short Course. Enter-
tainment was provided for them after the instruction periods
were over and the last day always came too soon for the girls. In
Taylor County the agent prepared and served the noon lunch at
the school building where the instruction was being given and
the children enjoyed the lunch served in this manner and were
very eager to tell who didn't drink milk.
Florida Cooperative Extension
At the State Short Course, held in June at the Florida State
College, instruction in simple nutrition, simple cookery, and value
of milk, fruit and vegetables in their diet was given the girls
attending. Each girl was weighed, measured and examined when
she came and again the day she left, and it was found that a num-
ber of girls had gained as much as two pounds during their week's
stay on the campus. The physician making examinations said
that they were as fine a group of children as he had ever exam-
ined and very few physical corrections were found necessary. A
glass of milk was given them as a mid-morning lunch and health
games were taught them during recreation periods. Many other
phases of instruction were given them besides the ones mentioned
above.
Contests.-In the county contests nutrition work has been
stressed by club teams giving demonstrations on bread making,
use of better breads, bread judging and scoring.
During Farmers' and Fruit Growers' Week, held at the Uni-
versity of Florida, 250 women received instruction' in food con-
servation, bread making, school lunches, meal planning and meal
service.
Fairs.-At the State Fair a nutrition booth was fitted up as a
part of the Home Demonstration Exhibit. This represented "A
Life Saving Station," which included a conveniently equipped
and arranged kitchen, suggesting to the housewife how she
might save both time and energy. There was also a striking
device which showed the value of milk in the diet, by comparison
with coffee, tea and cold drinks. Another feature which attracted
much attention was the representation of the Race of Life being
run by a vegetable animal and a candy and cookie animal, the
former being in the lead.
A bread-scoring contest was held for one day and club teams
from various counties entered.
HOME DAIRYING
Program of Work.-The following projects in home dairy work
were undertaken under the direction of the Home Dairy and
Nutrition Agent:
January-Value of keeping dairy records.
February-Hints on feeding dairy cows.
March-Proper handling of milk and milk utensils.
April-Nutritive value of milk and milk products.
May-Raising dairy calves.
June-Value of purebred bulls.
July-Breeds of dairy cows.
August-Making choice farm butter.
Annual Report, 1924
September-Simple farm remedies for the dairyman.
October-Selecting dairy cows.
November-Making cottage and cream cheese.
December-Dont's for the dairyman.
Little progress has been made in the home dairying projects
during the past year, since other club programs were already
started when the Dairy and Nutrition Agent began her work.
However, several counties adopted the program and have
reported good results.
FIG. 20.-The creamery milk route enables farmers owning only two or
three cows to sell milk and cream at a profit.
The care of milk and the value and use of milk in the diet has
been stressed in connection with all the nutrition work given to
both women and girls, and we hope to make great progress next
year toward our slogan, "A dairy club in every county and a dairy
cow on every farm."
The data given below will indicate the results attained in the
project:
Number of members enrolled in home dairy work............... ......... 106
Number of method demonstrations given....................................... 21
Number of homes feeding better dairy rations.......................................... 107
Number of homes adopting better practices in the sanitary production
and care of milk.................................... ...132
Number of pounds of butter made.... ............................. 5,894
Number of pounds of cheese made......................... ........... 3,400
Florida Cooperative Extension
REPORT OF A. A. TURNER, LOCAL (COLORED) DISTRICT
AGENT IN CHARGE OF NEGRO EXTENSION WORK
Negro extension work thru farm and home makers' clubs was
conducted in 15 counties during 1924: Duval, Hillsborough,
Jefferson, Leon, Madison, Orange, Sumter and St. Johns counties
employed home agents. Alachua, Columbia, Gadsden, Marion,
Jackson, Suwannee and Washington counties employed farm
agents. These agents worked an average of 10 months for the
women and nine months for the men, with furloughs coming dur-
ing summer and early fall.
The women have confined their activities mainly to the home
and making better living conditions among rural people, while
the men agents have centered their work more directly around
better farm practices and aiding farmers to make more money
on their farms and establish permanent markets for the live-
stock and crops raised. Attention has been given to the raising
of cash crops such as tobacco and cotton. The women have been
active in stimulating interest in poultry raising. We see steady
increases in the number and quality of flocks.
Meetings.-There were four state-wide meetings conducted.
The Agents' Annual Short Course was held at Gainesville in
December and consisted of three days' training by specialists.
The state agent of Negro work from Alabama was secured to help
with the home makers' work. The Annual Farmers' Conference
was held at the Florida A. and M. College in March, when Prof.
George W. Carver, Negro scientist from Tuskegee, and experts
from the University gave valuable assistance. During May a
motorcade of agents and farmers from Georgia was, conducted
into Floridafor one week to study methods of picking, grading,
packing and shipping truck crops. The Tri-County Farmers'
Institute at Lake City in July (at which 11 counties were repre-
sented) was another opportunity for the farmers to be helped
in an educational way. At this meeting the question of a well-
balanced plan of staple and truck farming was discussed and
much good was accomplished.
Fairs.-Products of farm and home makers' clubs were exhib-
ited at both the State fairs the past year at Tampa in February
and at Jacksonville in November. Several county fairs have been
conducted by local agents with splendid results. In all cases these
exhibits have merited the favorable comment of the general
Annual Report, 1924
public from standpoints of variety and quality of articles
exhibited.
The local farm demonstration agents worked an average of
nine months the past year, except in the case of the Marion
County agent, who was delayed two weeks in beginning work in
the fall, and the Washington County agent whose work was
transferred to Jefferson County and will not begin until January
1, 1925.
With the assistance of the local agent, Marion County farmers
shipped 12 cars of melons, gross receipts being $5,409.91; five car-
loads of snap beans, gross receipts being $4,913.76; 29 cars of
tomatoes, gross receipts being $13,825.98; three mixed cars, gross
receipts being $2,087.98; making a grand total of gross receipts
on truck crops of $26,236.97.
Shipments from Alachua and Sumter counties were not on as
large a scale as in Marion County, but despite the weather condi-
tions the farmers were able to make expenses on all truck crops
except cucumbers. Staple crops in all the counties made good and
may well be looked upon as the.safe crop for Florida the past year.
The local home demonstration agents worked an average of 10
months, with furloughs during August and September. In three
counties the agents were furloughed in August, September and
October.
The women agents have accomplished work in certain instances
with the men and boys, the results of which are not included in
the statistics on account of their inability to keep the duplexed
set of record thru the year and compile them into their annual
report as required.
Considerable work has been done among the home makers'
clubs relating to sanitation and child welfare in cooperation with
the State Board of Public Health and the various rural nurses
employed and working in the several counties.
From' 1924 reports of home makers' agents on their work
among Negro homes, the following table has been compiled to
show the scope of the work:
Work Accomplished by Home Makers' Clubs
Total
Communities conducting work.......-........... .......... .............. 163
Boys enrolled ........-................ ................ 221
Boys reporting ........... ........... .......... .............................. 90
Girls enrolled ..................... '993
Girls reporting .. ............................... ........................... .................. 397
Men enrolled.. ..................- .............- ...... .......... ........ 282
Men reporting ........................ ........................................... 115
|