Sunday, August 5, 2018

Reports From Ag. Agent, Home Demonstration Agent, Welfare Work in Stanly County, 1922

The Albemarle Press, August 10, 1922

County Agent Phillips’ Report for July, 1922, to the Honorable Board of County Commissioners

Soil building is the basic factor upon which the true progress of Stanly County will be built.

Present records show, by careful study, that the average per acre yield of the county’s field crops is far below the cost of production, and it will take the hearty co-operation of our people to remedy these conditions.

However true, the facts may be surprising when we are brought face to face with them. Last year our average wheat yield was only 6 bushels per acre, when actual cost of production is $10 or more. The average yield of oats was 13 bushels with rye around 5 1/2bushels, and the average corn yield was 14 ½ bushels per acre. All the above yields are far below the cost of production. No matter how good a marketing system we may perfect, we can never accomplish much with our present per acre yields. It must be remembered that many farmers are producing much more than this, which proves that many are not even realizing an average yield.

The above will bear out the statement that unless we start out on an extensive soil building program, we will continue to fight a losing game.

To overcome these conditions, we must build the soil through a good system of terracing, clover and legumes and more clover, crop rotation and dairying, and sticking close to good seed.

The first step towards co-operation was taken when 100 representative farmers met 90 representative business men of the towns of the county at a get-together supper, the night of the 28th at Fairview School, Millingport. The supper was given by 10 farmers from each township and was prepared and served by Miss Keller and the Fairview Club girls.

The real object of this supper was to furnish a medium through which the farmers and business men could come to a better understanding, and to discuss problems of vital and mutual interest, among these being the possibilities of a creamery for the county.

The report for the month is as follows:

Field days, 19 ½; office days, 6 ½; number of conferences at office, 210; letters written, 317; number of farms visited, 154; number of meetings held and attended, 8; number attending these meetings, 1,158; miles traveled, 748.

Report of Home Demonstration Work for Month of July

Days in office, 6 ½; days in field, 18 1/8; number of letters and circulars mailed, 670; number of conferences, 65; number of meetings, 12; attendance at meetings, 495; number of miles traveled, 416.

Three days of this month were spent in Cabarrus County assisting Miss Wilson in canning schools. Miss Wilson in turn helped me. Three of these schools were held in different sections of the county.
Letter about the demonstrations were sent to all ladies in the immediate and adjoining school districts.

On our last day, we were fortunate in securing Mrs. T.W. Bickett to speak on health.

County Welfare Work

Z.V. Moss is looking up all the disabled people of the county with a view to providing training for them in order that they may be made self supporting. The main idea in this work is first to determine what work the person has inclination to do, then ascertain whether or not it is possible for the person to do that particular kind of work. If it be found possible for him to do that kind of work, then the next step is to provide a way for him to learn that work, whatever it may be. The federal government together with the state government is now making appropriations to carry on this kind of work.

The first person to avail himself of this work in Stanly County was Walter A. Laton of Albemarle Route 2. Mr. Laton is learning the shoe and harness repair business with Mr. Sid Austin. The second case in the county is Mr. Guy Swaringen, who will be given a correspondent’s course in writing advertisements. This is one phase of welfare work that was started in this state about a year ago and the success in some instances has been marvelous.

No comments:

Post a Comment