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Show PLAfJ FOR MORE CENTRAL BODIES One of Country's Needs, Says Secretary of Agriculture in Recent Statement. STRENGTHEN FARM BUREAUS War Proved Power of Organizations That Plan Farm Work in Communities Com-munities More Than a Million Mil-lion Members Enrolled. One of. the points of strength In America's agricultural organization has been found during the war to be central organizations of farmers to plan and develop the best methods of farming for their region. That these organizations ure to IM-ti greater great-er usefulness in the eivf peace Is Indicated in a recent slareiuent addressed ad-dressed by the secretary of ngricul-' ngricul-' ture to the farmers and agricultural forces of the United States. As one Uiing that seems clear, the secretary noted the need of perfecting perfect-ing the organization of agricultural agencies for the purpose of Intelligently Intelli-gently executing such a program us :uuy seem wise. "We should not only have the best possible organization and co-opera-tiou of the department of agriculture, the agricultural colleges, the state departments de-partments of agriculture and farmer.-' associations," said the secretary, "but we should especially strengthen the local farm buret us and other organizations organi-zations which support so 'effectively the extension forces and assist them in their activities. The perfecting of Ihis organization Is highly desirable, not only during the continuance of die present abnormal conditions, but also for the future. The local, as well as the stale and federal agencies, agen-cies, are of supremo Importance to the nation in all its activities designed to make rural life more profitable, healthful and attractive, and, theie-fore, theie-fore, to secure adequate economic production, ellicient distribution and necessary conservation." Supporting County Agent Work. The county organizations, known tut county councils, cotmly bureaus of ug-rlculliiro, ug-rlculliiro, or farm bureaus, often employ em-ploy a county and a home demonstration demonstra-tion agent and aid 11. em in their work. They usually are composed of fanners fann-ers and others in the county interested interest-ed In agriculture. At present there are more than 1,000,000 farmers who are members of organizations assisting the county Hgent In his work. In the South. In the South special empha.'ils Is laid upon connnunily organizal Ions of farmers. These are Ineronsiiig rapidly rap-idly and Involve the work among men, women and children. The tendency ten-dency and general policy of the work In most of tin! Southern slates Is gradually to form central counl.v or-t'aiilznlions, or-t'aiilznlions, composed of represelila-llves represelila-llves of the community organizal Ions, to deal, In co-operal Ion wllh the eoun-ry eoun-ry agents, wllh such problems as are i-onnly-wlde In their nalure. Farm Bureaus In the North. In the Northern and Western slales the county organization Is usually known as a farm bureau. The arm bureau Is a nonparl Isiin, nou-i-cctarlan, nonse.-ret organization representing rep-resenting the ,hole running pnpnla-t,on pnpnla-t,on of a county, men ami women alike, and acllng as a clearing house f.jr every other association Inleresled In work with rural pie. lis primary pri-mary purposes are : (1) To bring to the ngenl. the counsel coun-sel and mlidre of the best farmers In the counlV as to what, ought to be done and bow io do II. (2) 'To provide un orgiitilzn I Ion for easily and quickly reaching every i -; 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 .V In 1 1 1 - county wllh Information Infor-mation of vain" to lluil community -ir lo I Ii" coun'y tin a whole. ( ) : Me : (.tan I'm- organ ized self-help, enlisting the co-operation of all farmers interested In carrying car-rying out n county agricultural program pro-gram of work. Membership Is opun to all residents of the county directly Interested in agriculture, men and women alike. A small membership fje (usually ?1) Is charged. While the original conception of the farm bureau was as an aid to county-agent county-agent work, it was quickly realized that it has a broader field, and now it Is coming to be recognized as the official offi-cial agricultural body Interested in promoting all that pertains to a bettor bet-tor and more prosperous rural life. How to Organize. Farmers Interested In organizing county central bodies to work for better bet-ter agriculture may obtain plans and other information from their state extension ex-tension director nt the state agricultural agricul-tural college, or from the states relations rela-tions service. United States department depart-ment of agriculture. Finding Good Ground Water. Good ground water is the Ideal supply sup-ply for farms, according to Farmers Bulletin 011, "Water Systems for Farm Homes," recently Issued by the United States department of agriculture. agricul-ture. Any fanner about to put down a deep or expensive well, nud who 13 uncertain of the depth and the quantity quan-tity or quality of the water likely to be encountered, should describe fully the location and conditions of his project to national or state geological authorities and ask for advice. Times without number, wells have been sunk to great depths In the belief that eventually a plentiful supply would be reached, only to find that water was not there, or that it was unlit for j use, or that u nn :v hole or sump had been created which served but to drain water from relatively near tho surface. There is no short cut and no better guide In this matter than Information as to the kind, thickness, porosity, and dip of the strata of the region and of the results obtained In neighboring wells, study of the land slopes and character of the vegetation, vegeta-tion, and examination for evidences of seeps and springs. Regarding the list; of a forked willow, wil-low, hazel, or peach stick for locating underground water, it can be said safely the method is without merit, although so-called forked-stick artists from their experience and observation of surface conditions usually are better bet-ter able to Judge of the probabilities of ground water than Is the average person not thus trained. So also, there Is little to recommend certain patented automatic water tinders which are based upon the possible, but largely conjectural, proposition dial electrical exchanges between the earth and atmosphere are stronger in the vicinity of subterranean waters. .l,.t,4,.l,.l,.'..t.l..I..I..l..l..l..H.'.j.H..H..l-l.j. S HOW TO TRANSFER BEES t d i, 'The keeping of bres In box- H hives or log "gums" is unprolil- able. 'Tin? care that bees need In order to gather n fair crop of honey can bo given only If the beekeeper Is able to examine the J rt the bees and to move the combs as needed. 4. 4 Probably one-third of all the J bees In the Hulled Slales are In 4 hives without movable combs, J ami to assist the owners of such . colonics to get them In proper J hives the United Slates depart- meiil: of agriculture has pre- J X pared Fanners' Bullelln HOT, "Transferring Bees to Modern 4 .Hives." Various methods are f X given, some one of which will J H be possible to any beekeeper, so Hint (here Is no reason for de- h lay In making the bees produc- X "v- Unless the bees are properly J X managed after transfer there Is 4 Utile advantage In movable- frame hives. This requires a 4 sludy of beekeeping as well as J 4 prompt ness and care. Dlrec- ,j. j J (Ions for bundling bees are given V . j In other publications of Hie de j "JJ pn rl inent. ,j ; t-.-i- i !.-i -i-t -!-i-!-i-i-i-r : ; :! !-' |