The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-12-31
A WISE RAILROAD r1OVE.
One Hundred Experimental Farms.

One Hundred Experimental Farms.
The Seaboard Air Line has taken one
step, which seems to be in advance OF
every other railroad in the South, look
ing to the benefit of the agricultural in
terests of the country tributary to it and
to the enlargement of it's efforts to at
tract immigration and capital for invest
ment This is to be found in the organl-
Zation of plans for the establishment OF
100 experimental stations along the
line of it's road, giving one experimental
point to every ten miles OF its system. 1t
is proposed by the management to take
100 SIN all tracts of land immediately
along the line of its road and under the
direction OF the best experts to utilize
these bodies of land for showing what
can be done in the diversification Offarm
interests and for the growing OF farm
products not now raised In the South.
The experiments OF this company in
proving that hops and other products
not heretofore raised in that section can
be successfully grown IN that territory
have shown to the officers the wisdom OF
very greatly charging the scope OF these
experimental operations. These expert
mental stations will not be large enough
to be a financial burden to the railroad,
to amply demonstrate the best methods
OF crop-growing and the best crops
adapted to the various sections OF the
country. 1t is proposed to experiment
with a large number of crops not now
produced i'll that territory, such as hops,
broom corn, New England beans, celery,
sugar beets and other products may be
made to profitably diversity the agricul-
turai interests OF the region between
Norfolk and Atlanta.
The South annually spends immense
| sums for products of this kind, which are
brought from other sections, and which
could be raised at home to even better
advantage than elsewhere. In taking
| the lead in this kind of educational
| work, the Seaboard deserves the heart
| lest commentator OF every one interest
| ed in Southern advancement. These eX-
detrimental stations will not only prove
! OF immense value to all farmers now To-
Gated along the line of the road, bnt will
be the means of showing to thousands OF
prospective settlers from other sections
what can be done in the South, and will
| thus be the means of greatly increasing
! immigration to that region.
This, however, is only Il part of the
plans of the Seaboard looking to the
development OF the territory along its
| line. 1t is proposed to organize a de-
partment, which will not only have
charge of the experimental stations, but
which will also give careful attention to
which such products should be shipped,
aiding the farmers in securing the great
est returns. Included in this general
work will also be special efforts to i'm
prove the grade of the livestock on adj
jacent farms.
In connection with these plans, there
will also be established an industrial de-
partment in charge of Mr.. John T. Pat
rick, of Pine Bluff, n. C., who for some
years was State immigration Agent OF
North Carolina, and who has of recent
years been identified with extensive inn
migration and development work at
Southern Pines and other points along
the line of this road.
This featare OF the work will take in
the question of making known the indus
trial resources and capabilities of the
country and of aiding to the utmost ex-
tent in the development of manufacture
ing interests.
While one or two other Southern
roads have each established an expert
mental farm, and while IL number Of
Southern roads have immigration and
industrial departments, we do not be-
Iieve that any o he has laid out such a
broad plan as has been outlined by the
management of the Seaboard system. 1t
was to the success of the experimental
farm of the Georgia Southern & Flori da
Railroad that much of the immigration
along the country reached by that road
5 was due. When Major Glessner was car
rying such large numbers of Western
fruit growers and Others to that terri
tory and making such great success o
his work in attracting population ant
advancing the interests of the country
his success was mainly owing latter Civ
ing full credit to his untiring energy anC
good iudgment) to experimental farm
which had been operated SO successfully
: But this was only one extensive farm
and could not be seen by everybody. Thu
Seaboard on the contrary, in having OF
smaller farms, carries the work to a
: much greater extent and with much bet
: ter promise of larger results.-Manufact1
| rers' Record