The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-27
TEST FARM PROVING
ITS VALUE TO STATE
Charlotte County Already Repaid
for Her Enterprise.
PLANTS GROWN FOR SHOW
Many Varieties Demonstrate Their
AdaptabiIity to soiI-Manager Heiges
WelI-Suited to Position-Commis~
sioner koiner Factor Into Success

Tho State Test Farm Is now beyond a
venture. It's value to the State Is GER
tain and known quantity. The farm has
already proven a blessing to Charlotte
county, which had enterprise enough
to give it to the State, even though 1t
had to borrow money to do so.
That the State has such an expert
mental station and bureau Of practical
information is due largely to Mr.. G. w.
Koiner. che Commissioner OF Agricul-
ture He uurtured the offer CT Charlotte
until the transfer OF. the property, and
in the hands of one of the most expert
enced and scientific farmers in the
country. Professor Hedges. formerly OF
Pennsylyania, and United States peTnoi-
ogist. Professor Hedges has almost
transformed the place since last summer
when he took charge. lie is ono OK the
few men of the country who combine q
scientific and practical knowledge ot
agriculture.
BEGAN WORK AT ONCE.
When Professor Hedges came to the
farm last summer 1t was too late 10
get many crops in the ground. ana nttle
was done DeyOlu SSL1ia6 .iio fAo~
shape for work this year.
INT during last winter the manager
residence was greatly improved. several
Thousand dollars being spent IN add
lions and improvements. One or the
conveniences is meeting room for the
Board of Agriculture.
But before spring had hardly CONE o..
Manager Heiges was astir settlns reaoy
to put things In the groanhh e anu a da to
the soil Of the farm, hence large Pal
Of the State. ~. os,,e.
Twentv-six varieties of wheat. corn: test
cd with twelve varieties of fertilizers;
winter oats, twenty-five varieties OF straw
berries, wine berries, forty-hve varleues
Of figs. imported from sauna ist w nd hearty
tobacco under cover and In open air -, and n
sunlight; first and second crops OF l1aSt
potatoes the latter to be used for seed,
sweet potatoes. sugar beets, mangel wur-
eel beets. twelve kinds Of Intel beans.
early Egyptian corn. which grows IN a
short season; a number of kinds OF peas
alfalfa, the richest hay feed known to
the farmer: a great number of varieties
of watermeons and canteloupes:
SEASON NOT FAVORABLE.
The season has been very dry. and this
has affected the crops on the State farm
considerably, but still they are the. best
in Charlotte county. The corn will make
forty DuSlelS 10 LIS dCIS, eiliu ZIG "liCd'
twenty bushels to the acre. The tobacco
under cover did not turn out much. the
weather remaining too cool to bring about
a good growth.
One of the greatest benefits Of the farm
comes in the person of Prof Heiges him
self The farmers from every section OF
the county come to him for information.
Those who live at a distance spend the
day. and many confidential talks are spent
with the manager over this and that way
of securing the best returns from the
land with a given seeding and fertilizing.
Mr.. Koner, the Commissioner of Agri-
culture has made the Test Farm one of
his pets He is doing everything in his
power to make it benefit to the farm
ers of the State. Next year he purposes
to have farmers institutes there and run
every section of the State may attend and
also see what is being done.