The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-10

a thing of the past; but her son, VINO
had been absent for several years, was
in this section when the last crop or po-
tatoes was being dug and being called
upon by some OF the growers to pass
Judgment he pronounced many that were
placed before him as unquestlon,a,ply ine
potato originated and successfully cultl-
waited by his mother for many years,
thus settling the disputed question Tor
the present Mt least.
One OF the most valuable features Of the
Industry not only for this section but for
all Virginia is that 1t opens n profitable
method Of dlsposlngs of the old straw " TICKS
that lay out In tie sun anu
rain and air on SO many rarms
until all but a small residue
ia carried off by the wlnd-an all
most total loss to the owner Of tho land.
These unsightlY heaps OF old straw are
flt companions Of bramble grown fences
and bush lined brooks that so often DIS
tlgure what would otherwise DO very
attractive looking country. Whlle MIS-.
Jefferson I1mbrey has long since passed 70
another world she has solved TOR inc
people OF this section II for no other' Two
profit and how to probably dispose OF
what hitherto had been u great WASTE
on many a farm, The margin IN the profit
and loss columns Is very small on most
farms "a 1t Is In most other occupations,
and there is many a farmer milking the
hind teat" to-day by reason OF inc "siste
OH the farm.
POTATO EXPERIENCE.
THE following experiences III potato
growing are not given on account OF thelt
veracity but under the impression that
.grown-ups" like grown-up fairy stories.
Ono farmer relates how he planted his
notatoes on the sod one year without
,,sInr pillow, spade OF. other breaking tool,
Ho laid them on the sod IN rows at the
proper distance apart, covering theIl OVER
with straw and after they hnd gotten up
nicely he decided that he did not nave
enough mulchng over them, 30 ne COY,
ered them, over heavily with straw
second time When they had passed
few leaves through this addltlonul coy,
ering no was still unsatished ana spIeuu
q third layer of straw over theA potatoss'
In the fall no took out Of that patch lne
largest crop of potato lle ever suw'
Each vine produced large h'lt " po.a-
toes under each layer or straw WaE4hs
three hills to each vine, ~,
Another farmer felt very much as
.couruged all season long over the potatoes
that he had taken such pains IN the pre-
norntion. planting and cultlyatloni 70
see sue hpoor delicate looking tops nor
one over six inches high, But when no
came to dig them tnere WAS not tp wv,
enough on the piece Of land where they
we've planted to spread them out to dry
before putting them away They had
been so busy making an. unequalled
number of big fine tubers that the de-
partmcnt above the ground had been
neglected. "a.
section and the basis of Its wealth. Tho
people all take q deep Interest In every,
thing that affects this industry, and the
report that am effort Is quietly being
made made III Richmond to move the Depart,
mont Of Agriculture from Its present
quarters In order to put the Law Library
in Its place and to shove the Department
of Agriculture on We third story OF the
Library building In the room now used
as tbs law library, and which would DO
too small or to bury 1t from the public
In the basement Of the capltoli arouses
no little Indignation among all the cit'-