The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1905-05-19
EXPERIMENTAL FARMS FOR LA.
David A Bodie Interviewed by Times.
Record Man mt Jennings.

Record Man mt Jennings.
David A. Brodie, of Washington.
D. c., a, representative OF the United
States department of agriculture, was
a visitor to Jennings Tuesday. In
speaking of the experiment farms that
are being established throughout the
state by the department OF agrlcul-
ture, Mr.. Brodie told T!mes-Record
reporter that he wished to correct the
impression that the department is pay
ING farmers to run these diversified
farms. He said:
II find in some places that l visit
that the people have a wrong impress
sion of the nature of diverslticatlon
farms that are being established IN
this state in connection with the state
experiment station and the U. 5. De-
partment of agriculture. In many
cases the idea prevails that the gov
eminent is buying or leasing farms
and employing superintendent TO
run them. This is entirely wrong.
The object of these farms is to pro-
mote a more diversified system OF
farming throughout the cotton belt
that at present, prevails.
"The plan is to look for farmer
} who is already making q suscess
along lines that the Department wishes
to encourage if such farmer can be
found in the community. II he VIII
cooperate with US, we study his meth
cd of work and if possible enlarge
and improve it along lines which
seem best adap ed to the conditions
of the section in which he lives. A
} system of record keeping is establish
ed so that the methods of cultivation
of the soil, the dates of planting ano
harvesting are kept on blanks furn
ished by the department. Records O
the various crops so to yield, market
ing at are also kept so that the COS
, of production can be obtained as vel
, as the receipts from the crop IN orde
to make it easier for him to make an
{ changes that have been decided upo
such as the introduction Of seeds {
Z forage crops not generally grown her
Z and which ia some cases are eXper
sive as we'll as to recompense him fc
2 the extra time required in keeping tt
B records he is furnished with $780,
- worth of seed or fertilizer a year IL
lime not to exceed three years.
SIN other words the farmers simp
runs his own farm as he did beto
'uy with the officers of the state Expel
the ment station and the Department
it; agriculture to advise and consult wi
t is as to what is best for his own indivi
ar. ual interests and forft.
you owe hope to show that such a S!
'tal tenn of farming pays and is more to
vice depended upon than a one crop syste
"During the three years this
two running, institutes will be held and
int farm used to demonstrate what can
dill done.
the If possible excursion rates Will
obtained from the railroads so q
res sarmers from distance can come
ice: these institutes and look over W.
not where everything will be explained
'tter deteil. In this way we hope to br
the farm into public so that all n
at know just what is being done and hi
by a When questioned as to what ext
i'es diversified farming might be carr
Lon9 on in this section Mr.. Brodie said
w., 81 have visited quite a number
the farms in this vicinity and
lust as good cattle, hogs and chick
M as can be found anywhere. | h
yon,, seen all kinds of vegetables, c.
o.. sorghum, coWpeas ana other lol
crops doing we'll and oats are
ceptionally good where the gro
SER has been properly prepared. In
nday there is every indication that
lock; greater novelty of crops can be or
WI WIZ than is now generally cultivated
more than that you have the adv
,,..,. age over those living farther nor
A being able to grow two to three c
w a year on the same ground and
q a winter pasture beside. With
@ advantages it seems reasonable
r. a more general system OF divers
4 agriculture ought to succeed IN
x South.