The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-05-23
s'I' NEW SOUTH.

] Z y 81 hfT-
that the agricultural stations OF the
United States are comforting on tho
farmers. | wanted a little informa.
ton as to handling the soil Of the
Sand Hill Country. The affable man
in charge led me into a room filed
with shelves, and taking catalogue
from drawer he commenced to run
II. over. y
"You want some information on
strawberries. Well, here is the
Strawberry Bulletin. Here is one on
Grapes and Peaches. Here is one
that tells OF the relative values Of
horse and cattle feed. May be you
have your. building done, but this
bulletin on low.cost barns is a good
thing" So he ratified on, bring
Ing down from shelf with each
suggestion some bulletin prepared
by an expert, until l was laden with
printed information. 4 wanted some
idea Of the. Gotten crop Of the State.
He dug up a bulletin. Another told
OF the water powers of my section.
Another treated of poultry. Not a
question that interests the farmer
has been overlooked. These bulle-
tins are free, and they are authority.
They are prepared by men who are
specialists in their lines, and who
have the experience. Every State
of the Union has such an expert.
mental statement, making investi.
cations for the benefit. Of the farmer,
and publishing free bulletins for the
dissemination of that information.
The General Government at Wash
lngton does the same thing, and Ito
farmer should attempt to carry on
his business without having his
name on the mailing list Of the State
Agricultural Station. And If he
hears Of some bulletin on a subject
in which he Is particularly inter-
ested that Is published in another
State, he will get that by applying
for IT, The North Carolina farmer
and that means the farmer in any
other State as well-has at his com.
mand the accumulated wisdom and
experience of the most capable men
OF the United States. The big man.
ufacturing concerns employ special.
lists at high salaries for every line Of
work. The farmer may call for the
opinion of men equally capable by
the expenditure Of two cents for a
stamp. II strange insect invades
his vineyard or orchard he captures
Mr.. Bug and sends him to Raleigh,
to Washington to Ithaca, or to any
station in the United States. The
agricultural experimental work Of
the country is thoroughly demo.
cratic. Back will come a letter with
complete answer to all questions,
and the family history, pedigree and
character Of the insect; his habits,
depredatlons, good quaIities-if he
has any-and whole lot that you
never thought about. And the tone
Of the information comes as il you
had conferred a favor by asking the
questions.
The Government and State chem.
lists have analysed the soil on which
crops are planted, and they will tell
an inquirer that one section has toe
little potash in the SOIL another has
too much alkali; they will tell an
other why he should put lime on his
ground to correct the acid character
and so on. Another is advised abou
choice of clover or cowpeas for hi.
latitude. If you think the cameo
goods you buy are adulterated, 20,
send some of them to the station, O
! merely write to ask advice. Likel,
: the chemists have already tested tn,
: thing yon have In mind and bacl
will come bulletin showing the ties
Of what you inquire about and
g thousand other things OF which yo
had no suspicion.
: The farmer gets more, or can re
more for nothing than any othe
. man living. If mill mans machine
: go wrong he sends for a machinis
: and pays big bill for time and ma
= terial. If my Strawberries run I
: double flowers and fail to fruit,
. address letter to the Department
= OF Agriculture, Washington, D. c
> and high-priced men, paid by III
" Government, write to tell me VIII
= and what to do. My neighbor' wan
to know about plums, and he write
to the station in New York, becaus
= New York raises good plums. +
= gets his information.
- These things are helping II
y farmer, and they are helping Il
~ DoOr tvb{tn taoauca ~