The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1908-11-09
DEMONSTRATION FARMS.

Arrangements Deln8 Nlaoe "
Establish Ten or a Dozen
Farms in Robeson-Mr. r. E.
Lewis to Have Charge of Work
for the County Methods and
Importance of the Work.
Mr.. c.. r. Hudson, State agent
for the Farmers Cooperative
Demonstration Work. which is
connected with the Bureau OF
Plant Industry, Department of
Agriculture, Washington, was in
Lumberton last Saturday confer
ring with Mr.. K. E. Lewis, Of
Saddle Tree township, who has
been appointed to take charge OF !
the work outlined below in this /
county. Mr.. Hudson makes his
headquarters in Statesville. At
the request of the editor of The
Robesonian he has written for
this paper the following in regard
to the work it is proposed to do:
The United States Department
of Agriculture, through its Far
mers' Cooperative Demonstra-
ton Work, is now making ar
rangements to establish some ten
or a dozen demonstration farms
in this county. There will be
two or three on each of the pub
lie roads leading out from Lum-
berton. The methods pursued
on these farms will be such as
are advocated by the department.
The object of this work is to
have these object lessons to il
lustrate the best-known methods
of producing the standard farm
crops. Farmers can observe the
methods used and also see the re-
suits. These methods did not
all originate with the Department
of Agriculture, but have been
obtained from the most success
full farmers over the country.
Records will be kept on these
farms to show that crops can be
made at profit and to ascertain
the exact cost of producing a
bushel Of corn or a pound of cot
ton. Records kept of the work
for five years in the South show
conclusively that farmers who
have adopted the methods have
been greatly benefited by them.
Many of them are making from
fifty to a hundred per cent. more
profit than they formerly made.
1t is claimed by DR.. Knapp, a
practical old farmer who has
charge of the movement, that
there is no need for the
widespread deterioration upon
Southern farms nor the poverty
that exists with many of oul
farmers. The Southern farmer
can and will do better farming il
properly approached. There is
no reason why he should no
succeed.
This work will be extended t.
the whole county next season il
farmers show an interest in it
That would mean about hun
dred demonstration farms in thu
county, or several in every town
ship.
Mr.. R. E. Lewis, of Saddl,
Tree, has been selected to hav
charge of the work this season
He was selected because he i
considered a successful farmer
He has made fourteen bales O
cotton on twelve acres of Ian
that made only seven bales tn
first year he farmed it; he
making thirty to forty bushels q
corn per acre where only abou
fifteen bushels grew before. H
has thus brought his land to
high state of productivity an
made some money at the sam
time. This" said the speci;
agent appointing him, is SUI
cessful farming" Mr.. Lew
improves his land by thoroug
deep breaking and growing COW
peas in abundance. These al
two things strongly advocated /
the department. A meeting wi
be held here later to better a
quaint the people with the worl
Any who wish to take up Il
work can do so by conferrir
with Mr.. Lewis or by sendir
him their name and address al
stating how many acres in ca,
corn and cotton they propose
devote to the methods. Orc
narily, from one to five acres
each is what is advised.
This is an opportunity O
farmers have to get aid from t
department without expense
themselves.