The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-01-25
n gf5flt JlsNflJFl5 F!I9l9 ? = h !.
sMESsAGE4To w. VA. FARMERS.

EssAGEzTo w. VA. FARMERS.
Dr. Thomas sShawrfor many years
1 professor %ot animal husbandry in the
UnlYerslty$o Of Minnesota, spent last
week sat Morsantown featuring to tue
students Sof$the agricultural college Of
4 thes vest Virginia University Before
leaving for his home he: gave out M
interyie ws whica Is 50 full Of interest
for West Virginia farmers that We
Reproduce st Tor the benefit Of our read
I els. DR. Shaw said:
Tie agricultural possibilities Of
Vest Virginia are great. In my opin-
I ION me Industry Of greatest promise.
the oneS that should get the most at.
ltention sis sheep husbandry. My
reasons for this opinion are first.
tile fact that you can Craze sheep
nearly ali the year In this climate:
second that the grasses are OF the
best; thru, that there is ample shade
ndlgwater, Sand. ~ properly managed.
the 3asheep! would lertlllze the soil;
fourth, the $hilly land is peculiarly
adapted toSthat kind Of farming.
~ ~ .
asThes land In this State should not
be cultivatetl: because Of tho loss Of
SOL S$andS fertility. The; aim should be
To- increase 4 the productive power Of
\ Tue grasses without blowing. II is
nv Judgment that this productive
4 power could be increased so per cent.
blythe 1lidtclous management Of sheep.
sI5think& there is an excellent op.
porlunity$ for the growing of winter
lambs. December lambs could be
grown here and put onsthe market at
saStime when they would bring top
prices. u St5 K a.,
ssThei next industry Of greatest
= promise forSthls State is that of pro.
dlcing milk, This should be done
on valley Gland, with adjacent hill
land for grazing. Good cows SHOULD
prodaee 5000 pounds Of milk a year.
This sretalls Eat about FIVE cents n
pound. (which wonld mean gross
1sYehue of5s250 =, year for each COW,
ut Sls$ my Judgment that there Is
notfmuch money In growing beef as
tsis ordinarily grown in this State.
The people here usually sell their
heel at thres years and over. II the
IScosts 81 the investment. the value Of
the pastnregand winter feed are con-
sldered, twill appear, | think, that
BEEF is grown In West Virginia at a
loss 3iiSS y 4 :,
Money can ba made ut growing
beef III this State. however. provided
the calves are reared OH SKINNED
milk and by-prodncts, forced along
isand sold underline age Of 20 MONTHS
Cattle should then weigh from 1000
to 4. 200 pounds, and would bring top
prlcesft n&the markets.
----.tftI. . 70 r..
The hirdSindustry Il that Of poul
Try forSwhich the State Is yer? high.
iySgadaptel because Of the mild char.
+ acter OF the climate. anil the ease with
which food can be grown, -
SSaSThe2 nfxtss in order probably Is
fruit sindllstrytefor which there is nj.
ways ID sty%class market In the
towns and elites that are sprnging
5lp$Son, every hand. There Is also
Sgreats room for truck farming and the
! growing OF very rrofitable crops Of
potatoes. 1nSmy Judgment the farm
Sersf West Virginia should study to
raise products that will not come in
onflict2withl those grown on cheaper
4 grodnds slnjStne west. The western
farmers can produce more c.leap!y
lnaEy Kinds Of grain; also cheese and
ss6utter. But because Of the cost of
freight they cannot harm The West
Virginia farmers in raising milk. hay.
stpoultry,$frult and small produce