The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-18
NORTH END VIEW OF DAM.

greater return for their toll than
heretofore.
This work shows also that there is
no necessity for the general deteriora-
ton of farms and the too common
poverty of the rural masses.
Briefly stated, the salient features
OF the rural lessons given by the
farm demonstration work are as fol-
lows:
/. Better; drainage of the soil. q.
deeper and more pulverized seed
bed: deep fall plowing with imple-
ments that viii not bring the subsoil
to the surface. 8. The use OF seed
of the best variety, intelligently Sc
lected and carefully stored. 4. In
cultivated crops. giving the rows and
the plants in the rows space
suited to the plant. the soil and the
climate. 5. Intensive tillage during
the growing period of the crops. g..
The importance of a high content OF
humus In the soil; the use of legumes.
barn-yard manure. farm refuse and
commercial fertilizers.,7. The value OF
crop rotation and winter cover crop
on Southern farms 8. The accom-
phshing OF more work in day by
each laborer by using more horse-
power and better implements. 9. The
stock to the extent of utilizing all
the waste products and idle lands OF
the farm. 10. The production OF all
food required for men and animals
on the farm. II. The keeping OF an
account with each farm, in order to
know from which the gain or loss
arises.
School for the Man With the Plow.
The demonstration work may be re-
garded as system OF adult education
given to the farmer upon his farm
by means of object lessons In the soil.
prepared under his observation and
generally by his own hand.
The teaching of object lessons In the
South Is more effective when 1t is
simple, direct and limited to few
common field crops, such as corn, cow
peas and oats, for instance, SO that
the comparisons may be evident and
accepted at glance II general Sue
cess can be secured with these stand
ard crops further diversifcations fol-
low as a natural result.
The instruction given for tho first
year mainly refers to the method OF
making a larger and more profitable
crop at reduced cost OF production.
and consists of four lessons called
,the primary lessons"-First, the best
seedbed and how to make It: second, 4
the best seed of its variety and how
to obtain 1t; third. frequent and main-
ly shallow cultivation of the crop, !
and how and why; fourth. t..e Us OF
better teams and tools to secure more
economic production.
The principal defects In the seed bed
for farm crops in; the South are shall
low breaking (plowng), failure tor
fully pulVerize the soil before plant
Ing. insufficient humus In the soil, and
defective drainage. Such seedbed
can never produce maximum crops. 1T 4
carries insuftic cient moisture for periods
of drought and has an excess under
heavy Precipitation, During most OF
the period OF growth the plants are
nourished, either from
inability to obtain sufficient food
through lack Of moisture or a too
diluted nourlshment through excess o III
moisture The RESULTS a small crop.
The simple remedy is deeper breaking
In the fall thorough use OF plowing
and subsoiling, plowlng under green
crops at frequent periods and & the
Of the drainage by
aitches or tiles.
Seeds, and How to Get Them,
Prior to the commencement Of the
.elnonstrations work., the average
farmer inS the south gave little at
tention tolssead selection. Corn, for
INSTANCE, was scnfSd ms the spring
from the crib. without testing. The
result was IN poor stan q Ia condltion
that can rarely be rene a led.
The demonstration work requires
= IContlnued on Third PaEe.l - IA