The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-12
REAL FARMING IN
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Loudoun. Notoway. Nelson, Franklin
and Bedford.
Nineteen local agents are required
as demonstrators to assist the state
agent and his state deputy and so
great has been the increased interest
among farmers in the work nearly all
of these local agents are kept busy
all the time. only five of the number
being on half-time duty. All of these
agents are paid by the New York Edu-
cation Board, and not a single farmer
in any OF the twenty nine countie.
brought into the demonstration work
has been called upon so far 10 con-
tribute cent towards his own agrt-
cultural education or that OF his sons
and daughters.
How the Thing Is Worked.
But let me explain as best ] can ca
.Sdemonstrator" must ind his stu
dent" and he does not force his at
tentions upon any man, for in this
school there is nothing compulsory In
the beginning. A farmer. young or
old. who is doing business in the same
way his ancestors did for several hum
dred years back and is eking out q
naeagre existence while impoverlshinE
his lands. is approached and asked II
he wants 10 make his farm pay twice
or three times as much as 1t has been
and at the same time become more
valuable in the matter of improved
land or course, he wants to do that,
but then comes rub, for the agents
will not do business with him unless
he will consent to follow instructions,
and some old fogies and some young
sters with the big head will not give
that consent, and so 1t is seen that
the first business OF the demonstrator
Is to cultivate" the farmer himself.
But now, let us suppose farmer
has consented to become student
First he Is sized up and demonstration
work is Gu, out for him according to
his capacity, that is to say, his hnan-
cial. Intellectual and energetic ca
pacity. That capacity. in the judg-
ment of the State agent, may fit any
where from one to ten acres Tor
demonstration purposes. Perhaps the
average capacity so far met UP with
is about three acres.
Requirements From Students.
In the first place, the farmer stu
dent" is required to follow implicitly
the instructions of the demonstrated
return he is guaranteed profit from
the ground upon which he is school
| ing" during the three years, and al
| the end of the term his three or more
| acres will be in first-class condition
| for future crops Those instructions
are as to how and when to pillow, how
| and when to harrow, how and wher
| to fertilize how and when and what
| to seed. how and when to cultivate
| how and when to harvest, etc.
or course, weather and other condi-
| tions may require variation here and
| there as to these instructions, and
| hence the demonstration has to visit
| each and every "student" a least once
| a month while the good work is going
| on and give his instructions accord
| inclv. The student is required tc
keen accurate accounts, report regu-
| larry as to progress, and in the tlna
wind-up, after harvest, to report re
suits as to what happened on the lane
and in the market where the crop wa
converted into cash,
Sandy's Methods.
/ Mr. sandys methods. which wer,
! approyed by the Education Board. am
which have proven so successful AM
/ beneficial. were not drawn out o
books and in no sense are they to b.
considered in the light of so-calle,
scientific farming. His methods ar
/ the results of his own experience. as
saw for myself on his own farm an
| as I have talked about and explained
In another article In this issue of TIL
Industrial Section However, briefl.
/ stated, his l..ethod is this: corn tn
first year, crimson clover the secon
year. grass the third year. Prepare
ton of the land for the corn begin
with the plow away back yonder "las
. year" crimson clover goes In TIL
ground before the corn is harvested
and then wonderful blowing In of tn
crimson clover and preparation Q
ground for the grass Of the third yea
must follow before the grass Is seeded
The hay that follows for the third yea
Is the real money-maker. and the fourt
J year. which Is also hay crop veal
is altogether profit for no work
; needed and no expense except that Q
gathering and marketing the crop. !
incurred, And after this process tn
! old worn-out land Is at the end OF tn
fourth year in splendid condition I
bring anything that may be planted !
. ,,ro,tJa. courca III 1SlNtreate