The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-12
Feature Address Before Virginia
State Farmers
Institute.
EXCURSION 10 MODEL FARM.
Delegates Enjoy Day at Ivor,
Then Return to Their
Homes.
Times-Dispatch Bureau,
100 North Sycamore Street,

Petersburg. Va, August II.
OF all the addresses delivered be-
fore the Virginia state Farmers IN
stitute. that OF Professor w. r.
Beattie. of the United States Depart
ment OF Agriculture, last night on
Peanut Growing was one OF the
most interesting. Like the kindred
subject OF "Tobacco-G Growing" which
had been previously discussed. 1t was
one that very closely touched the
farmers OF southside Virginia, where
the crop Is a staple one.
Professor Beattte was thoroughly
acquainted with his subject In ali
its details. having made speciality
OF the study OF the cultivation OF pea
nuts. He has just returned from a
tour through the peanut sections or
the South. extending through the Gulf
States, where the planters are awaken
Ing to the Importance Of this crop.
While In the Gulf States. he stated,
only about 1000 to 5000 acres We're
planted in peanuts last year, mainly
for hog-feeding purposes. this year
the area has been extended to 10000
acres. And he took occasion to solemn
5ly warn Virginia planters that IL they
want to keep the lead in raising and
Banding the peanut crop, they must
y, up and doing.
Professor Beattie stated that Europe
annually consumes in the manufacture
(; OF OIL alone double the quantity OF
peanuts raised IN the United States.
the supplies coming from Africa There
are ot2enough peanuts raised in this
country, considering the demands for
other purposes, to Justify the estab-
lishment OF an oil factory.
Professor ;Beattie went into the de-
tails OF the successful cultivation OF
the peanut crop, the preparation and
fertilization OF the soil, its proper
drainage, the necessity OF the rotation
Of crops, etc. He condemned the habit
of some farmers In growing peanuts
on the same land two three years
in succession, not only as diminishing
the yield. but as exhausting the soil.
Once in three or four years, after
proper rotation of other crops will
conduce to the highest yield of pea
nuts.
He gave various formulas as the
best fertilizers for peanut land. and
dwelt especially on the Importance of
ers ere prone to neglect this matter,
as important as that OF selecting seed
corn. His advice to each planter was
to go through his fields frequently and
stake off the most vigorous OF the
plants, and from these, as far as pos
sible. select his seed. BY this selection
of the best, his crops will soon so
improve as to give greater yield. He
thought sixty bushels per acre fair
yield. but this could be Increased. The
average yield per acre in the United
States according to statistics OF the
last census was only thirty-four bushels
per acre. ST
Excursion to Iyor.
This morning it required special
train OF fourtee ncoaches to carry the
members OF the institute to the model
farm of the Norfolk and Western
Railway Company at Ivor. whore prac-
teal demonstrations Of clearing and
iplowing land and other modern farm
ing We're given. The members were
entertained at luncheon and with
amusement at the farm, and returned
to the city this afternoon to dispense
70 their homes. greatly pleased with
their visit.
The institute was a body OF highly
educated and experienced and pro-
gressive farmers. The addresses were
all Of q high order OF merit. and great
ly educatiye and Instructive. The re-
gret is that the farmers of this sec
ton generally did notSspare the time
to attend the sessions and to learn
something Of The modern system OF
farming.