The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-08-13
RAILROAD HOST OF
VIRGINIA FARMERS
N. and ". Gives Demonstrates
Showing How Stumps Are
Blasted With Dynamite.
EXPERIMENTAL STATION
MECCA FOR HUNDREDS
Members of State Institute Spend
Day Near Ivor and Inspect
Scientific Methods Prac-
ticed by Company.
by JOHN II. MADISON,
staff

NA NOhh~SfrsA&NAt~
IVOR. VA. August 13.--Scientffic
farming III Virginia received strong
impetus Thursday, when upward OF
1000 farmers from various sections
OF the State were guests OF the Nor
folk and Western railway at the roads
experimental farm near lvor, midway
between Petersburg and Norfolk.
The day served as a fitting close
to the seventh annual session of the
Virginia State Farmers Institute,
which convened in Petersburg Tues
day. Delegates to the convention
having disposed OF ali routine business
morning in fine, 5ovial spirits for Ivor
station. Many OF the farmers Wer2-
accompanied by their wives and other
members OF their family and every
body vas talking crops when the train
OF thirteen coaches pulled out from
Petersburg in the wake the Cam
non Ball soon after S:S0 A. M.
The Norfolk and Western farm.
consisting of i.2s4 acres. ia located
in the heart of the largest peanut
producing section Of Virginia and
into this vicinity some OF the earliest
settlers drHteG across from Jamestown
Island, less than twenty miles dis
tant, and esta biis..ed homes 500 YEARS
ago. The farm was purchased by the
railroad company nearly half a GEN.
fury ago fer the nre"ood growing
thereon to tic used as fuel In its en-
gines. In those days the road was
known as the Atlantic. Mississippi and
Ohio, having been projected and built
by General William Malone. OF Con-
federate fame, United States Senator
from Virginia In reaGjuster times.
First of Its Kind.
Four years ago the Norfolk and
Western turned the farm over to its
industrial department with a view Of
establishing a modern railway demons
stration farm, the first of its kind In
the country. The land was by no
means the best that could be found
and the soil composing ii below tha
average. This fact. however, is said
to have largely governed In the selec-
ton OF 1t for the purpose in view.
To-day more than 100 acres stand
cleared and under cultivation.
Occupying a conspicuous place on
the farm near the railroad tracks il =
large, commodious l4-room building.
the home of Manager S. III, Geyer.
who had had wide experience In the
West before coming to Virginia. He
is a practical farmer and creamery
man and has great faith In the future
of farming in Virginia
Mr.. Geyer was on hand to greet the
farmers when the heavily loaded Spa.
ciaI stopped in front of the place and
his guests of the day began to aitEht.
Mr.. +. IL. La Baume, agricultural and
industrial agent of the company. had
come down with the party Of farmers
and he, with Mr.. Geyer's hearty as
sistance and cooperation. proceede4
10 make his guests feel at hons.
| Blasting of stumps on q freshly clear
ed piece OF ground near the farms
house was already in progress, an0
this first engaged the attention OF th@
visitors. They were warned not 80
get too close to the blasting for fea1s
a stump or two might fall on thc0
heads after mounting skyward SONS;
hundred or two feet. However, they
! were given an opportunity from time
| TO time OF inspecting the result of tbs
| work at close range.
| Blasting Excites Interest.
! While not altogether new to many
| OF the farmers, the blasting wAoN
watched with great interest. A hol0
was first drilled into the stump -
near as possible 70 the ground. and
| into this hole was inserted dynA-
mite cartridge manufactured by th0s
| powder company that made Delaware
| famous a fuse led TO an electric
| charged battery some feet away, and
| the rest was easy. Frequently Sew
eral stumps were blown up simultaAs
neously. the dynamite stick in each
being connected with the battery ~
| different fuses, q
The laundering detonations jarr0A
| the ground for some distance away
and caused the unsuspeeting to ut "
and take good notice.
| What interested the farmers chie1yl
was the cost of blowing up stn9tas
stump. This was estimated at lit
| tie over forty cents. The opinion 49,
ventured by some that the expeumAs
was greater than the old pullin8-np:
methods. They were impressed. how
ever. with the rapaidity at which the
stumps disappeared. even II foNks
troublesome roots perhaps rematne0s
in the ground. Some OF the stump1;
were practically blown into atonnoS
while others OF more stubborn qa41~s
! ity were shattered Into larger fra&~3
ments. M
Dynamite Opens Ditch. ss 60
| Later In the day an exhibition g
ditch diggings by the same methods
/ was given. In this instance dynan1teM;
sticks were placed in the ground AGs
short intervals apart for distance ~
about eighty feet. Explosion Of tn
dynamite revealed well defined dt4txx|
/ about two feet In depth and ne90tmm3
| but little additional touch from h918s
4 man hands to seree all the purp0o&
for which q ditch OF Its kind ~ l1sg2
/ tended. The cost OF opening y dr4x1H
by this method was placed ~ ab64&
So. Some of the farmers thought tnt
| cost tribe high, but they were nta4
than pleased with the quick work
the dynamite. q. s3z2
| Then came the exhibition Of
mammoth gasolene traction plows 19
q width or ten feet and having Al
/ l4-inch shares. This c4hfbttto1
cited tho greatest interest ard
] front or the farm honse.
chine looked more like = h3s6Eo
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