The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-18

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STATIONS established in a county.
Where one can be placed in each
neighborhood the progress is rapid.
because the interest soon becomes in
tense. II only one or two demonstra-
tion farms are established in a coun-'
ty the work does not create interest
enough to arouse public sentiment and
produce at once strong opinion in
It's favor.
Advanced Courses In School.
AS soon as t..e primary lessons, as
above explained have been accepted
and tested by a farmer, a secondary
series is commenced. which includes:
/. Demonstrations in conserving and
enriching the soil by the use OF
legumes and winter cover crops. These
involve simple crop rotation and the
turning under OF green crops: also the
prevention OF soil waste by erosion.
2. The value and uses OF barnyard ma
nures and commercial fertilizers. ana
how to apply them. 8. Simple methods
OF farm drainage.
The third series OF lessons relates
20 better pastures and meadows. and
how to secure them: the most economic
b
or to produce flesh as supplement
to the pasture and meadow grasses
This line of instruction is necessary
because the economic production OF
farm crops depends in great meas
ure upon an economic support OF the
work teams.
The general method among the
small farmers of the South was to
depend mainly upon fodder and corn
! for their stock. Some had pastures
but rarely good pasture. This
| duction Of animals kept for work to
the smallest number possible. and q
| corresponding substitution OF hard
J labor. Modern methods OF Mrming re-
| quire considerable increase In the
| number and strength OF teams. Prof.
| table farming has become team and
| implement problem. The improved
| pasture and cover-cured hay furnish
| foods OF great economy. and are SUI
| fcientiy nutritious for the ordinary
/ support OF work stock, For heavy
| work a small addition OF grain to the
| ration is required.
| II 1t Is necessary in the interest OF
| economy to produce upon the farm
| the food for the work animals 1t Is
| still more important TO produce. as
far as possible, the food required by
! all the laborers and their families.
The family garden. the poultry and
the COW are great cash economizers
| and pocketbook conservers, and may
be classed with the better teams and
| tools as essential to better farm
| equipment
Boys Corn Clubs.
One OF the greatest problems before
the American people has been how to
| interest IN rural life and attach 20
the farm the young man who has
acquired liberal education and dis
played capacity for leadership. The
loss OF rural leaders by emigration to
the cities has been one of the most
serious retrogressive factors in our
whole civilization. The farmers. co.
operative demonstration work has
so!Veo tho problem. These young men
lei. the farm because they were re-
peueo by the hardships. excessive toll
ana meagre gains on the farm, and
were allured by a seemingly greater
opportunity to acquire wealth. fnf1u-
ence and position in the CITY. Tha
demonstration work undertakes 70
create In the schoolboy a love Of the
tarm and a new hope by showine tha
wonderful possibilities of the SOIL when
properly managed and the ease with
Wnlchwealth and distinction ara
acnieved In rural life when science
ano art Join hands. This is worked
out out oy cooperation of the demonstra
..on workers. the county superintend-
rural teacher.
The superintendent and teachers ar
sanize the schoolboys from ten 10
eighteen years OF age into clubs: the
demonstration work furnishes the pIan
OF organization and the instruction
tWhich the boys agree to- obserye).
the parents furnish the land, teams
and implements; the merchants ana
bankers provide the prize and the
local papers give the ptelicity. Each
BOY must personally work one acre
under the same regulations governing
| other contestants. The result OF 3o0
to 400 boys entering such contest In
a county arouses intense interest. me
boy. learns the way to raise corn. and
his appreciation OF the farm is greatly
| enhanced. In 1909 the boys in the
corn contest In one county In MIS-
1 slsslppi averaged a production OF "a
bushels OF corn per acre, while the
farmers averaged less than 90. IN
South Carolina one boy raised 152 L.:
bushels on measured acre, While the
State average was less than 49,
Two Viewpoints.
The farmers cooperative demon.
stration work may be regarded as a
method of increasing farm crops and
as logically the first step toward a
true uelift. or ~ may be considered
rural education lor boys and adults
by which readjustment OF country
life can be effected and placed on a
higher plane OF profit, comfort, culture.
| influence and power.
Because the first feature OF this
| demonstration work is to show the
farmer how he may more than double
| his crop at a reduced cost OF produc.
ton. 1t has been regarded by some
solely as a'method OF increasing farm
crops by applying scientific principles
to the problem. This WOULD be OF
great value to the world and would
stanS as a sufficient justification for
the efforts put forth and the expendi-
lures involved, but such a conception
would fail to convey the broader pur-
pose Of the work.
There Is much Knowledge applicants
uy, ho1 ,,fn III ia oho, 4