The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-12

Farming with dynamite In Virginia
In receiving more attention this fali
than ever before.
This powerful explosive IL used IN
subsoilinx, in tree-planting. and In
eradicattng Stumps.
On yesterday afternoon an interest,"
ing demonstration was made OF TINS
class OF AGRICULTURAL enterprise at the
Bellwood Farm In Chesterfield coun-
ty. under the direction OF H. Il. First
and A. r. Burkhoider. OF the f. l.
Dupont De Nemours Powder Com
pany, q crowd OF some $50 Interested
spectators, farmers. near farmers, Guy
farmers, paper farmers. and Few
mere agr[dlturalists making up the
bulk of the crowd, while score or
more ladies as well witnessed the
denomination.
One-haK acre was mined for suosoil,
work. holes large enough to receive
stick OF dynamite and some thirty
inches deep being made fifteen feet
apart each way. Ninety eight OF these
holes were made in the halls acre and
set OF In q space of one and one hair
hours by one operator. The action OIL
the explosive on the soil causes II 70
become loosened and Aerated. ana
permits Ii, by reason OF Ns porous
condition. to absorb water In wet
weather. and store 1t up for the grow
iI.g plants use in dry periods.
Dynamite containing twenty -nve
per cent. glycerine 10 used for sub
soil work. and 1t was stated by the
operator that sufficient dynamite 10
subsotl an acre of land would cost
Sl1.74 and certificates are produced
In tho printed literature Of the com
pAny showing large increases in crop
yields after such treatment.
After the suusoiling experiment was
completed four tree holes were pre-
pared. charges ranging from a third
OF a stick to a whole stick of dyna-
mite. the sticks containing one-haif
pound each. The main object to be
sought In tree-planting, II was sug-
gested, 10 TO so prepare the ground
that the growing tree can absorb az
large q percentage of moisture as
~ossible from the soil which it occu-
ries- The advantage OF breaking up
the ground thoroughly by means OF
the explosive was quite thoroughly
shown over the old spade and shovel
way. the explosions aerating the earth
abots. each hole. and paiverized the
ground In which the tree was to be
placed.
Then came a spectacular demon
stration with the opening of ditch
by dynamite. the whole line OF the
ditch being set OF simultaneously by
means of an electric expiodcr. the dirt
flying high into the air.
A Spectacular Event
Then the piece de resistance of
the program was rendered. The
operators and spectators adjourned to
the spacious front yard Of the Bell
wood manAaon where stood the rem
nants Of a once massive black oak,
some twenty feet high. Seventeen
and one-half pounds OF forty per cent
goods were inserted into the tree, and
when the crowd had retired to a safe
distance the button was pressed. and
the massive trunk literally sprang into
the air, falling into hundreds OF pieces
the main body OF the trunk being split
In twain. The explosive used was
worth about So. 1t would probably
have cost ten dollars to have had the
tree - thorouNhly annihilated by
hand.
number of stumps were then
blown up. forty per cent. dynamite be-
ing used. II was shown that by the
use OF the explosive. cut over tim
Der land could In few hours he
placed In readiness for the pillow a,
moderate cost
Another demonstration will be given
TODAY at the farm OF Hatcher s. Stew.
ard. some three miles southeast OF
Petersburg. Another demonstrat ior
viii be given later In the week al
Dinwtddfe. and another near Ashland
on December 20.