Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1911-04-07
GENERAL FARMING
ABLY DISCUSSED
Growing Alfalfa, Soil I'M
provement, Fertilizer, Etc,
Treated BY Experts.

The meeting of the farmers a
North Tazewell on Tuesday was ,
pleasant and profitable occasion, not
withstanding the rain, which ken
many of the country people away.
There was, however, as many present
as could be accommodated in the
coaches, in which the lectures were
delivered.
Lectures were delivered on alfalfa.
, soil Improvement, fertilizers, potatoe
culture, corn growing. fruit growing.
etc, all of which were highly in
structivo and interesting. Il. w
Wood and Son, the well known Rich
mond seedsmen, had an exhibition
car attached to the train, in which
seeds. grasses, corn, etc, were on
exhibition, and fine show it was.
The DUPONT Powder Company had an
agent on hand to explain the use of
dynamite for stump blasting, and the
subsoiling of land. One of the most
unique and interesting of the entire
set of lectures was the one made to
the High School children and others,
by DR.. Freeman of Richmond, on
sanitation generally. and the hook
worm in particular. Prof. Carson dis
missed the High School, and the
young folks and several teachers were
in attendance, and listened with great
interest.
The party was in charge of Mr..
Shubert, an official of the N. and w.
Neither Mr.. LaBaume, the Industrial
agent of the N. and W., nor Mr.
Koiner, commissioner of agriculture
of the State, were present, their du-
ties elsewhere preventing them from
accompanying the train on this trip.
I MIR. j. j. Owen, an official of the ag-
ricultural department of the State,
and Mr.. Shubert, represented these
absentees, and filled the gap we'll.
All of the lectures were highly in
structive, and one regretted that he
could not hear all of them. The rep
resentativc of the News heard two
and part of another, all of which
were fine.
MIR. w. d. ZINN'S LECTURE ON
ALFALFA.
The lecture Of Mr. Zinn ON alfalfa,
was perhaps heard with more interest
than either of the others, for the
reason, likely, that it was the first
public lecture ever made in the coun-
ty on the subject, and also, for the
reason, that the farmers of the coun-
ty are becoming more and more inter
ested each year in this wonderful
clover.
This was Mr.. Zinn's first visit to
this section. He lives at Phillippi.
W.. Va, is large and successful
farmer, popular lecturer, and an
associate editor OF the National
Stockman & Farmer
The great problem is how to re-
store and maintain soil fertility. The
speakers, each of them, discussed
more or less fully, this problem. In
his address on alfalfa Mr.. Zinn said
that to depend upon commercial fer
til'zer alone is folly. Proper rotation
of crops, turning under clovers, peas,
etc., will add plant food, crops fed to
stock and manure properly saved, is
the farmers surest road to rich lands
and good CROP. Deep plowing, thor
&c tt,n Iof
planting, the careful selection of
seed, was also highly important and
absolutely necessary. In speaking of
alfalfa, MIR Zinn said that any soil
and climate that would grow good,
red cover, will grow alfalfa. This is
not the first time readers of this pa
/ per have head this statement, but it
comes with greater force, of course,
from Mr.. Zinn, who is high authori-
ty. He further said, that there is no
country within his knowledge better
adapted to the growth of this great
legume than Tazewell, and the splen-
did limestone section of Southwest
Virginia. Chief requisites are, well
drained soil, alfalfa can't live in wa
ter, rich soil, free of weeds, and
plenty of lime. Given such soil
good seed and intelligent manage
ment, and alfalfa en- be guaranteed.
Many people try it once, fail, ant
give it up, and say it can't be grown
Kansas, where alfalfa is now luxu
RANT and rniIio aco ffarod oil nvor tb.
country for grinding it into meal
| tried for several years before succeed
ing. A greater number fail thai