The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-20
GOOD DONE BY THE
DEMONSTRATORS
Short Paper by T. o. Sandy Read
at State Farmers Institute
Meeting
UNDISCOURAGED BY DROUGHT
Virginia Tillers of Soil Are on
the Job in Great
Shape.

AZ inc state 1nStltute re-
Gently held in stanton T. o. Sandy.
State agent for Cooperative Demon
stration Work read q short paper that
every farmer In Virginia ought to have
heard AS they were not all there
they could not hear 1t, but they can
read 1t. The following Is Mr.. sandy's
paper:
The farmer feeds the world. Help
him and you reach the entire nation.
Our farms are the support of all other
industries and the everlasting heritage
to succeeding generations. Virginia
has awakened 20 the Importance OF
this. and has come. as she always does.
In time of need. nobly to the front.
1t Is useless for me to tell you tillers
OF the soil. how our lands have been
depleted Of their life giving proper
ties. We all agree or that point and
no one but q farmer can conceive to
what an alarming extent. Until with
In the last few years no class of men
were so easily discouraged, everything
would brighten the life out OF a farm
er. Mole-hil would seem like noun
tains in the twinkling of an eye.
confess the drought this year has been
mountain. but 1 do not believe our
people are going to lose heart.
We are a God-fearing and God-sery-
Ing people. and now that our Virginia
farmers have been convinced that
thought and energy only are needed to
reclaim our lands. they take these
seeming Affections as a dispense ton
OF Providence. and not sent to con-
vince them they are to seek other
employment, but only 10 strengthen
them for greater activity and to per-
meet adverse conditions that may
arise.
For instance. the corn on my place
that was SUBSIDIZED seemingly has not
suffered, while that where subsoilinc
was not done. though planted at the
same time. shows the effects OF dry
FEATHER.
Renults Shown.
The Farmers Cooperative Demon
stratior Work which has been taken
up IN Virginia. after having been SUD.
,ss ss.u'ly tested in other States. has
given good results. The numerous
reports Of increased yields as we'll as
increased interest has been most
gratifying.
our agriculturists have been con-
WINGED of the great Importance of
better seed. preparation OF the land.
commercial fertilizers tudiciously used,
the saving use of farm manure. plant
ing legumes and turning the crop under
IN order to set humus. rotation Of
crops. the use of more and better horse
power and machinery and better
grace OF stock and moro of II, improve
inent OF home conveniences. etc. TO
take the place of scarce as well as in
oinerent labor in house and field
now. IL even weather conditions pre-
vent the production OF enough hay for
nome use and small amount has to
oe bought from local dealer, 1t is
with & sense of humiliation, even II
ne pays cash. and is made q subject for
many sood-natured jokes.
4 Sample Case.
One Of the best examples 1 can give
or the good our work is doing is as
toilows 1 called on a man owning
LOO acres OF land which was thin and
poor. The renters robbed the land
every year of humus and vegetable
matter by raising tobacco. He Was
discouraged and was fast making IN
ms mind TO go elsewhere to make a
liVine. His wife. too. realized condi-
e'ohs' NO hay had been seeded on this
farm Tor several years We talked
the matter over and planned A rota-
tion OF crops for the following vear.
corn. grass. crimson clover, peas and
Deans. All tenants were dispensed
win. twenty-five acres were seeded
ssS !h august. and the next June
nc harvested from this acreage eighty,
I'VE tohs OF good clean hay. a corn
eiop was planted and made a fine
yield. The second year twenty acres
more was seeded to grass. and ono bnn
uFeu ana nifty tons of hay was har-
vested from the forty-fve acres Uorsas
cattle and hogs We're put on the farm
the house was remodeled, heat light
ana water We're put In. and when I
visited the place at the end of the sec
oho year have never seen people more
cohtented on farm. 1 could give a
number of similar Instances.
Inc hrst year this work was done.
which was. of course, on a verv limited
scale. showed conclusively what couIS
be accomplished. One man wrote me
ms test field of corn had attractcd
widespread interest and was n sub
Jece OF discussion among his neigh
DORIS The people in the village near
MIN would drive out to see it ana no
mad many applications for seed You
can readily see good example is all
ways of untold benefit
The Gind Hand Shake,
me demonstration agent who goes
rom farm TO farm is not the origina-
,or OF our methods of farm work, but
ne carries the tests of the best farm
methods that have been found rost
eHectual at our experiment stations
etc He goes 10 talk over conditions
ana 10 encourage. Every one feels
comfort in knowing others are inter
ested Ill him and what he is doing and
Know l voice the sentiment of ever,
man who is connected with our work
W"eh l state that 1t brings us close to
each other. we have common inter
est at heart. Every farmer is a broth
er. We rejoice with those who re-
Joice and weep with those who weep.
As to Hay.
the demonstration work has devel-
oped the latent interest in raising our
own nay, grass culture having been
greatly neglected in many portions
OF our state. 1t was alarming to note
the great amount of money each year
expended for hay. and now | could give
any number of Instances where from