The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-08-04
SOUTHERN WILL
TEACH FARMERS
RAILROAD ANNOUNCES ORGANIZED
DEPARTMENT or FARM I'M
rRovEMENT WORK.
THE PLAN OUTLINED
4 REGULARLY ORGANIZED PART OF
THE SYSTEM AND ONE DE-
SIGNED TO BE BROADLY
HELPFUL.
THE PLAN OUTLINED

WASHINGTON. August 3.---Presi-
dent Finley, OF the southern Railway
company, announced today that the
management of that company, reaii%-
ing the great opportunity for increas-
Ing the prosperity or the territory
traversed by its lines through huilitag
up soil productivity and increasing the
average crop yield per acre, hal de-
cided to organize a department of farm
Improvement work to begin operations
ON September list This department
will work on the CO. cooperative demon
stration plan. first adopted by the iate
Dr. s. A. Knapp. of the United states
agricultural department.. 1t will aim
to show 10 the farmers what they can
do on their own lands and with ther
own resources. This plan has oeee
followed with marked success by the
Southern Railway cotton culture de-
partment ~ the territory along the
line Of the advance OF the Mexican
cotton boil weevil 1t Is now pro
posed TO extend the work over the sys-
TEN generally and to adapt IL TO the
peculiar conditions OF each locality.
The cotton culture department g TO
be merged into the department or farm
Improvement work. and Mr.. i. =.
Plunkett. who has been general agent
of the cotton culture department, Is
TO be at the head OF the new organI-
zation with the title of manager q
farm improvement work. Hts "filce
will be In Atlanta. Ga. and three as
sistant managers OF farm improve
ment work will be appointed to be To-
Gated at advantageous points. A forca
OF field agents will be appointed 70
visit farmers In their respective 70
calities and cooperate with them Tor
the demonstration Of those methods OF
culture and soil treatment which may
be expected to produce the best results
In the way of Increased crop yields
This work Will be carried on in CO.
operation with the state commission
ers Of agriculture, the State agricultu-
raj colleges, and the United statues
agricultural department.. 1t Will be
entirely free Of cost to farmers wish
ing 10 avail themselves OF 1t In the
territory traNersed by the lines OF
the Southern railway; Alabama Great
Southern railroad: Cincinnati New
Orleans and Texas Pacific railway,
Georgia Southern and Florida railway;
Mobile and Ohio railroad; Northern
Alabama railway; southern railway IN
Mississippi. ao4 virginia ana SOUTH
western railway.
The work OF the department Of farm
| Improvement work is to be entirely
| Railway land and Industrial depart
| ment. which will, as heretofore carry
| on its cooperative work for the ioca-
| ton of industries ana farm settlers and
for the general development OF the
territory traversed bv the lines OF the
| Southern Railway system.
Speaking of the department OF farm
! Improvement work, President Finley
| said:
| Its purpose Is to be broadly help
| ful 10 the farmers in the territory ira
versed by our lines, / can conceive OF
! nothing that would be more behefciai
To the Southeastern States than sub
! stantial increase in the average Yield
/ Of farm crops such AS II is the ann OF
/ the department Of farm improvement
/ work to eudeaVor 10 bring about. The
! Increased prosperity or the farmers
| would be reflected IN all lines OF bust
ness. believe therefore, that all those
interested IN the Development of our
section who are in posiSoa - ala
in this movement can very properly dc
90 The State commissioners OF agri-
culture, State agricultural colleges and
experiment. stations are going Vaiua-
HE work, and the new papers Of the
Southeast, which give special atten-
ton to. the publication Of the advice
Of recognized experts on AGRICULTURAL
| matters, are most helpful 1t shall
he the policy of our department az
farm Improvement work to cooperate
with all these agencies and to seek
their cooperation"