Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-08-10
ITEMS OF INTEREST
TO THE F ARMER
Agricultural News Notes From the
Extension Division of the College
At Morgantown.

lie MOuuuSNilic EEitO SAdhNo SAiNSA
tally, "In the Echo fair window is a
box of as fine apples as were ever on
display anywhere. The apples have
a delicious flavor They are of the
old fashion Early Harvest variety and
we're grown by James A. Bonar of
Roberts Ridge. The tree on which
the apples grew was sprayed last
spring by the demonstration from the
Agricultural Extension Division of the
West Virginia University. The tree is
evidence of what a little time work
and expense of spraying will do. MIR.
Bonar writes that his trees are load
ed with fine fruit That community
is so interested in the work the Elk
tension Division is doing that they
have asked for an agricultural extern
sion school for next winter.
Agriculture In Rural Schools.
The State Superintendent of Free
Schools has given very prominent
place in the program in the annual
Teachers Institutes to the teaching of
agriculture He believes every effort
should be made to give the rural boy
and girl such training as will help
them enjoy rural life and to make
the land more productive and profit
able. A text book on elementary ag-
riculture will be used as guide in
the teaching of this important branch
of study The Agricultural Extension
Division of the College of Agriculture
will issue each school month a bulle-
tin known as West Virginia School Ag-
riculture, which will greatly aid the
teachers in this work. This bulletin
is free to every teacher in West Vir-
ginia. By such efforts, the lure of the
city will not draw the brightest young
men and women from the farm, but
they will take advantage of the fine
soil and splendid location that West
Virginia offers to those who desire to
live the honest, happy and prosperous
life of farmer.
Premiums On Gardens and Lawns.
A representative from the Depart
ment of Free Schools, one from the N.
& w. Railway Company and one from
the Agricultural Extension Division
of the College of Agriculture were
judges of gardens and lawns at Gary,
w. Va, where the United States Coal
and Coke Company gave hundreds of
dollars as premiums to the employees
to encourage them to raise large gar
dens and keep beautiful homes and
lawns. The N. & w. Railway Com
pany is also contemplating premiums
o., rrhe rda 40
inspected at eleven coal plants at
Gary were estimated by the judges to
be worth about $4,000. The company
gives the land free to the miners, fur
nishes them with fertilizing matreial,
builds fences, collects garbage, and in
every possible way encourages them
to keep nice homes. There is running
water, electric lights in every home,
and all the houses are painted, but no
adjoining houses are of the same col
or. Safety is the first consideration
at these mines. Nearly 5000 men are
employed and an average of $4,000
tons of coal is mined each day. Next
year $4,000 will be expended by the
company to improve the sanitary con-
ditions and to beautify the streets and
walks. In the spring 1000 fruit trees
will be planted by the company I'M
der the direction of the Agricultural
Extension Division of the College of
Agriculture This will provide each
home with some fruit, as well as hav-
ing a garden.
Many mining companies of the State
are conducting similar work to that
being carried on at Gary. They have
found that to provide good homes for
their men, means better ana more con-
teneted workmen and greater profits
for the company.
A New Fruit Bulletin.
The Extension Division of the Col
lege of Agriculture will soon have for
distribution beautifully illustrated
bulletin "Packeting & Marketing
Fruit" Every fruit grower of the
free for the asking. AS the issue will
not last very long it would be we'll
for those interested to Immediately
send card, requesting the bulletin
to be mailed as soon as off the press.
Building Sllo.
what kind OF material is best for
silo?" II. r. ID.
Silage keeps well in cement silo.
The only objection to cement silo
is that the cement may draw the moist
ure from the ensilage, but in good
Grating of fine cement wash is used,
it will probably prevent the escape of
the moisture from the silage. Stave
silos' generally cost less in the build
ing. but the painting and attention
necessary after construction often
makes them more expensive in the
long run.
Lime and Fertilizer.
"Will it pay to put burnt lime at
$500 per ton on land Does it pay
farmer to mix fertilizers at his
homa7n A l.,