The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1901-1982, 1912-10-24
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BOOSTS FARM EARNINGS
STATE AGENT WATSON POINTS
OUT BENEFITS FOLLOWING
NEW SYSTEM.
From Saturdays DaIry.

From Saturdays Dairy.
In order to get the matter to the
attention of the members of quorum
courts, which will convene in each
county on Wednesday, October %,
State Agent c. w. Watson has just
issued the following circular relative
to the advantages of the demonstra-
ton farm work in this state:
The aim of the demonstration work
is to place an object lesson of good
farming in every rural community. 1t
seeks to show farmers how to build
up and maintain fertility of the soil
and get a better return for the labor
they are expanding upon their land.
It strives to instruct the farmers
through practical demonstrations so
that he will produce more largely Of
his home necessities, grow larger
crops at less expense, and better able
to adopt such a system Of farming as
will place him upon permanent basis
Of success and prosperity.
The average producing power of
each acre of our southern farms is en-
tirelv too low. The demonstration
work seeks to remedy that condition.
1t does not seek to prOduce more OF
any one crop, but to make it possible
to grow the same amount on less acres
and leave more acres for additional
crops that Will contribute toward the
family expenses. Some of its simple
and fundamental lessons are:
/. Deep fall blowing and prepare
ton of a better seedbed in which to-
grow crops.
2. The value of the use of better
seed, carefully selected and preserved
8 The great value of better cult
tivation of the crop.
4. The judicious use Of fertilizers,
both commercial and home-produced.
5. The value of leguminous crops
in restoring nitrogen and humus to
the soil and the raising of livestock
for the same purpose, as we'll as for
profit
The use of better tools and teams so
that the farmer can actually do more
in a given time and thus increase his
earning capacity.
T. The production upon the place
of feed and forage for stock and food
for the family.
8. The introduction of Such crop
ping system as fill result in the pei
manent restoring of soil fertility.
The plan of this work is for coun-
Lv or local agent to be employed
who establishes demonstration farms
in each ward with farmers who will
give the methods of the department a!
fair trial. These demonstrations are
for the purpose of bringing out some
IF the above principles. The agent is
for
farmers once in every 80 days. They
are generally located IN the public
places so that their influence will ex-I
5end throughout the community. We
are so confident that these methods
will make good that we insist that the
demonstrations shall be confined to-
The vicinity of public roads. lnstruc-
tons are furnished to these farmers
through bulletins from Washington,
as well as through the monthly visits
Nv the agent. Other farmers not llv-l
ng along the roads and too far dist |
ant to be visited by the agent, Will re-
.eive the bulletins upon request and
.an grow crops under the Instructions
IF the department. An agent will
handle from 80 to 100 farmers, whom !
ne visits regularly, depending on the
population and the roads of the coun-
". In addition TO this, he rapidly be.
comes an agricultural adviser of
farmers throughout the county and
assists, insofar as his time will per
nit. any and all farmers in solving
he problems which confront them.
The instructions and bulletins are
The most practical collection of agrl-
cultural information possible to put
INTO the farmers hands. The infor- |
nation is secured from the depart
ment at Washington, data from the
agricultural colleges and experiment
stations, and experienced methods and
practices gathered from the best and
most successful farmers and from thei
10000 farmers and agents who have
been working under the direct IN
structions of the department during
the year.