The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-07
WORK |SOF GREAT
HELP TO FARMERS
CONTINUED From First Page,

bushels to the acre.
Sussex county had about fifteen
boys making an average yield OF ssh
rs bushels OF corn to the acre.
Orange county made an average
yield of ~ bushels of corn to the acre
among tho boys.
Culpeper county has thirty-four boys
making an average yield of 65 bushels
OF corn to the acre.
FaIrs-AErlcultural and Educ,s fonnl,
During the past yoar. our local
agents have held los meetings. In the
interest of agriculture. in addition to
educational and agricultural fairs, the
work of the school and tho agent. In
every instance these fairs have been
n" success. They were started by n
demonstration agent and perhaps 1--WE
or six farmers. often with no money to
finance them The success of these
one-day fairs has been such that a
Fair Association has almost always
been formed to promote the next at
tempt. The purpose OF these associa-
tons is to have the fair social cdu-,
cational and agricultural uplift, not a
money making scheme.
This fact has seemed to appeal to
the farmer, and he has entered into i'll
with his whole soul. He comes bring
ing the whole family. the best products
of his orchard. garden and fields, the
r.,
the best evidences OF the housewives
skill Here he measures the results OF
his labors with those of the best farm
orS OF the county. and carries back
home new ideas and new standards or
success and progress. There Is always
a big space reserved at these county
fairs for the exhibits from the schools.
The most prominent feature here Is
the exhibit of the Corn Club boy This
kar our ~
accompanied by written report of
, how he grew his crop of corn, what It
cost. the profit, and affidavit OF two dis
| interested men Of the correctness OF
measurement of land and yield of corn.
In many instances these yields have
set nav standards OF corn production
I in the State and Advertised the posi-
bilittes of Virginia lands and tho
courage Of Virginia boys as nothing
has done before. Then there are the
essays OF the children on farming and
domestic subjecte, touching problems
they will have to solve when they be.
come men and women, such as "The
| Value of Good Roads TO the Farmer
An Ideal Country Home" etc. There
are always lively contests In the cook
Ding and sewing department These
fairs are generally financed by the
business men and Boards of Trade of
adjacent towns and cities. In one
county two banks gave $3.50 apiece.
and pledged the same amount for next
year. One town three years ago gave
| $500 in prizes to the boys OF two coun-
ties Last year $4,000 was given by
| the same town to twelve counties. This
fair has grown from a two-day fair In
warehouse three years ago, to cover
i've days. embrace exhibits from
twelve counties. and is held in
peauuiul building and grounds cost
ing $500.
1t would be hard to estimate the
money which has been given for prizes
at these fairs. If the demonstra Il on
WORK has done nothing else. the bring
ing together OF the town and the coun.
Try and making them feel that they
nave a common interest then q great
Work mas been accomplished. Ono rea-
son we have faith In the demonstra-
tion work, or Idea, is because It always
appeals TO the business sense of the
industrial world and we never have
trouble IN raising money for these pur-
poses
The exhibits made by the thirty five
, counties being worked by the demon
stration work at the Stats Fair last full
gave to the people at large better
idea Of what the demonstration work
is accomplishing In the State. While
the State Fair is great medium OF
liver tsemeht OF the resources or Wr-
sinia. well conducted county fair Ia
the greatest factor IN developing tho
social. educational and agricultural in
terest Of the county.
u Grasses.
In addition to the following general
instructions given all farmers. such as
blowing and subsoiiing, deep fine seed
bed. fertilization an, cultivation. selec-
ton and care Of seed corn, winter COW
er crops. etc, much attention has been
given to the very needy problem OF
hay. Our Virginia farmers are begin.
ming to reah2e that our lands oan be
made to produce as much hay as any
where In the United States We have
400 demonstrators In mixed grasses
and alfalfa. and 800 plnts OF alfalfa
alone. One man in Halifax county,
notwithstanding the unprecedented
drought, made $3.50 pounds OF hay
to the acre, at q cost OF production Of