The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-11-13
MIL TEACH FARM
AGENTS At v.P.l.
Demonstrators Will Get Six
Weeks Special instruction
This Winter.
BIG STEP FORWARD TAKEN
Many Counties Apply for Dem
onstration Work During
Coming Year.
Ie STEP FORWARD TAKEN

ARRANGEMENTS have been consum-
mated for what is regarded as the most
important step taken since the inaug-
uration OF farm demonstration work
in Virginia. This il nothing less than
the training of all the demonstration
agents at the Virginia Polytechnic In
stitute for six weeks during the COM
ing winter.
All the PLANS have been worked out
in detail. The matter has been ar
ranged SO quietly that nothing mas
been known Of 1t until this time.
Between fifty and sixty farm demon
stration agents will be taken TO
Blacksburg for "a special course IN
agriculture. They will go in the mid
die OF January and remain until the
end Of February next. The home once
in Washington will pay their salaries
and they will defray their own ex-
penses for transportation and board
at the school Some Of the men are
gray-headed but all of them nave
found tina: no one ever gets too old TO
learn something valuable about agri-
culture.
study Horticulture.
An outline of the course can be gwen
One study to be taken up will be tha'
Of horticulture When the agents
leave Blacksburg they VIII be 50
euuipped that they can make a com
prehensive study of the horticultural
conditions in their respective counties
They will list every orchard, with It's
size, its varieties and its possibilities
This information will always be with
in reach.
Then personal visits can be made 10
each fruit grower. with the certainty
Of extending such advice as the oei'
onstrator may find necessary.
rasites which cause loss of fruit can
be found and destroyed. Instruction
can be given as to planting, as 10 cur
tivation, as to spraying, as to p!ckihs,
packing and marketing. The latest
methods in hlndling all these matters
will be taught and learned at the VII
GINA Polytechnic Institute
In addition to the facilities to De
found at Blacksbu:g for the pursuit
Of studies in horticulture, the schooi
is especially well equipped for teach
ing dairying Milk testing Will be
an important part of the course OF
the demonstrators When the instruc-
ton is complete. the demonstrator may
take Babcock tester In MS buggy
from one end Of his county to the
the milk from every cow. and to In
form the owner in short time which
of his animals are worth keeping ana
which should be sold as not prontabie
Other lines will be followed In the
| effort to have the men who help the
! farmers of Virginia know what Should
| be known by every man who attempts
. to farm for profit.
Many Counties Come In.
| The demand for demonstration work
| has now grown almost beyond the
reach OF those at its head. More coun-
! ties in Virginia are cdanorSng to
| come in. Some eight or ten heretofore
| on the outside have made application
| to be cared for during the coming year
! and have been accepted. The limit will
! soon De reached. for the finances must
be considered The counties pay half
! the salary OF the agents. while the re-
mainder Of the compensation is fur
! nished by the department in Washing
| ton and by the State
| In some cases. schools are awaken
f! ing TO the needs of the hour. Emory
and Henry College is paying half the
salary OF an instructor. who is paid
! by the public for the other half Of his
time. He teaches agriculture In a
| school heretofore devoted to max
ing ministers and In giving clas-
steal education The rest OF his time
he spends as do other demonstration
telling farmers how to make money
The same plan is followed in the agrf-
| cultural high school at Burkeville-
/! Everywhere the farmer Is waking up