The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-31
CHESTERFIELD AND
RUSSELL COUNTIES
Interesting Accounts of
Demonstration Work
on Farms.
FROM CENTRE
TO THE w EST
Good Work Goes Bravely On.
Cheering Results All Over the
Field-Teaching Rotation of
Crops-Serics of Lectures
at Lebanon Aroused
Interest.

Farmers Corporation Demonstration
work In Virginia instead of becoming
trcsome TO the readers of The Times
Dispatch are becoming more and more
interesting, for they are informing the.
people as TO the extent and the value
of this work 1t Is true that the work
being familiar IN all localities there
Is something of sarneness in the re-
ports of the county agents, but there
is enough OF variety from the differ
ent counties to hold the interest OF the
reader. and they all tell OF such cheer
ing progress in the modern agvicul-
tural art. they make good reading all
the time.
The Work Tn Chester1eld County.
Located are. between Tide
water and Piedmont Virginia, we can
readily raise the crops grown In both
sections. provided we make soil con-
dtions favorable. The following
method OF corn growing is used by
our most successful and progressive
farmers: Corn land seeded to German
clover and weil-fcrtilized put plenty
of phosphorus in the land. as that
seems to be our limiting factor Our
farmers are following this practice
year after year with increased yields
OF corn. We ind 1t pays handsomely
to fertilize German clover at time Of
seeding
There is only one objection to this
method. II delays following, and the
Z blowing has TO be done at an exceed
ingly busy time. and IN case OF a con
ti1uous dry spell II is possible to be
prevented from planting corn at proper
time. for crop to mature sufficiently.
To avoid this, our farmers are now
seeding mixed grasses In their corn
fields. and where land is OF sufficient
fertility. This is one OF our surest
methods OF getting grasses seeded at
proper time The advantages are that
the land is we'll worked during the
summer and~is free from weed seed,
can be seeded in August and be
seeded In spite OF unfavorable weather
conditions, whereas. on wheat and oat
stubblc intended for grass. the past
two summers we have been unable TO
plow and order properly.
zone Of my demonstrators seeded
grass in corn last year in the driest
part of the summer. he succeeded well,
having already cut two crops OF hay,
and has a splendid sod for next year.
This practice has been followed by
boys in my corn club with marked
SUCCESS. We find this a paying propo
sition, counting cost OF ordering and
seeding land
Leading Up to A1fnifn.
This method could be followed in
our corn fields for several years, and
we could easily have a two three or
four years rotation Of corn and hay.
seeding grass each year at last work
ing OF corn. Then in our rotation we
would pillow up the first seeding IN fall
or winter. doing our blowing at n
time that both team and men could
work to best advantage. 1t will pay
splendidly to fertilize the grass at
time OF seeding in order that the young
plant may make sufficient root to with
stand cold weather.
Il hope the following rotation will
appeal to some farmers in Eastern
Virginia: Poor land, cowpeas drilled
In rows four to five feet apart, SOW
some acid phosphate. and seeded to
German clover. clover fallowed for
corn, seeded to clover at last working
of corn. this fallowcd and followed un-
til land is of sufficient fertility to pro-
duce hay crop with a little alfalfa
seeded for innoculation, then alfalfa
alone
I'VE have just started to grow mixed
grasses and alfalfa. Especially would
I suggest liberal seeding and ferti-
lization both for German clover and
grasses. With the new rates on lime
stone in operation. let us Eastern Vir-
ginta farmers first have rich fields in
our heads, then turn our hands to
the accomplishment"
Demonstration In Russell County.
Walter CT Gray. local agent for Rus
sell County, writes:
Interest In demonstration work be-
gan in Russell County two years ago,
when number of professors of the
virginia Polytechnic Institute came
out to Lebanon, the county seat, and
gave a series of lectures on several
phases Of agriculture. These lectures
aroused interest, interest aroused con-
troversy controversy aroused more in
terost and consequently the brain of
the Russell County farmer soon be-
came well-prepared seed bed for
pure bred facts In addition to the
work of the lectures from Virginia
Polytechnic Institute, must be men
toned the silent interest engendered
by the work of the State School at
Lebanon gradually diffusing itself
throughout the country; and likewise
must be added the increase OF interest
, arising annually from the agricultural
exhibits and prizes at the Russell
County Fair.
"The result of an this was that when
Prof. e. NJ. Hunter. head of the State
School at Lebanon, returned from the
farmers course at Virginia Polytech-
mic Institute last winter thoroughly
enthusiastic over demonstration work,
he was easily able TO arouse the IN
terest OF several leading farmers and
the Board Of Supervisors. The latter
body made a liberal appropriation, and
was appointed to conduct the DEM
onstratfon work In the county.
Commenced with the Boys.
ALTHOUGH begun in March. six
months TOO late, the results have been
very satisfactory. Immediately en-
rolled forty-hve corn club boys at
the various schools In the county, and
later enlisted fifty farmers as dem
constructors. We succeeded IN getting
fcontinued On Third Pagea