The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1913-09-09
What Johnson Learned at College

county is student at the Col
lege of Agriculture, that is, ht
was until he received his diploma
a few weeks ago. When he frs
talked of going to college severa
years ago many of his neighbors
doubted whether he could learr
much about farming by going of
to school. Better stay at home
and learn by experience" said
they. But Jonson had grit and
determination even if he didn't
have a pocket full of money to
start with, and went up to Nor
gantown to the Agricultural Col
lege.
He soon found out there were
dozens of things about farming
which could be learned quite
readily from books and lectures
but he noticed that even though
this were true somehow he seem
ed to put in a share of his time
in learning things by much the
same old methods that he had
used at home, namely, contact
with the soil in laboratory and
field and orchard. Now, howev-
er, there was this difference; he
seemed to make so much more
progress no doubt because of
the careful guidance which at
tended his efforts. So, altogeth-
er Johnson found his time pref
ty well occupied and the months
slipped rapidly by until three
years had passed. Then John
son went down home to work on
the old farm one summer.
We need not take up the num-
erous small changes of manage
ment, the better ways Of doing
things and the various improve
ments that he gradually inaugu-
rated. The things that we are
most interested in is what he did
with one particular field.
This field lay over the hillside
beyond the roadway and had
never been particularly noted
for special productivn ess so far
as any one had noticed. John
son said, THAT field has the
proper clay loan soil, the proper
drainage, both surface and I'M
foreground, and it is going to
grow me crop of alfalfa" Alf-
alfa!" said the neighbors, why
nobody ever raised alfalfa around
here. 1t won't grow" But
Johnson went ahead and cut the
wheat which then stood in the
field, turned under the stubble
three inches deeper than it ever
had been plowed before and be-
gan to prepare for alfalfa. This
was about the first of August.
The field was disced, dragged
and narrowed with a spike tooth
harrow. Then Johnson did it all
over again once a week for three
weeks. After the first harrow
ing liberal application of ma
nure was made. This was disc
ed in thoroughly and then air
slaked lime was applied at the
rate OF 1000 lbs. to the acre.
High grade phosphate and pot
ash fertilizer was then applied
literally. On the sixth Of Sep
TENDER the seed was broad cast
ed 18 lbs to the acre and the in
oculated soil was put on immedi-
ately after and both seed and
bacteria well narrowed in. Only
half the field was inoculated,
thus furnishing opportunity for
comparison.
Johnson had to hurry off to
school after this but when he re-
turned at Christmas time the in
Oculated half Of the field glad
dened his eyes with the best
stand Of alfalfa that he had ever
seen. Furthermore II made ex.
cellent hay the next summer -
and lots Of it, too.
Yes. of course the neighbors
became interested. How couio
they help ~ And johnson
spends considerable time nova
DAYS answering questions and
showing the neighbors just how
TO get a start with alfalfa or
their farms. and more than on,
farmer has admitted 90 himself
We'll now. maybe Johnson OBJ,
learn something about farufnt