The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-08
Great Is the Work Being
Done in Interest of
Better Farming.
SMALL BEGINNINGS.
WONDROUS RESULTS
Farmers COOPERATIVE Demon
Bration Work Now Almost
/ State-Wide-Some of the Re-
suits Accomplished-Boys'
Corn Clubs--Hog and
Hominy Doctrine.

strerion work Is ono of the btgeest
Things for agricultural progress that
las come down the Virginia pike since
nno war. and yet there arc many peo-
pie vitality interested IN thls work
who Know scarcely anything about It.
hardly DAY passes but that let
ters come TO the Industrial Editor
asking for Information about the work.
In order TO reply inteIlisently to these
many questions the Industrial Editor
has asked the chief demonstrator 10
furnish for publication from time 10
tlme facts about the work, facts
about things that have been accomp-
behed. Theory Is one thing, something
done is quite another thing Below
VIII BIO found the story, or several
atnrles. OF things that have been done
and which are the earnest of better
things yet TO be done.
The Farmers Cooperative Demon
sTation work was first organized I'M
der tho late DR.. Seaman A. Knapp in
tho year 1904. ITS object was TO carry
aeon rata Information to the farmer on
hts farm by means o. demonstration.
and TO secure such an active co-opera-
zion In the demonstration on his part
as 10 make the lesson effective and OF
lasting benent. From a small begin
ming. with but fe wtrained men I'm the
Held in Virginia, It has grown. de-
veloped and been systematized into
great movement for the wide dissent
nation OF agricultural knowledge for
tho man. The wife the boy and the Eirf
on the farm. At the present time II
consist, OF one state agent. T. o.
Sandy. three district agents. and nifty
local agents. directly instructing in
the state OF Virginia about 1000 farm
ers and 1900 farmers boys
F s. Farrar, district agent for the
greater part OF the Eastern section
OF Virginia has under his Immediate
supervision nineteen counties. as fol-
lows:
Prince George. Middlesex. isle of
Wight, Amelia. Norfolk Su-ry. Ches-
a-npton. sussex. Gloucester. Powhatan
Nansemond. Elizabeth City. King and
Queen. Charles City. New Kent and
York.
William c. shackletord. Jr. district
agent for Northern Virginia and the
Valley. has under his supervision six
teen counties as follows:
Spotsylvsnia- Louisa, Fairfax.
Rockingham, Frederick. Augusta Mel
son. Albemarle. Culpe per, Warren. Ian
ca ster. northumberland. Hanover. Hen
rico. Prince William and Madison
William P. Moore, district agent for
part Of Eastern Virginia and the
southwestern part OF the State, has
under his supervision sixteen counties,
as follows:
Montgomery. Amherst. Primo. Ed
ward, Botetourt, Cumberland Rock
bridge. Russell, Pittsylvania, Halifax.
Cam pbell. Charlotte, Roanoke Bed
ford. Washington, Appomattox and
Nottoway.
Work OF District Men.
These district men have under their
supervision forty-n!ne local agents.
They try to visit each agent on an aver
age OF once a month. and always keep
directly in touch with them through
their weekly reports. They go 10 meet
as much as possible go around 10 the
individual farms. thus identifying
themselves with the counties Briefly
stated. the district and local agents
seek to press home such lessons as
the better drainage Of the SOIL the
deeper and more thorough preparation
OF the soil for planting, the value of
better seed, how to produce It. now
10 select II and keep II pure the test
Ing of the seed before planting. the
proper spacing of plants to suit the
plant, soil and climate. the value OF
intensive cultivation, during the grow
trg season. for conservation of mois-
lure, the Importance Of humus in the
coil and the use of barpyard manure,
farm refuse and commercial ferti-
lizens. the value Of crop rotation, and
winter cover crops on Southern farms
for maintenance and building up OF
fertility the use Of more horsepower
and less hand power, the accomplish
n,fnt of more work in a day, the use
of better tools for this same purpose.
the great importance OF live stock as
part OF a permanent system of agri-
culture, the production OF all home
supplies of food required for men and
animals on the farm, and the keep
ing OF nm account In order to show
In the farm operations, the testing of
COWS, spraying OF orchards and in
sect pests.
This work Is hnance as follows:
The counties in the work put up s2s.-
$50. the United Agricultural Board OF
Virginia. $4,000. and the General Edu-
cation Board Of New York, $4,000,
making total OF s62,5e0 annually for
tho demonstration work In Virginia
Doings of District Agents.
Such In brief Is an outline Of the
Work. AS to particulars as to what
has been accomplished and what is
being accomplished. there Is good
deal Of information in the stories be-
low, furnished me by the district
agents engaged in the work.
William p. Moore. district agent for
the southwestern portion Of Virginia
writes as follows:
Having under my supervision in the
Farmers Cooperative Demonstration
Work. fifteen counties in Virginia. nr,
work has necessarily taken ma over
a largo portion OF the State. since
these counties extend from Washing
ton County in the southwest to Cum
bertrand In the east Owing to the
size Of the territory, you will find many
-(ConttnuAd ON Third Pana -