The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1913-08-23
EXPERT TO AID FARMERS.
Noted Northern Agriculturist Enaaa-
ed by Texas and Pacific Rail-
road to Promote Scientific Farm
ing in Louisiana-DiscipIe of
Prof. Holden.

The recent announcement by the
Texas and Pacific Railway Company
of the appointment of an agricultur-
al expert to cooperate with the
planters and farmers along the lines
of that road in Louisiana with view
to extending agricultural areas and
increasing the productivity oil existing
farm lands, has elected much favor
able comment from all sections, and
considerable benefit is expected to
accrue to all concerned through the
work of the new official. Donald c.,
Welty, late of Montana and man
ripe in experience in all branches OF
agricultural development, has been
engaged to fill the important position,
and arrived recently to enter upon
his duties.
Mr.. Welty is a disciple Of Prof.
Perry G. Holden, the corn specialist
of international repute, who made a
tour through Louisiana last April
with excellent results. He has been
the superintendent of the famous Bit
ter Root Stock Farm of the Marcus
Daily estate in Montana for some
time, and at present Is the assistant
secretary of the Montana State Fair
Association. He has had extensive
experience in farming of all kinds.
and is especially well qualified in
crop diversification and dairying.
For three years he was a student at
Ames, Iowa, under Prof. Holden,
then director of the Iowa state ex-
perimental work in corn culture and
corn seed selection.
Speaking of the wisdom of the ap-
pointment of g. man Of Mr. Welty s
ability to look after the Development
of the Louisiana territory OF the T.
and P, az official of the road made
the following observations
tsI am glad our management has
decided to add to our agriculture de-
partment a man whose entire time
and energies are to be devoted to the
New Orleans section. This action is
justified by it's Importance as well
as by the fact that the conditions
here are SO entirely dissimilar to
those of any other portion OF our
territory in Louisiana or Texas.
The further fact that the farmers
and plantation owners of louisiana
are so sensible Of the necessity Of
chan Ii OH III saasszsosss
exclusively to diversified farming and
stock growing, renders this action by
cur management particularly timely.
Beside promoting truck growing
for car load shipments at a. number
t,f icfo
ton, we are doing all We can to In
terest the farmers and planters In
cattle feeding, dairying and general
farming, which, I am glad to say,
they show an unmistakable tendency
to work into.
Upon one of the largest planta-
tions In this section preparation is
being made for extensive siIo building
and cattle and hog raising and feed
ing. The owners regret they did not
get silos in time this season to take
care Of at least portion OF a fine
corn crop Of several hundred acres.
After a look over this section the
last few days it seems to me Louisi-
ana is permitting more feed to go to
waste than has made some portions
of our country famous for stock-farm-
ing and dairying. For instance, and
as an item, experiment is to be con-
Quoted in making silage of cane tops.
AS another hint of the diVersifi-
cation possibilities Of this section, I
saw at the State Experiment Station
a field of ramie as high as my head,
and the station young men trying out
a new decorticator III separation Of
the fiber from the stalk.
Coming as he does from the
Iowa Agricultural College, and with
subsequent training In field practice,
Mr.. Welty is In position to accom-
p1ish great good! and his work, / am
sure, will be encouraged and appre-
ciated by the people OF both town
and country
Community cooperation is essential
in all features Of community up
building. Without it little can be
accomplished.