The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1913-08-22
VIE WITH TEST FARMS
FARMERS ON CENTRAL'S LINES
TRYING TO BEAT RECORDS
MADE BY EXPERTS.
THUS BEST RESULTS OBTAINED

These Test Farms, One OF Which Is
Located Near Dawson, Have Been
Demonstrated to Be Paying Insti-
tions for Farmers.
With farmers of the immediate To-
cations where the test farms of the
agricultural department of the Cen
trail of Georgia railway are located
showing a most decided tendency to
compete with the skilled men of the
railway, who are using every endeav-
or to improve agricultural work, the
educational endeavor of the railway
through the test farms grows apace.
The farmers of Georgia and Ala
bama, taking pride in their methods
of agriculture, almost invariably set
in to excel the results secured from
the test farms, and as consequence
the general character of crops Sc
cured because of the better methods
used have proven by far superior to
former times when antiquated plans
were followed in making the great
staple crops of the South.
Met Agricultural Authorities.
Mr.. ]. F. Jackson, agricultural
agent of the Central railway, accom-
panied by Mr. T. G. Chastain, agri-
culturist of the system, have return
ed to Savannah from Athens, where
conference was held with the au-
thorities of the State College of Ag-
riculture. which is cooperating with
the Central in it's endeavor to better
conditions by introducing better and
more scientific methods. Mr.. Jack
son is very much impressed with the
crops at this time and feels confident
that the farmers throughout the por-
ton of the states of Georgia and Ala
bama penetrated by the Central have
been greatly benefited through the
medium of these plats where diversi-
fed farming through intensive cult
ure are practiced.
A Good Pront.
1t has been demonstrated to the
satisfaction of the powers that be in
the railroad management that the
test farms are paying institutions. In
support of this assertion it is stated
that the crops of last year made on
the small plats used gave net re-
turn of SO per cent after all expenses
were deducted.
The small farms are operated by
farmers under the direct jurisdiction
of the Central's skilled men and all
profits accrue to the man who is actu-
ally doing the work. People in the
large cities are showing great inter
est in the agricultural work conduct
ed by the Central, and it is believed
that through the movement from the
cities to the country by people desir-
ing to go back to nature that the
agricultural interests of this and ad
joining states will be wonderfully i'm
proved within the next few years.
The Test Farms.
The test farms are now being
worked at an annual expense of
$4,000, but the results have justified
the belief that the farms will be self
sustaining from this year, since last
year when good percentage of gains
was made was VIGOROUSLY poor from
a farming standpoint.
"The cardinal principles of our
work" says Mr. Jackson, ARE the
rotation of crops, and diversification
practices increasing the vegetable
matter in the soils by the use of the
two principles named and also by the
cultivation of cover crops for the
winter period"
The test farms, on which are grown
cotton, corn, truck and general for
age crops, are located this year at
the following places:
Jonesboro, Ga, one-half mile
south; Ogeechee, Ga, one and one
half miles east; Sterretts, Ala, half
mile east; Goshen, Ala, one and a
half miles south; Florala, Ala, three
quarters mile west; Rome, Ca, three
miles north; Moticello, Ga, one mile
south; Media, Ga, at station; looms
boro, Ca, one mile west; Dawson,
Ca, two miles east; Leary, Ca, two
miles east; Leesburg, Ca, Ave miles
south.