The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-21
VIEWS OF EXPERT
ON POSSIBILITIES
Demonstration Work Has Proved
in Eastern Section of Virginia
What Can Be Done on Vast
Acres in the So-Called
WORKOUT Regions
of Virginia.
by r. s. FARRAR.

Dr. Knapp was right when no said
that 1t was best to teach one thing
well. rather than to give a smattering
OF all. For this reason, corn was the
CHOSEN crop of the demonstration work
Tor the first three years. Before this
tlmo corn scarcely occupied a respecta-
bio place among the field crops. 1t
was given the poorest land. the poor
est cultivation, and consequently
yielded the poorest returns, scarcely,
paying the cost of making. But the
oemonstrators commenced studying
corn, thinking corn. and talking corn.
rntil they persuaded tho farmers to
grow corn on better lands. to use fer
tilizers. to cultivate thoroughly. ana
to SOW clover or peas at the last work
Ing. Year after year new standards
OF corn production were created, until
now IT is crowned king OF the grain
crops
DR.. Knapp was right when he said
the South would have to grow moro
corn. more grass and more live stock
II 1t wished to regain it's Industrial
supremacy. For the last four years
we have been preparing the way for
grass, and now 1t Is the slogan OF the
demonstration work.
The Foundation Crop.
Corn has a most important place
among farm crops. but grass Is the
real foundation crop. 1t prepares the
way for every other crop. 1t adds
Wishing. and makes a better seed bed
II economies labor on the farm, be-
cause after 1t Is seeded, without fur
Their cultivation. IL will yield a crop
from one to six yearAaccording to the
variety used. We are piowfng too
much poor land each year. BY put
ting a greater area In grass, we can
intensity tho cultivation OF other crops.
as well as extend the area of our i'm
proved fields.
lie nIo
every rotation of crops. The man who
grows II must use his brains and have
system in his farming. lie will have
to plan several years ahead what
crops are to grow on his. different
fields. and he must prepare each fold
for the succeeding crop.
Grass also has its value as u money
crop. Many farmers this year have
cut from four to six tons OF alfalfa
from an acre. AT moderate prices
THIS would yield from SIS TO 500 por
acre. Other grasses that do not com
mand SO high a market price are yield
ing profitable returns.
More grass means moro live stock
and higher grade, more live stock
means. richer lands. and richer lands
make better crops, thus completing tho
circuit
Practical suggestions.
often see a tobacco farmer who
wants to sell his farm and move to
town. The same is true OF the cotton
and peanut farmer. but have never
seen 4 man with ,luSuriant fields or
grass around him who wanted TO sell.
s his home, and yet his is the farm thai
always sells the easiest, for grass Is
as attractive to the buyer az to the
owner.
1 will give some OF the grasses and
grass mixtures which we advise seed
ing:
German clover. German clover and
oats German clover and wheat, German
clover with oats and wheat oats and,
Vetch, all do we'll on the lighter soils.
In heavier lands we use sapling clover.
timothy and herds grass. orchard
grass, tall meadow oat grass. Italian
rye grass and red clover. On all
types of we'll drained land you can
seed alfalfa. alfalfa with red clover,
and alfalfa with white blooming clover.
When I started In demonstrative
work, German clover was novelty
and alfalfa stranger among tho
grasses German clover could be seen
here and there in little patches and
was only used as green feed In the
spring. 1t was not considered hay
crop at ALL Now it has demonstrated
its worth as a land improver as we'll
as n hay. When seeding 1t in the corn.
we advise mixing 1T with wheat or oats
to insure stand. When it Is seeded
oat stubble. disking 1t thoroughly to a
depth Of two or three inches This Is
"a very easily prepared seed bed, and
by applying 500 or 400 pounds Of acid.
phosphate per acre. you are almost
sure of a cropa Mixing 1t with oats
or wheat makes better hay and much
easier to cure. 1t is cut when the
clover comes into bloom
Big DoinSs On Ahead.
German clover and the mixtures are
peculiarly adapted to the lighter soils
of Eastern Virginia. expect about
$4,000 acres to be seeded this fall in
my nineteen counties. Some individual
farmers will seed from fifty to- 100
acres, to be used as fallow for corn
and for hay, One of my agents has
ordered 500 bushels for seeding in his
county. This means 1000 acres. An
other agent has more than 1000 acres
promised to be seeded In the different
grass mixtures
For permanent grass there is no bet
!. ter mixture than herds grass, sapling
clover and timothy. This can DO cut
prof1tab1y from three to five years.
The good seasons and abundant rain
fall have permitted an unusual amount
OF summer blowing. consequently a
much larger area will be sown to this
mixture In the fall.
Alfalfa Coming Hay Crop.
Il am thoroughly satisfied that alfalfa
can be grown on every farm in Eastern
Virginia if tho land Is we'll drained
have even seen it on the reclaimed
lands OF the Dismal Swamp. TO grow
alfalfa, you must know Its nature and
s requirements Dr.tKnapp said the best
way to teach people was to show them,
ana we arc holding field meetings
where the farmers gather In tho field
where alfalfa is growing to study tho
plant.
Last spring we held one OF these
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