The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-13
NORTHERN NECK TO
FAR-OFF FREDERICK
Farm Demonstration
Work Goes On-News
From the Outposts.
NORTHUMBERLAND
AND Ian CASTER
Counties Between Rappahannock
and Potomac May Become
Great Cattle Country-Things
Being Accomplished in
Frederick County-In-
teresting Figures.

OpcEdIlVO Work In
Virginia. I give below two interesting
letters from demonstration agents,
whose fields of operation are very far
apart and in entirely different environ
ment.
4 B. NJ. warriner. the agent for the
counties Of northumberland and Lam
caster. with Headquarters at Heaths-
Vile. writes as follows:
Demonstration work was taken up
In northumberland County and Lam
caster County in November, 1912. Al
nrst the people took very little interest
In it. but the work gradually won It's
way. As tho farmers became inter-
ested the work progressed rapidly.
until to-day 1t is the most acceptable
solution OF many farm problems.
These counties are not raising enough
hay for home consumption. The land
IS very adaptable; almost any kind Of
grass can be grown well. Alfalfa seems
to be perfectly at home in this soil as
one sees the sweet clover growing
along the roadside
visited the farm OF q certain gentle
man several months ago to consult with
him about raising grass. He would
haro nothing to do with demonstration
methods. Yesterday the same gentle
man told me that he desired to put in
a field Of about ten acres in mixed
grasses This change OF mind ! put
to the interest In raising pure bred
cattle. With the abundant grasses and
easily raised grains. the prospect OF
these counties exporting beef cattle ia
very good. and could be realized in q
few years.
Tho Boys Right in II.
ind the boys are very much in
terested in better farming. 1 was told
that i would be doing we'll TO get nifty
corn club boys. got one hundred and
thirty odd. Some OF the boys are the
sons OF tho wcalthiest citizens; but
there oh
hardly taller than a pillow handle, Is
the eldest child OF very poor widow.
This boy was not on hand the day I
visited the school. hearing of me
from the other children. he wrote to
mo asking that l teach him how 10
farm. so that no could take care of
mother. He Is now one of my most
earnest corn club boys. Another boy.
no larger than this one, Is working
his acre with two old oxen. the best
no has. These boys and many like
them are working early and late. and
they have some pretty acres OF corn
to show for It.
Quite large per cent Of the in
habitants OF this State who are not
familiar with this section are under
The Impression that the Northern Neck
is not progressive. and especially along
agricultural lines This Idea, am
sure. was brought about by the mac
feasibility OF the Neck. 1t is true that
the people have not developed their
agricultural interests as they should.
This neglect is due largely to the fact
that they have been unable to COM
pete with the prices which the fish.
fertilizer factories arc paying for
labor
Under the old method tho farmer
cultivated more land than was neces-
sary, and consequently had to have
great deal OF labor. Some of the
farmers. realizing the seriousness of
their condition. began searching for
solution OF their problem. and think
they have found 1t in the demons,ra-
tion work.
ola Folks Slow, But Coming.
My first work was to visit the
schools for the purpose of organizing
the corn clubs and also to interest
some Of the adult farmers in growing
better corn. The new method was
very readily accepted by the boys.
but It did not seem to meet with the
continued, though, and finally sue
ceeded In getting about thirty farm
ers. who agreed to cultivate entirely
or partially. according to the depart
ment's methods
AS the spring advanced commenced
soliciting grass demonstrators. and
the demonstration work took on a
different appearance. Nearly every
man who was approached on the sub
ject OF grass consented to Sow with
out the slightest hesitation. and I
believe I am perfectly safe in saying
that there will be something like 400
acres seeded this fall to alfalfa and
the other grasses Now. for the sake
Of argument. will say that the 400
acres Will produce 1.4o0 tons of hay.
Putting this hay at the very low prico
fh4~ I, H.
crop alone means n saving of $4,000
for these two counties.
Northern Neck for Alfalfa.
There Is every indication that al
falfa can he grown probably. and 1t
has been proven very conclusively by
one OF my demonstrators. visited
this gentleman on the 14th of May
and found him cutting one of the
finest crops of red clover and alfalfa
that I have ever seen The first cut
ting from this field yielded three and
quarter tons of cured hay per acre.
I walked through this Same field again
on June 10. and the second crop was
almost as good as the first.
Some OF the farmers are beginning
to realize what wonderful possibili-
ties they have here for cattle raising.
and they are becoming very much
interested in the beef types. Owing
to the lack of better shipping facili-
ties 1t would be almost impossible to
mako dairying pay. unless the farm
ers become interested to the extent
that they Will establish cooperative
creamery.
In addition to the grasses. cowpeas,
soy beans and the small grains can
be grown with very little trouble.
These crops will, OF course, enable the
farmers to produce as cheap pork, and
nrOhah1y NhcaOer than Other o.
tion OF the State.
1t was not very encouraging to be
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