The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-15
GREAT FARMS DOWN
ON THE PAMUNKEY
Nirginians Who Know How to
Make Money Out OF Nir-
ginia Ground.
EARNED BIG FARM IN 7 YEARS
Julian Ruffin, a Real Demon
strator-Thc Charming and
Rich Pamunkcy Valley.

Much has been said in Virginia of
late, and no, Il little of il In these col
umns, about the new tricks that new
people have been teaching Virginians
about farming. Several Scandinavian
farm settlements have been held up
as object lessons. and truly they are
GOOD object lessons for no people on
Inc earth Know better how TO make
things come out Of the earth Than do
these Scandinavian farmers 1t is
equally true that people who have
come INTO Virginia from the Western
states ana bought farms have shown
our people few stunts that were well
worth knowing. and a great number Of
iolks nave come from the frigid North
where small farms are the order of the
Gay, and given us n few pointers about
intensive farming and how to work
All the year round, whether il rains
or SHOWS or shines. or what not The
bid virginia farmer is glad enough to
get ali OF these pointers and profit by
thcir, but all the same. the Old Nir-
ginia farmer OF the twentieth century
breed Is holding his own all right, and
ne mas some pointers to give. too. even
TO the newcomers. whether they be
from Norway or sweden, or Wisconsin,.
OF Iowa, or Ohio, or anywhere else
When | made that trip by buggy
down in the Pamunkcy VALLEY, which
j have heretofore told about in 81 par
iial way, ] gathered some facts which
showed me that when 1t comes down
10 getting good things out Of the Old
Virginia soil there are twentieth cen
fury farmers in Virginia who never
saw tho booming West or Scandinavia
but who can give their Western and
scandinavian ne!ghbors two and the
go and at least equal them in re-
suits.
Some Of the OId-Timers.
While on that trip visited the cs-
tates OF Julian VI Runiu and Roland
j. broaddus in the pamunkey Valley
and ther" saw some up-to-dute farm
ing that Us worthy OF record
Mr.. Ruiln WAS for several years a
member Of the state Agricultural
Hoard. and might have been until now
but his farm on the pamunkey re-
quircd SO much OF his attention he de-
clin.d 10 serve on the board, feeling
that he ought not - accept a service
that he could not iiud time 10 give
almost uUdividc attention TO. Seven
years ago SIR. Runiu bought the farm
ho; and known as U2per Marlbourue.
The property once belonged 10 the
ttGiiu estate. but had fallen into the
hands ~ AN Illinois syndicate lie
paid friction less than $4,000 for
II, and borrowed the money 10 MAKE
' p
,-ud to-day he owes not Il red cent on
tho property, and no nHu's 10000
could buy Upper NarIboUrile. II would
0l.ns taat amount az money easily II
i.i pr a., aucto" have no doubt
Nuw. ever, cent ~ the money THAT has
iaIH .at Up.t Marlhournc and all that
wDti GO ptS interest on ihc borrowed
Muloy WAS made out o.: Tic ground
wtltn tAe seven years. That TACT
alone s. sufficient 10 show how this
Ni-s Milan knows how 10 make farming
!anrs in Ola Virginia pay. asked Mr.
I;Liu % tell me now lie worked out
sGeh grand results and he unfolded to
uc bus system, ana OF This l will speak
latcg ou.
Upper Alarlbourne is a part OF the
Famuukey River estate ia Hanover
GoGuty tAut was made famous by Ed
muud i;u'hu the grandfather OF The
present owner aud IL ua,'~';,c paid the
pioneer scientific Virginia farmer, for
up 10 ms day and time Virginia farm
crs placed all NJ their reliance in the
virgin soil. and he WAS the first 10
begin tile proper care OF soil and the
CROP rotation sy~t-:-:7. but his is an
other story that viii come along later
and be treated by another writer.
Magnificent Whitley.
standing on the hill at Upper Mari
bourne. with the hills OF King VIII
liam County on the other side o: the
Pamunkey River in plain view. I LOOK
I'd DOWN In the Pamuukcy Valley upon
seen" ~ spring beauty That could
not be cNcclled, except i'm the matter
81 extent and acreage. by anything
TO be seen ia the valley OF Virginia.
This magnificent valley or the part
that could sec from where stood, is
being cultivated along twentieth cen
tury methods by Julian Euihn ana
Roland r. Broaddus. the former own
ing $50 aces and the latter three
famous farms aggrcEatinS 2.iO0 acres
OF the three farms now all run as
ono by NJ" i}roaddus. i'll have much
to say in another issue of The Times
Dispatch.
OF Mr. Eunin's $50 acres. 500 are
open and under Intense cultivation.
Ilo believes more in crop rotation ana
intense application OF vegetable mat
tor than he does in fertilizers al
though h. uses commercial fertilizers
TO IA limited extent Just here il may
be said that his farm is well stocked
with cattle and sheep, and they are
great "f@rtiliZer.'' OF themselves
Systematic Farming.
II am WORKING" said MI. Rutin, ION
q, what | may term thc fivc-neld sys-
tenn, I'VE fields. say OF sixty acres each.
The tirst year | start with corn, sec
ond year peas third year wheat, with
old-fashioned red clover seeded in with
it. fourth year clover. which is cut for
hay. and the NTH year is for grazing.
and then back TO corn. and SO on.
All five years the field is moderately
grazed. Mind YOU. these five fields
are worked thus in rotation, and 500
acres arc thus in constant use and
being improved from year 10 year. In
addition. carry 200 acres to be cul-
tivatcd as | see fit from year TO year.