The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-15
More Talks About Farm
Demonstration Work
in Old Dominion.
TESTIMONY TIL A T
SHOWS BIG RESULTS
Brief Report From District Agent
tor Eastern Virginia-Alfalfa
and Dairy Farms in Pittsyl-
Vania County-Good Work
in Elizabeth City-Appo-
mattox Heard From.

continuing the snort talks on the
farmers cooperative denomination
work as now being carried on in Vir-
Einia, have some interesting letters
about things that have been accomp-
libhed and thinge that are being done
They VIII speak for themselves
F. S. Farrar. district agent and de-
Eonstrator for Eastern Virginia, writes
as follows
Remembering the droughts Of the
last two years and the very dry wealth
or this spring, | have been afraid that
tho corn club boys would become dis
couraged. but while a few OF them
have dropped out. the great bulk Of
them arc hard at work on their acre.
have between nine hundred and one
thousand boys in ms eighteen counties
which embrace the great part OF East
ern Virginia. Some OF the boys who
subsoilcd their land during the win
ter have their corn up. and have all
ready worked IL once or twice. Others
who were depending on planting on a
German clover fallow, hav. not We,
planted. and in many instances have
not been able to plow their land on
account OF dry weather. While too
much cannot be said Of German clover
as a fallow, and as cheap method
of enrich,ng the soil yet ii greatly
retards and conScsts tn. work on the
farm. However, this VIII be elimi-
mated by proper rotation Of crops.
Good work OF the boys
The corn club boys acres. as a rule,
have been we'll pro pared. subsoiIcd
during the winter and diskcd and har-
rowed early ia tho spring 10 preserve
the moisture Most OF the boys have
been supplied with improved seed
corn. They usually broadcas, the fer
tilizer about four to sin hundred
pounds per acre y great many are
making two applications one before
they plant the corn and the other two
three weeks before tasseling
When the corn is planted on a Ger
man clover or cowpeR faliow they APP
ply mostly phosphorus. as this is the
most needed plant food. but on thin
land complete fertilizer Is generally
used. In the light soils they are run
Ing the wcedev just before and after
the corn comes up. In heavier soils
the drag is used From now on the
corn VIII be narrowed after every rain,
and II they have good seasons. We can
expect new records for Virginia this
year
In some of the counties few OF the
boys are using good crop rotations
Cowpcas are sown in tho spring.
plowcd under and SUBSIDIZED IN the win =
ter. the land planted in corn the fol-
lowing spring. the German clover
vowed at last working OF the corn.
Next year this may be cut for hay. and
the land sowed to permanent grass,
Herds grass. timothy and sapling
clover, or red clover and alfalfa Be
sides improving the land. each OF these
crops may be turned into money. The
cowpeas can he cut for hay or pick ed
FOR seed. the corn may be sold at a
good profit. the German clover hay
will sell well. and the permanent grass
insures hay crop for three years so
the boy can take up another acre to
improve. In trucking sections some OF
the boys have agreed 10 plant carly
POTATOES, followed By corn. cowpeas
sowed in the corn followed by spinach
or kale In the winter. This provides
three or more money crops on the same
land in one year. and keeps the boy
interested the year through.
1t Is very gratifying 10 see how
deeply interested IN agriculture some
OF those boys become. visited boy
last week and saw a beautiful acre OF
corn he had planted with the hope OF
earning some money 10 start two
years agricultural course at the Viz
sinia Polytechnic Institute. also saw
little fellow only fourteen years old.
who was farming for his widow ID
mother. He is depending on the de-
monstration agent to direct him. and
always anxious for his visit
These boys who are always striving
to equip themselves for better farming
are the Kind that We love to visit and
TO help In some OF tho counties the
corn clubs are appointing committees
OF the boys to talk better farming.
TO collect exhibits for the county fair.
and TO create in the school and in tho
home an atmosphere OF love for the
land.
In PIttsyIvanin County.
Hero arc some notes from w. NJ.
Perry. the county demonstrators for the
big county of Tittsylvania:
The demonstration work in f'ittsyl-
vania county is not new proposition.
a few years ago an agent was en-
ployed and did n good work which
men speak OF to-day.
While tobacco Is tho money crop
here, the demonstration agent does not
give much time to this work. choos-
ing rather to encourage advanced
methods of cultivation of food stun.
crops for man and beast. When re-
qucsted. however, we give advice on
any proposition connected with tobac-
co. The farmers do not care to grow
leguminous crops on bright tobacco
land. hence VIC have the work of adj
visins a rotation of crops suitable to
their condition. Usually the advice Is
to devote part of the farm exclusively
to grain and grasses. on which i'm
provements can be made.
In the northern section of the coun-
~ there Is much land suited admir-
ably to stock raising. DRirying is
now being taken up, which promises to
be an exceedingly profitable Industry.
Fruit growing has been greatly
I, nv ho c.,
scale. The demonstration agent finds
A good field for work in inspecting
orchards and advising remedies for
this destructive insect
Alfalfa Is attracting tho attention OF
-(Continued On Third Pagel