The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-01
DEMONSTRATORS:
THEIR GOOD WORK
Continued From First Page.)


crops. under direction of tho agent
One farmer told the writer that the
amount he saved within the past two
years in buying fertilizers in this way
more than paid for tho whole expense
Of crimson clover and cuwpea crops
plowed under to Improve his land each
season.
The Introduction OF alfalfa into many
districts through the agents familiar
hy with the soil, knowledge Of inocu-
lation, right season to SOW and proper
preparation for its culture. has added
most valuable crop to SECTIONS whore
IL was thought 1t could not lac grown.
This is one OF T. .. Sandy's favoritc
introductions.
Introduction also Of new varieties
of corn and other cereals into sections
whore old varieties are run out Is pop
ular Many agents have been instru-
mental In having brought into their
counties Improved stock-horses. cat
tie. sheep, hogs and poultry. They
have also advocated better implements
and machinery; silos: better seed, and
ncw varieties Of fruit trees and vines
The demonstration agent suggests to
the farmer more careful and business.
like method OF housing aud feedinl:
nj! animals; careful weighing and
measuring Of feed. and the adoption
of balanced ration for dairy cows
with record sheet for the amount 81
feed consumed. per cent OF butter fats
and quantity OF milk produced daily.
He also recommends better care of farm
implements
Drainage NJ Lind.
The agricultural efficiency expert
tells tho farmer that unless he drain
certain field no cannot expect even
fair crops lie goes over the neld with
tho farmer. sticks some lines Of stakcs.
measures the distances, figures . little
then tells him how much the work
should cost: the size Of tile needed aud
the price. or. he insy suggest employ
Ing the d!tching machine that may lie
In the ncighborhood. This works bv
the rod and finishes a drain ready for
tilo quicker and better than thirty
men. IL the farmer does not do this
tho agent rcmInds him again In tho
fall that he has lost enough IN that last
crop of corn to have drained the field
thoroughly.
Hog raising by feeding on Il rotation
OF growing crops ir fields or lots d.
vided by fences, with water cony enicnt
Is very important a;ia a comparative
~ new proposition In the State, Hogs
In large numbers hayc been raised and
fattencd ready for tic market by this
new process. During 1919. 2Gt farm
crs throughout the state adopted this
plan. through 4. @. Sandy's OF the local
agents advice. Gains Of two and one
half pounds and over per hog a dag
have been reported. and hogs have been
shipped direct from tho fields with
out additional finishing" and have sold
1T highest market rRtes.
One OF the most successful trsnsac-
lions In this connection was told the
writer BY prominent farmer. For
one shipment %. 3i3 hogs 10 Richmond
he received q check for sG.0l2.
Boys' Corn Clubs.
II would be interesting 10 tell of
the work Of boys OF the corn clubs In
the state ard the growth Of this de
partincnt under the agents. We can
merely mention the fact That their av-
eragc was IS - bushels per acre for
ALL Mt average cost Of So IL cents per
bushel The best yield was over l54
bushels To tho acre. at cost OF % cents.
More han seventy boys raised 100
bushels and ever per acre. at cost OF
~ 20 cents,
The following story of :; boy in one
or the northern counties Of the state
may be worth telling as an illustration
OF what this particular branch of the
demonstration work stands for:
The county agent had asked this boy
TO Join his hoys' club for one year, as
he was nearing, eichteen--thc age limit
lie replied that he did not intend To
stay upon the farm. but wanted "A job
one OF the electric cars that run
from the big c!ty TO within twelve
miles OF his home. Tie agent told him
that II he really wished such a position
that he could secure II for him. but
would like 10 talk with his father first.
The father said that no greater mis-
fortune and disappointment could he
fall him than Jimic's leaving the farm.
Because" ne said. they never come
back. He is my only boy, and if II.
leaves the place viii have no i'm
terest nor pleasure in CARRYING on ,ny
schemes Of Improvement on the farm
or the home. If you can induce my son
10 stay with mo l will be forever
grateful"
The agent finally made compro-
mise with iii" boy to the effect that lac
would stay for ono season on the farm
on condition tina, If at the end of the
season lie had failed to make $50 clear
OF overy expense on his one acre he
would DO allowed To go In peace and q
sob secured him. How this was TO DO
done was doubtful TO both the agent
and the father. and they schemed long
into ono night as TO what the agent
should advise the boy To use on his
crop to make it raise q heavy yield
md still be strictly within the rules Of
the competition. Yet not burden the
crop TOO heavily. Every expense for
fertilizer, manure, every hou: of work
of boy and horse have to be charged
against the crop. During tho summer
the boy became Ill, was carried TO one
Of the hospitals In the city to be oper-
nted on for appendicitis. When we'll
enough to be seen lie remarked TO tho
agent, who visited him In the hospital,
Il guess my corn Will he full OF weeds,
and TIL be coming again TO the city
IN the fall" But the agent observed
that his tone for returning to town was
not go eager as before.
Fortunately. the club rules make III
lowance for Just such emergencies, and