The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-07-21
TESTS AND THEIR VALUE
With Actual Operations in To-
bacco the Correct Way of
Handling the Crop is TAUGHT
But There is Needed a Sys-
tematic Distribution of the
Information Obtained
(By 5. X. WlNTERS.)

(By ). r.. WINTERS.)
oxford, July 1S.-What are the
methods employed by the Granville
county experiment station in chart
ing the purse for the tobacco farm
ers to follow in producing the maxi
mum results from the cultivation Of
their crops Is the farm fulfilling it's
original three-fold of deter
mining the brand of fertilizer best
adaptable to the Granville soil, what
rotation crops yield best results, and
what variety Of tobacco seed Yields
the maximum output? Granville
farmers who AVE watched the oper-
atoms of the farm are Of the opinion
that it is answering the demands
placed upon it. A review of the actual
work accomplished will answer the
questions propOunded.
The Granville County Experiment
Station is one of a group of five test
farms and two sub-stations maintained
in North Carolina by the State and
National Departments of Agriculture,
acting jointly. The revenues appro-
priated by the State toward the up
keep OF these farms are derived from
the fertilizer inspection tax. The
Granville farm is operated on a more
extensive plan than the other four
stations, and it's chief purpose is for
tobacco investigation. Three years
ago the station began it's Investigations
in a limited way-leasing ten acres Of
the present farm of 246 acres. The
past seasons crop, however, was the
first experiment carried through to a
conclusion under the personal atten-
ton and direction Of a competent di-
rector.
Trained in the Work.
f.. G. Moss. a native OF the county
who is thoroughly acquainted with
the cultivation of tobacco-ideas in
cluded from a lifelong experience
with its productions director Of the
experiments. MIR. Moss supplemented
his practical experience in tobacco
with a o years cours at the Uni
versity of North Carolina. He grad
uated from the University with the
class of 1902, and was taught by that
scholarly teacher and chemist, Dr.
Charles Baskerville, then associated
with the chemistry department. Mr.
Moss analytical training in chemistry
thoroughly equipped him for his work
and he Is amply competent to direct
the Investigations of the Experiment
Station.
The farm is located one mile from
Oxford on the site once occupied by
the county home. The State paiC
ton, the 246 acres Of land constitut
mig the chief value Of the purchase
The buildings, weather-worn and di
5apidated, are being torn away for tn
construction Of modern ones. Alread.
a handsome residence, three barns ant
"A tobacco storage house have beer
constructed. Five laborers and fou
horses are employed regularly to carr.
on the operations of the station.
Sixteen acres of tobacco are beln,
cultivated this year the acreage bein;
somewhat curtailed by the prevailin!
drouth. Or the total acreage there ar
subdivided $50 plots, embracing 3
varieties of tobacco. The first inves
iigation of worth to the Granvill
farmer was established in connection
with the test of the various Tobacco
seeds given a try-out. 1t was discoV
cred of the last seasons crop that
tobacco seed known locally as tn
Adcock tobacco yielded the best re
suits of the 35 varieties given a tes
This type of tobacco is a local PROD
uct, and the deduction advanced b
Mr.. Moss is hat the seed has becom
acclimated to the Granville soil
hence best fitted for plant-bed pul
poses. his type Of tobacco is alread
popular in certain communities of tn
county, but the general claim mac
for 1T by the experiment station WI
increase it's popularity.
The investigation as to the rotatio
of crops makes its chief claims Il
crops of rye n grass to precec
crops of tobacco, and Bur and GRIN
son clover are recommended as COW
crops to precede>corn. The soil. sc
entifically known as the Durham sane
loan, yields it's most profitable crol
under this system of rotation. III
Experiment station advocates the i'd
of breaking the land deep under the
conditions.
As To Primino and Cutting.
Another interesting experiment tn
Is calculated to prove of immen
value to the tobacco farmer is a ia
trial Of the imi VS.. cutting of n