The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-08
RICHMOND VA SUNDAY FEBRUARY 8 1911

moro manure to increase the fertility
OF the soil
Mr.. Sandy states that the demonstra-
ton agents were furnished with Bah
cock testers by Professor William ID.
Saunders. State Dairy and Food Com
missioner. and they wcre instructed in
their use at Blacksburg. Cows are
tested by the agents. and In this man
ner farmers can get rid OF those who
do not pay for their keep. Last year
.ool cows were tested. and to illus
trate how this was appreciated, Mr.
Sandy quotes the following letter, re
ceived from Isle OF Wight County:
Our agent has tested n good many
COWS for the farmers for butter fat,
something that was never done before
In this section. I know OF ono man
that wanted to buy Il good COW and had
prices from two men, and was undc-
cided which to buy, until our agent
Mr.. Lyons, tested them. and found one
was giving twelve and one-h:,lf pounds
of butter and the other four and one
half per week. SO he knew, then, which
he wanted
buying Pure bred Sires.
Mr.. Sandy reports encouraging CON
ditlons among live stock lie adyo-
Gates the use Of pure bred sircs, and
his agents were instrumental in bring
ing 26S of them into the demonstration
counties during the past year. The
agents suggest certain types for the
dairyinS section and certain types for
tho beer sections. and they are trying
to get the people In these sections To
breed up to that particular type. to the
exclusion OF others. Some Of the coun-
ties. Mr.. Sandy reports, are interested
i'll community breeding OF live stock
and he Is making efforts TO get n pure
bred sire I'm each magisterial district
the county TO pay half and the people
to raise the balance among themselves
The supervision of the animal is TO be
under the Board of Supervisors and the
demonstration agent.
Hog raising by rotation OF crops
form an important part of the report
Mr. Sandy states that he believes that
this idea. when taken up by farmers
of this State will mean n whole lot to
Virginia. His report shows that 267
farmers have undertaken to raise hog
by rotation of crops. and are putting
in the necessary crops preparatory 10
raising the porkers next year. Charts
showing the best rotation are given in
the report. This rotation, Mr.. Sandy
states takes nothing from the coil
except phosphorus, and 1t adds 4 great
deal of humus. The hog does Of the
harvesting.
The State work included the opera
ton OF 492 farms under the direction
ond supervision of the agents last year
These farms were run by rotation OF
crops. showing tho farmer how to get
the largest possible yield. and yet
leave his land In better condition than
when he started The agents also in
spected 63s orchards for different in
owners in spraying the trees and mix
ing the sprays, and the proper time in
which to do the work.
Farmers Usc better Machinery.
Mr. Sandy reports that wonderful
strides have been made In the use of
up-to date farm machinery Some
twelve or fifteen gasolcne tractors
have been brought into the counties in
the demonstration work
With the increased production of
hay and the grasses. the farmers are
looking out for the best manure spread
ers, corn harvesters. rakes hay load
ers, riding plows. cultivators, disk har-
rows and improved implements Of all
kinds. These demonstration agents are
encouraging the farmers along those
lines to save labor and keep the boy
on the farm.
One OF the most interesting sec
lions of the report deals with the use
of fertilizers. Twelve counties reported
that 81 tons We're mixed By the agents
for the farmers The ST. e depart
mcnt advocated the cooperative pur-
chase OF ingredients. and the cost has
been lessened as much as from So to 81
a ton. The use of farm manure mixed
. &
per cent phosphorous, the demonstra-
tors found made n complete fertilizer.
Mr. Sandy reports that i6,SO4 OF lime
were brought into the dcmonstrati ton
territory in 1919. The people. he found.
are awakening TO the possibilities OF
lime TO correct the acidity OF the soil
and to make it more productive.
The agents report that they have
interested many farmers in the use of
tile drain on their lands a number
a .,ly ;Nf
courses in drainage, and make plats
OF the fields and instruct the owner in
the best methods OF draining them. The
agents also assisted in putting in four
or five water systems during the past
year.
County Fairs Are Praised.
Speaking of county and other agri-
cultural fairs. Mr.. Sandy says:
We have taken up the county ex-
hibits at the State Fair and emphasized
eratifed by the Communications that
have come TO us by the placing of these
county exhibits. These reasons are:
Virginia has no money set apart for
advertising purposes. The resources
Of her lands, the pleasant climate, and
her other natural advantages are un-
known to the outside world. The Vir-
Ginia State Fair is the one medium of
advertising what we have. The farm
ers OF the West come every fall to see
MildN NiiSliidt Is producing. Nltn all
of the counties sending exhibits the
stranger learns about the crops the
soil, and the people. We understand
that thousands OF these farms have
been sold to outside people who have
come to visit this fair.
The farmers of this State need some
great inspiring cause 10 incite them to
better work upon the farm, new stand
ards OF life. and broader ideals. and
here they come by the thousands every
year and see the very best that Vir-
glnia produces.
THE demonstration work. just as
every business organization, needs adj
vertising. and this is the best medium
OF advertising that we can do.
out OF the ffty-one counties in the
demonstration work, forty eight had
exhibits ut the State Fair. In these
booths everything grown in the county
is displayed in the most attractive
manner. Tho demonstration building
Is visited by everybody that comes TO
the fair, and is acknowledged to be the
most nlea sing feature a the fair Ry