The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-01-26
In the Extension and Improve.
ment Of Agriculture and
Horticulture.
(By G. w. Dudderar, Board o
Trade sacI,efnrrv \ I.

(By G.. w. Dudderar, Board OF
Trade secretary
so far as i know, the Blnghanlton
Chamber OF Commerce Of Bingham
ton, ~. Y, county seat of Boone
county, was the first county to un-
dertake any extensive agricultural
development: through government CO.
operation. While the Binghamton
Chamber of Commerce had for years
been playing its own game locating
factories and otherwise boosting the
city, 1t woke up about three years
ago to the realization Of the fact
that 1t had been neglecting the big
gest industry OF the whole commu-
nifty, the industry of farming, which
gives employment to more people
and provides a livelihood for a larger
population than any industry or
group Of industries in that city and
We believe the. came applies to
Clarksburg and Harrison county as
we'll. H,
But, assI said, they woke up to the
importance of farming and upon In
vestigation found that the rural pop
ulation was decreasing and farm
lands being neglected. On every
hand were wornout pastures over
run with weeds which the farmers
did not think they could conquer;
poor meadows, decaying orchards
and majority of dairy COWS not pro-
ducing enough to pay for their feed.
Finally arrangements were COM
pleted and John Barron, a graduate
of the New York College of Agrlcul-
turc, was employed, He immed ate
" took up the problem of restoring
the worn out pastures and of mark
citing their dairy products, illustrating
the value of lime and clover in ro-
tation IN restoring the fertility of the
soil, and directing the spraying and
care of their orchards. Farmers
have been impressed with the wis
dom CT keeping records and Locating
the leaks in their finances. Cow and
milk testing associations have been
formed, and the boys Of the district
schools organized into corn clubs.
They are working through the
oranges wherever practicable, and
lat other places organizing farmers
clubs.
These clubs hold monthly meet
ings with Mr.. Barron present to
make talks and lead in the discus
sion Of subjects Of particular import
lance in that locality. Mr.. Barron Is
with these farmers every two weeks,
once to meet with the club and once
| to visit among the individual men,
lbers on their farms. Both at the
clubs and in the fields he talks bet
ster cows, keeping records, don't turn
/ your stock out too early, rest the
pasture, the need OF proper seed Sc
lection, how to kill noxlous weeds,
ilime and clover and cash crops in ro-
tation trim, spray and cultivate the
orchards.
The live, wldeawake farmers are
taking right hold on this work with
.'Mr. Barron. and the dead ones in
many cases are willing to sell, and
many of these western fellows are
iglad to come back east and get into
This awake community. One special
result is already becoming notice.
able; many herds of cattle are now
producing an average OF 500 per
COW, while the average for the coun-
! try Is less than $42 per COW. further,
to quote the language OF those far
ners: sit only requires a little
study, little labor, little CONT
jdence and a little capital to make
these lands. that are sold at $50 per
acre, produce on q basis OF $50, SIS
and even $500 per acre."
Much interest is being shown these
days IN the location OF factories, and
in this effort considerable success Is
being realized; this is good shut moth
ing will mean SO much to Clarksburg
lin the future as a real Improvement
of Its agricultural methods and an
Intelligent and scientific development
of the great natural resources OF this.