West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-08-26
AGRICULTURAL MATTERS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE
Farmers Institutes Being Held
Throughout the State - Great
Benefits Derived from Cow-Tcst-
ing Observation-Disclosures Fruit
BullctinS JuSt Issucd

"b"N' A"'H lailnSIS institutes
were begun simultaneously I'm seven
different parts OF the state. The first
places visited I'm each district were
Zion. Tyler county: Kenna. Jackson
county: Dickson. Wayne county :
sinks Grove. Monroe county: Rose
ville' Fayettc county; Odessa. Clay
county, and Negan, Upshur county
from these points the work will
spread throughout the various sec
tions and by November 1st, 1l5 insti-
tutes Will have been held. practically
all of them two day sessions.
BY way of preparation for these in
sututes twenty-five members of the
lecture stan met at the college of ag-
riculture at Morgantown july 26 and
~ TO discuss ways and means and TO
receive instructions which will enable
them TO make the work even better
this year than in previous years.
The total attendance at the insti-
tutes last year ran above 10000 at the
regular sessions and I'm addition n
large number OF special independent
Institutes were held. These independ-
ent institutes were usually held at tho
same places and by the same local Off
GERS as were the regular Institutes
nut the entire program was supplied
by local talent. This gave opportunity
Tor some interesting discussions of
local questions by people who were
right on the ground and knew the lo
cal conditions perfectly In many in
stances the practices suggested by Tn,
state institute lecturers earlier I'm the
season, had been tried out by the time
the local independent institute was
held, and reports and discussions were
In order. Thus. the two kind of in
stitutes work together hand I'm hand
and both should be encouraged
Many farmers are figuring on erect
ing new dairy barns or remodeling
their old barns so as to make them
more suitable for dairying.
The extension department of the col
lege OF agriculture, Morgantown. is
prepared to furnish such plans anl
specifications free of charge Any one
Interested should write to Mr.. G. l..
oliver OF the extension department.
Greenbrier and Monroe counties
have recently organized a COW testing
association and more than 400 COWS
arc aIrao1y VpJor foot m. -. t.-.t...
of these animals are owned by about
% farmers and the number will be
materially increased before long. Mr..
Levin, who has been doing advanced
registry work at the soldiers home.
Washington, ID. c., has been employed
as expert tester.
The cows will be tested regularly
and If any cow falls TO show a fair
profit at the end OF nine to twelve
months she will be disposed OF and a
better animal substituted. These
tests sometimes reveal surprising
things TO the owners. In herd of 12
COWS tested some time ago, the owner
found that he could actually make
more clear profit by selling off ten
Of his cows and keeping the only two
that were really returning substan-
tial profit. The chief advantages OF
cow-testing associations are as fol-
lows:
!. Eliminates the poor and unproht-
able COWS, thereby raising the average
production Of the herd.
2. Assistance Is given in determln-
ing the best feeds and the best feeding
methods
3. II is easier for an association
member TO sell surplus breeding stock
al n good price
4. The association develops CO
operative spirit
Five hundred and nine students
have been enrolled I'm the summer
school Of West Virginia university
during the six weeks just ended OF,
this number 238 were working for
university credit and POI will remain
for the entire nine weeks session
There are $40 women and 1888 men
enrolled but only % or 33 per cent OF
the women are working for credit
while l43 or 73 per cent OF the men
expect university credit for their
work The increased number Of stu
dents working for credit over the num-
bcr OF any previous year indicates
a corrcspondingly increased useful
ness Of the summer school. for the
work done here will be counted to-
ward degree in this or any other
university
Monongalia county naturally leads
in enrolment with a total of i4g.
Kanawha is second with 2S. Only six
West Virginia counties have no stu
dents in the summer school Penn
sylyauia sent % students and Mary
land lG while Ohio. Virginia. Nebras-
ka and Indiana are also well repre-
scented
Nature study under VI. ]. Abbey
seems TO be the most popular course.
enrolling 50 students English I'm the
country schools by Professor J. w
Barnes comes second with an enroll
meut OF So or the agricultural
courses, elementary pomology and
farm poultry are the most popular.
the latter being a special course given
ON petition Of a number Of students
On the whole this has been the best
and most successful summer school
ever held here. according 10 Dr. Wait
man Barbe, who had charge Of the
work. More interest and enthusiasm