West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-10-28
A9 1ICULTURAL NEWS NOTES
OF INTEREST To FARMERS
Large Number of West Virginians
Have Enrolled for the Cores
pondence Course IN Agriculture-
Big Prize for Club Members-
New Circulars on Cookery.

ture, nature study and home econom-
les through correspondence courses
offered by the agricultural extension
department OF the West Virginia col
lege OF agriculture.
These courses consist of either ten
or twenty lessons each and are given
almost free of charge. a small regis
tration fee being charged to make GER
tain that those applying for the course
expect to actually carry the work
through.
A large number of persons who took
these courses last year are now en-
rolled for other courses offered by the
department Some OF these courses
are as follows: Farm crops, fertility
= OF the soil. beef cattle. sheep, hogs.
farm dairying. domestic science, farm
management, commercial fruit grow
ing. small fruits. vegetable gardening
and farm poultry.
Farmers. teachers or students de-
string to take any of the above courses
should write c. ii. Hartley, college of
agriculture. w. Va. university.
Since February the soils department
at the college of agriculture has an
alyZed more than three hundred sam
pies OF limestone for persons who are
contemplating grinding or burning
limestone for use in correcting the
acidity OF local soils. large number
OF limestone crushing machines have
been installed throughout the state
and In some instances local supplies
OF limestone are now secured at prices
less than the freight costs formerly
paid
Limestones vary greatly in compo-
sition and before attempting to utilize
q lime stone ledge, an analysis OF the
stone should always be made The
soils department at the college of ag-
ricalture, w. Va. university, will make
te analysis free of charge, provided
the sample is taken according to their
directions. Simple directions for taxi
Ing samples will be sent upon re-
quest.
over, county superintendent of schools
In Monongalia county. stated as fol-
lows concerning the relation between
agricultural club work and school
work:
"For the past two years we have
kept complete record of SO club
members and the same number of pu-
pills OF the same grade and age, from
the same schools but who are not club
members. The record shows that the
club members have averaged in the
monthly examinations Is per cent
above these who do not belong to any
club. In attention and interest, ~ per
cent. In attendance at high school af-
ter completing the eighth grade, %
per cent. l am pleased also to an
nounce that in our annual spelling
Jontest for the entire county all OF the
winners were members of the bows
and girls clubs. We also find that
these clubs are vitalizing our courses
OF study and bringing the schools I'm
touch with the farm and home life.
They recognize that what we want I'm
the home we should place I'm the
schools; that knowledge I'm the head
and skill OF the hand amount 10 more
than strong muscles; that these club
meetings draw the whole community
to the schol house and make Il a cen
ter OF interest. They emphasize its
interest and needs. When its needs
are known they are apt to be met"
Tbs State Bankers association at
their meeting at White Sulphur
Springs last summer, voted money to
pay the expenses of one boy and one
girl to the prize winners course to be
held at the college OF agriculture next
January These prizes are to be Civ
p en- to the boy and girl making the
best all-around showing in the agri-
cultural clubs and canning clubs OF
the state.
senator n. B scott has donated 800
~ prize fer the best showing made
BY y canning club girl.
The Union Stock Yards at Pitts
burg recently announced that they
would give 800 to the club member
making the best showing with a pig
this will probably go to boy who has
been growing a SOW and litter Of pigs
There will be a large number OF
other prizes added to the above and
all will be awarded after the big state
club exhibit to be held at Morgantowr
ne first week IN Manipulating far.
Hisrs geek n ,he college, Of agricul.
turs.
The season for extension schools Is
still several weeks of, but more thar
twenty applications are already or
his, These four-day agricultural
schools held In the various counties
have proved quite popular I'm the past
and more applications are usually re.
ceived than can be granted. An ef
fort is made, however, to distribute
them over the state where the great
est interest Is shown and where the,
am accomplish the gfeatest smoupt
~ eo0d,
Any community desiring schoo
Of this kind should lose no time n
communicating with the extension de-
partment Of the college Of agriculture
w. Va. university.
similar schools giving instruction