Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-12
DEMONSTRATION WORK
DOWN IN OLD D|NW|DD|E
County That Is Getting to the Front
in Great Shape, and Is
There to Stay.
COUNTY GETS TO FOREFRONT
Dinwiddie Comes Right Up With AL
falfa and Other Products--Things
That Tell In an Old County That
Come Right Up to Rack.

5. p. Spain. the demonstration agent
of Dinwiddie County, writes OF his
county "a follows:
Our work this year was begun under
more favorable circumstances than ever
before, with one exception. The severe
drought OF last fall caused many of our
farmers to lose most OF their crimson
clover, but they needed the message
that was heralded all along the line. to
SOW more grass and grain. and this
year finds most OF our farmers with
enough wheat and other grains for
homo supply and some to sell with
better pastures than usual. cattle and
! other live stock are in good condition
for this season OF the year. the farm
ers are more optimistic thar. they wero
last year this time.
Having little crimson clover on the
land the farmers were not compelled to
wait to fallow as late MS usual. They
fallowe ed most OF their land early. made
much better preparation for seed bed.
planted earlier. cultivated better and
have much better corn than for the past
years
II have $50 men demonstrating In tho
work. $50 cooperating. sevcnty-hve
boys in the corn clubs, thirty boys in
the peanut clubs, and fifteen boys in
the pig club. The prospects now are
that we will have some very fine re-
ports from the boys in their club work.
The men. of course, are doing their best.
many OF them to equal the boys, with
the result that there VIII also be good
reports from them on corn. Several
good reports wheat have been re-
ceived and n few on oats but as gen
cral thing the oat crop was poor. the
season being unfavorablc for this crop.
Culture Of Alfalfa and Results.
Alfalfa culture is gaining favor
rapidly. The people arc just learning
how profitable 1t is to grow alfalfa.
George Sedivy, n former demonstration
agent. OF Church Road. mad several
acres Of very stiff red clay soil tina. he
had failed to grow corn or tobacco on
protitably. He was discouraged. think
ing the land was Of little value. hut
sowcd same to alfalfa in the fall OF
1913. and got fine stand. The next year
no cut four crops. giving him about
four tons of hay per acre. This year
his alfalfa has been so fine that many
from quite q distance have been TO see
IL and are delighted to know that such
crops of alfalfa can he grown in Din
widdie His brother has sown six acres
this fall More people have succeeded
In growing alfalfa prohtably this year.
and more alfalfa Is being seeded TINS
fail than ever before Alfalfa Is rapidly
coming into It's own.
THE people are rapidly learning the
value OF lime on our acid soils, ana
more OF II Is being used this fall than
usual SO many different brands are
now on the market that the farmers
are somewhat confused AS 10 what
brand TO use Good results usually fol-
low wherever any is used In Dinwlddie.
The live stock industry Is taking
on new life in Dinwiddie. The farm
ers are giving more attention 10 get
ting pure-brcd sircs and grazing up
their stock. There is marked I'M
provement already In the appearance
as we'll as being more prohtaole IMAM
raising scrubs few OF our farm
ers would like TO see a live stock
breeders association formed In Din
widdie which I hope can be done IN
the near future. ! am doing what
can to urge upon the people the i'm
portance OF silos In successful cattle
raising. with the result that several
silos are now going up Many are very
much interested in the silo PROPOSE
ton. Whenever l succeed In getting
one silo built in neighborhoon
know others will follow soon. for they
cannot be blind TO Its merits.
DOING SOMETHING
IN THE ORCHARD
Just n few farmers were induced
10 prune and spray orchards last
spring. and those who did so have
the best fruit in their communities
II will not he hard the coming winter
and spring to get quite a number TO
prune and spray. - We find we can
not grow fruit without this attention
one does not now have 70 live In
n city to have modern convcniences and
sanitary conditions in the home. The
farmers are beginning to realize TINS
and are Installing light and water
systems in their homes. thus relieving
to some extent the drudgery and In
creasing the home comforts Of farm
NE Every phase Of the demonstra-
ton work is now being recognized and
appreciated as never before. The boys
and girls are being educated and train
cd for their life work. The farmers
of D!nwiddie have caught n vision Of
what we may have in tho near future.
| and are vie!ns with the hoys In read
ing, thinking. planning and carrying
| cut the lessons taught us by the de-
partmcnt Those who these instruc-
, lions best will soon he rewarded by
| having rich farms, we'll stocked with
! fine pure bred live stock, modern con-
veniences for the home. money 70 their
| credit in the bank and an educated,
contented. happy family.