West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-07-20
SYNOPSIS

SYNOPSIS
Joe Weston. fourteen years old, decides
TO mako a success OF his fathers run
down farm. Ho reads tho latest scientific
books Mr.. Somervillc, a merchant. agrees
to help him
Joe's father Is pcsslmistic. lie sneers
at book farming and book farmers Mr..
Bonneville struck with Joe's business
ability and ambition. backs him In prize
competitions.
Passersby on the road linger to watch
Joe operate. Tho sneers that were In
evidence at first soon glve way to looks
OF surprise Joe Is showing them some
thing as q farmer.
Joe's fathers pesslmism gradually
Iades away. He watches Joe work Ho
sees him perform wonders with tho soil
He soon Is as enthusiastic as Joe. His
conversion pleases Mr.. Somervillo
Joo's corn is tho wonder OF tho country
side. With money no received from n
commission merchant for his product no
starts a bank account, which no proudly
exhibits to his father.
There Is constant demand for the corn
Joe Is raising. In the prize competition
Joe makes 1ss bushels on an nero mt n
cost OF $3.50.
IL Is announced that Joe Weston, tho
book farmer. won tho first corn prize for
his county. His father says, "Son. I'm
4. powerful proud or ye."
Joe Is overwhelmed with Joy Mt recent
or q telegram that no also has won state
championship. With tho money he pays
on part OF the FARMS Indebtedness. lie
also wins trip to White House.
Joe describes to his mother and sister
MS trip to the White House and his talk
with tho president. Then he goes back 10
tho farm which now is tho talk of the
entire countryside.
Joe meets Tom Ralston, n boy OF nbou.
MS own age. Tom is from the north and
Is In quest OF health. The Ralston boys
father is wealthy. and Joe and Tom be-
como fast friends
Tom Ralstons father takes n great lIlx-
Ing TO Joe and offers to back him and
help him In every way. Joe finally nc
cepts MIR. Ralstons offer OF fifty loads OF
manure.
Joe buys his mother n canning outfit.
HIS mother and sister are enthusiastic
at tho prospect OF helping In tho general
money making scheme, and they start
work with q will.
Tom Rafston has been studying scien-
tito farming, and no gives Joo valuable
points. Joe takes his father to tho corn.
Held and they actually hear the corn
grow.
The time for tho next exhibit is near.
ana Joe and his father and Tom Ralston
call In witnesses. 1t IS now plain that
Joe, the Book Farmer" is the leading
prize winner OF tho county and state.
Joe. Mr.. Weston and Tom Ralston start
Tor tho fair. Joe accidentally learns that
he Is about to take the prize from a poor
boy. He refuses TO enter. Tho poor boy
wins. When Mr.. Ralston hears OF Joe's
noble act he gives him moro than the
amount OF the prize.
Amt no better breed in the world
for furnishin' rich milk TO make but
ter from. After while, when we're
able, I'm for getting n herd OF thor
oughbred Jerseys" asserted Mr.. Iyes-
ton 1--WE can sell the butter at good
profit, and there isn't better feed on
earth for pigs and chickens than but
termilk."
"Ain't these farmers fools TO sell
them calves for little or nothin' Ike
they have done? Now. just look at
this herd. Actually hasn't cost us SO
outlay for feed, except some cotton
seed meal for those scrawny, pore
weak, starved little fellers. They won't
cost us anything much next winter
Well raise enough stuff here TO carry
'em through. BY this fall n year they'll
be with So apiece Of any mans mon
ey," Mr.. Weston unused "a he leaned
over the gate and watched the con
tented cattle.
Wen make something like 500
clear on the idea and get three or four
good milk cows too" added Joe
"Then think. We've returned the
feed an humus TO the soil and been
able TO mako many n ton OF manure TO
build up the land That is with $500
cash itself, for we won't have to buy
as much commercial stuff" suggested
the older man.
isn't It wonderful. pn. how this bust
ness OF progressing opens up--one
thing from anotber7 And It is all so
plain and so sensible and accordln' IN
reason"
1T sure is!'
And just 60 think. we haven't got
started good yet, pa! Why, we're In
the A, b, Q class yet compared with
those farmers up north and in the
middle west. They are the best farm
ers in the world, reckon"
II guess they've forgot more things
about good farmln' than we know"
agreed his father, enjoying the sight OF
the calves as they reaped the young
oats.
"speakfn' OF a. =, Cs Joe, I'm sOrter
pestered about your drOppin' school
like you have. DO you think Ls
good idee, sonT Mr. Weston had Of
late become painfully aware OF his own
educational limitations.
mo. sir; but It couldn't be helped
this year. Besides. / can read well
and do read all the time. and I'm learn
ing things And, 70 tell the truth. I've
got about as far ne can go in this
little school here. That g. n mighty
poor teacher"
Wei, you can't expect much Of
teacher az SO n month She does the
best she can. reckon" said SIR. Yves
son charftably.
Looks TO me Ike The state ought 30
pay more and get bcttzr teachers for
The country schools. st any rate, I'm
reading my school books when / have
a chance, and reading these bulletins
will help me Education f. knowing
things useful 10 you
who told you that sonT'
@@The president He said there wasn't
any more sense 10 packing n lot Of use
less junk around in your head than IN
hauling 80 about IN q wagon"
"Blleve he's rfgbtr
II know he's right I'm trying 20
educate myself To be q FIRST class farm
Or. She wants 30 make me study
chemistry agricultural chemistry.
She wants 90 make me study algebra
and astronomy. Two got about as
much use Tor them ns that calf there