The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-10-02

Onions and Other Crops Also Grown -
Large Power Company Is Back of the
Development and Practical Farmer
Is In Charge.
TURNER'S FALLS, Mass, Oct. 3
The Turner's Falls company, a corpora
tion with a very large capital, whose
business is the development of water
power for manufacturing purposes,
both at home and for transmission sol
or more miles away, is trying a very
interesting experiment in cultervating
the soil on what has been considered
barren plain land at Turner's Falls on
the Connecticut river where its princi
pal power stations are located.
The corporation owns 900 or 5000
acres Of land on Montague plain, and
aside from the land which is near the
Village of Turner's Falls and used for
building lots. the land has been con
sidcred practically worthless, especially
for farming purposes.
Last year the experiment was tried
on a small scale of pumping water from
the Connecticut river on land two or
! three miles from the village of Turner's
Falls and seeing what could be grown
on the light sandy soil when abundant
| lv irrigated. The experiment was suli-
GENTLY successful last year to warrant
the expenditure of much more money
! this year.
Another experiment is being tried,
| the cultivation of about five acres of
sweet clover ana this is not irrigated.
Sweet clover is similar to alfalfa. The
crop is doing fairly we'll but not nearly
as well as it would do if irrigated.
The visitor to the experimental farm
can now see acres of Havana tobacco.
which is said to be nearly equal to
any grown on the fertile lands of the
Connecticut valley; several acres Of
onions; a large field of corn and mis-
cellaneous crops of a varied nature
consisting of many kinds of farming
truck and a fine flower garden includ-
ing n row of sweet peas, several rods
in length with thousands of blossoms.
THE corn is only irrigated in part
The experimental farm is III charge
of Frederick Perry. who is not gradu-
ate of any agricultural college. Mr.
Perry simply claims to he a practical
farmer who likes life in the open
Water and work and an expenditure Of
Il lar amount VI HttHtN Is what mas
brought the success thus far secured
Just now tobacco barn, 72x2G, is be
ling erected. There is a comfortable
bungalow III which Mr.. Perry and hi.
wife and son make their home, n barr
and few other outbuildings.
just how much money has been spent
is not stated and how much of com
mereial success the experiment viii bt
three years. This year it is expected tn,
principal income will come from tn,
tobacco. Experts who have visited tn,
farm say that the crop is remarkably
good. The tobacco now growing on tn,
land, which was used for tobacco las
, year, is larger and better than the to
baccO this year grown on land whicl
was not cultivated for tobacco las
year. This is also true of the onions
, In other words. it is necessary to cul
tivate both tobacco and onions prob
ably five years on the same soil hefor
the best results are secured.
The land is so sandy and light tina
; q foundation underneath has to be es
! tablished before the best results can b
Esccured. This foundation is secured il
! a variety of ways. The water IS nov
+ pumped from the connecticut river -
feet to the level of the land which
r under cultivation. 1t is the estimate 0
: experts that in an average season abou
: 81 800 gallons of water per acre ar
necessary each week in order to Civ
9 the proper moisture. The water pipe
. are so arranged that water can b
6 thrown from them on every plant in tn
. field. Fertilizers are used, but in n
= larger quantities than on the rich rive
=, Ibottom land.
4 OF course there are obstacles t
overcome. Deer, for instance. Then tn
ordinary tobacco worms put in an az
lpearance promptly, but these wei
knocked off the plants and killed. NJ
t. Perry found bug which was eatin
?, some of the leaves of the tobacco an
# specimens were sent to the Mass;
s chusetts Agricultural college at An
herst. The authorities there pr
r nounccd the insect to be tarnish bu
It This bug found good feeding in Il
Is truck garden when the leaves WEI
Il tender and then promptly transferrt
its field of endeavor to the tobac'
" leaves. Care has to be taken in irr
eating the tobacco plants so that Il
- leaves are not spotted
st Will these experiments be a success
Iy The men at the head of the Turne
Falls company are hard headed bus