Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-11
demonstration WORK
CHANGED IN SUSSEX
Farmers Were Not Producing Suffi-
cient Feed for Their Few
Farm Animals.
DIVERSITY CROPPING SYSTEM
Raising Of Poultry as Side Line .\d-
vised All Through County-Fair
Is Organized and Proves Great
Success.
BY KENNY y. ELLIS.
Especial TO The Times

wAvERLY, VA, June 1o.--Durins
z the past two years demonstration work
y in Sussex County has undergone a
great change, due TO the fact that
< conditions made Il necessary 20 change
! the general practice on the average
farms to meet the condition Of the
local market. and al the same time
create market and produce u product
which could he marketed prottably.
This probably was due 10 the fact that
s the farmers were not Nro6ucinS sui
flcient feed for the few farm animals
which they had. but were busy plant
ing all OF their land into the one crop.
the peanut, which they used as vmoney
crop.
To remedy this existing evil Il was
necessary TO diversity the cropping
system. putting in more crops 70 feed
more cattle. and in that way fill the
soil with huulus and plant food %
grow grasses with which TO feed more
stock and build up rhe soil. which the
continuous cropping OF peanuts had
. run down. Many ways and methods Of
attaining this end were used. some Of
which were very successful
One very notable incident took place
with one 81 the Corn Club boys whose
father was opposed - what he called
book farming" lie gave his boy the
Soorest acre OF lard he had. and told
h!m TO Join the club This the hoy did.
and worked his acre OF corn. He was
successful. considering the land he had.
and convinced his father IL could be
done. Grasses for hay are Se.ns
grown on land on which they never
were grown before. and the acreage is
increasing each year Alfalfa is grow
ing successfully on wha; was cons,d-
cred one OF the poorest and most run
down farms in the couuiy. four GUY
tings OF excellent hay being cut las;
year.
RAISING OF POULTRY
ADVISED A. SIDE LINE
In order that the farmer might have
an income all the year. poultry raising
as "a side line was advised throughout
the county. The white lesho-n was
adopted AS the commercial breed, and
to-day there are at least $4,000 white
leghorns in the county. An associa-
ton 10 market the product co-one-a-
lively has been organized. and eggs
are being shipped TO New York each
week. This has added many dollars 10
the incomes Of the farmers, and IL IS
being done in modern way, which
insures success.
Swine raising also is All !rportan,
industry, being situated in 4 section
famous for the Snithheld ham. They
are not only being grown in increasing
numbers FOR this purpose, bu: break
fast bacon is being produced on small
scale. and the writer predicts e bacon
factory for this section in the near
future. The raising O.; hogs by me
grazing system : being practIc-d rather
extensively this year, which necessarily
will -esGl: N i better product; quite
number o! registered English Berk.
shires have been brought !mto the
country this year, which have been
b.ed from some Of the best imported
stock. Severa! imported l;ampshires
and Duroc-ierseys have been brought
into the county and already TIE
foundation for the best that there is
in swine has been laid.
Back from the railroads. where the
shipping q milk cannot be practiced
very successfully. bee. ca,t!e have been
brought in. the Aberdeen angus being
the breed used In NOS: parts OF tn.
county. Already sere-a! herds can y.
seen, and several ssres have been
ordered. and Will be handled in CO.
operative way. Several dalries have
been started ara. several more are pre-
pairing 10 start by the beginning o.
next year.
MANY Products SHOWN
At COUNTY FAIR
AS finishing toucn tor the rrea,
progress which has taken place. a
county fair WAS organized and held
last year which proved 10 be grea,
success The quality and quantity o.
the products was especially good. every
department being ti!led - It's capacity.
The value OF good county fair is
being realized more ana NOR. and
already plans have been mad. for 2
larger and better fair this wear
In spite. Of the ract that SUSSEX
County is located in section OF Wy.
ginia which has been noted only 70,
It's peanuts. II BIDS fair 10 be no, onl.
"a great producer Of this crop. bu. .
close rival Of the Southwest in cat,l.
swine and grasses. with its rnany
types. OF soils, its mild climate. aiao,.t
to any and all soil-improving croDs
together with diversified system %,
farming. ii cannot bat come 10 me from,
as an agricultural county.