The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-06-17
|AWfAR|MERSVISI11
N00D|IB|NE FARM.
Are Told How Worthless
Tract Become States
Best Place.

Tne meeun8 OF farmers OF lour
counties, Barbour, Marion, Randolph
and Harrison, at Phillippi yesterday
was asignal success. according to Ma
rion county agent q. L. Smith. Marion
county was represented by about 20
farmers, Altogether there were over
200 farmers present to look over the
up-to- date Woodbine farm in Harrison
county agent w. D. linn. Many more
than this would have attended had not
the roads been 10 bad because OF the
recent rains. As It happened the day
itself was ideal and was enjoyed by all
who made the trip to the Barbour
city.
The farm OF w. D. linn, which, &C.
cording to Professor Shaw who taught
MI. Zinn In his boyhood days, was one
OF the worst pieces of land In Yves,
Virginia is now the foremost 80 acres
Of farm land in the state. There are
no stately mansions on the property.
No fence of fine construction surround
the property. All the effort and money
was spent on the ground itself. Mr..
linn owns 90 acres. Two of these are
not under cultivation, one is the lawn
fronting his residence which Is
beautifled with green grass and some
flowers, the other Is an orchard.
Professor Shaw In his address be-
fore the meeting told OF the poor shape
inSwhich the linn land was forty years
ago. He explained that neighbors
figured that 1t was worthless, but that
he himself after many attempts man.
aged to get Mr.. linn to take course
IN agriculture and to develop the
ground. This Mr.. linn did with more
than gratifying results.
Professor F. e. Bear then told OF the
son analysis of the linn property. He
stated that It was far below the av.
arage in tests made in all places in
West Virginia. He explained how Mr..
linn developed the land by planting
clover and alfalfa thus enriching the
soil. Mr.. linn has never used com.
plete fertilizer on his acreage. He has
however at different times used ma.
nure, lime, acid phosphate, legume
crops, clover and alfalfa. Before try.
ing any more these fertilizers It was
necessary to tile drain the whole sec.
tion.
One OF the features Of the linn farm
Is the rule that every piece Of machin.
cry after 1t has been used must be
housed until It Is used again. 1t Is
never allowed to remain unprotected
from tho weather. The same is true
OF every bit of grain and hay pro.
ducts. They put under roof as soon
as gathered. They put under roof as
Boon as gathered The barn which
holds the grain and hay is 100 feet long
and also houses $50 head of cattle. It
10 upto-date in all it's construction.
Mr.. linn takes as much pride in his
lawn, which is a thing of beauty as lie
does In his harvest.
On this lawn he permitted all his
visitors to sit and dine yesterday at
the moon. hour. For those who did not
bring any lunches he and his family
assisted by the neighbors had prepared
D lunch consisting Of sandwiches, sal.
ads. and barrels Of lemonade. It was
Q happyicrowd which gathered on that
lawn and even those who did bring
lunches after having finished with
their meals helped Mr.. linn to get rid
OF his sandwiches.
Most Of the party after making the
trip over the grounds were able to
catch the evening trans out Of Phil.
dppta. Several however stayed until
this morning. Each county was rep
resented by speaker. ]. NJ. Downs
WAS spokesman for Marion.