West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-04-20


reason / want to plant the cowpeas Is
that l saw in the book that the pea
vines are a legume ana gather nitro
gen from the mir and store IL away in
the soil I'm little warts or nOdules on
the roots of the vine and that n crop
OF peas on land Is worth ton of com
mercial fertilizer for the next crop
year. Then there will be a lot of fall.
Ell leaves from the pea vines to be plow-
ed under. and they will add some hui
mus to the soil"
Il always heard that crop OF cow.
peas helped land, but never knew cX-
actly why" said Mr.. SOmerville.
Haven't you been studying your
book about agriculture" asked Joe
severely. I've been through mine
once and am half through It again
And l don't leave page until I can
remember the sense Of it,"
well, the truth IS, Joe, I've been so
busy here at the store and our book
keeper has been sick"
Il reckon It is right hard for you to
find the time Well, rs | was saying,
I'll get those pea vines Off, knock down
the cornstalks into the low burrows,
then get turning plow and bed that
acre up on those stalks and pea vine
leaves and roots to form humus for
spring"
Then you ought to give that land
n rest"
NO, Street Joe shook his head
Land doesn't need rest as long as you
put something back into 1t for what
your crops take out. I'll SOW that acre
down I'm White Milan turnlps. They
are quick growers, and we can sell
every one of them here I'm town before
christmas"
Five crops In one year from one
Icre-it hardly seems possible, Joer'
1t Is possible, for 1t has been done
See herer' Joe hauled from his pocket
clipping from country newspaper
i'm another part of the state telling Of
what progressive farmer there had
done. II found tina, paper I'm the road.
and | lay awake ever so long last night
thinking 1t over after I read about that
man. and II works out all right"
That is certainly farming somer"
said the senior partner. "And Just to
think-mOst Of the people around here
are satisfied To get less than one
fourth Of that amount Of produce from
their land"
THAT sort OF farming doesn't satisfy
me- said Joe decislvely
cor me- either. now know what can
be done And. by the way. Joe. there's
commercial fertilizer concern offer
ine prize Of 500 10 the boy IN the
corn club contest In the state who
makes the largest crop with his fer.
ulizer. The state chemist certifes that
she product Of that factory is up to
standard"
We've got to use some chemical fer
uiizcr and we might as well take n
chance on that prize, too, said Joe.
'All right; Wen go after everything
And there's q nitrate OF soda firm Of
fering another hundred tile same way.
but ! don't know much about that
stun DO youw
Yes. sir, nitrate is the quickest
way for plants 90 got nitrogen. and
That is the main element. JUST scattcr
the stun ON Cine ground about corn Just
before 30 tasscls and the books say
10 Will increase the crop nearly one.
third. It's fine for cotton too-pusb.
es 1t right along"
I've never seen any OF the nitrate
OF heard Of 20 being used about this
neck OF the woods said Mr. Somer-
vile.
Neither have T. The book SAYS Il
comes mostly from Chile and Il looks
Ike common, coarse, dirty salt and dis
solves quickly lu water or by the rnois-
tnre " Che ground That is how the
roots get it So soon after lt ia applied.
When 30 strikes the roots that plant
just cvcr.1stiugiy husuos"
"If wc go iu FOR all these things and
"ih out Joe irs q pretty big prize in
money alone ON Che corn There's $40
FOR thc winner iu this county 500 FOR
the fertilizer and another 500 for the
nitrate 800 but that IS in competi.
ton with the entire state"
az IN going TO do my level best. and
when o. fellow does that he'd as soon
compete with the Whole world ns not DO
Ihnts the way f0 look at &c. Then
there is the state certificate. with the
trip % Washington
'I certainly want that trio" said Toe
II want 30 tank to thc head men of the
department 0f agriculture ~ Washing
ton and see what they arc doing
"aht 90 go right t0 headquarters and
zee for myself and learn somethlngr
what are you going to- do with your
money n you win mT
We'll half Oft g. yours. you kgow"
NO. Indeed. hair the crop money a.
mine The prizes belong 70 you m Won
win"
Much obliged. but thought Won
ought 10 have half'-
NO; TN be satisfied With the crop
money"
Ihats mighty good on you. weg.
err The hrat thing I'm going 4 DO Il fo
buy Annie a nice outfit Of Cd kes ana
send her TO that agricDi N.-biQh
school over in Limestone q cad 49,
can learn on about ccotlr~ ow.