Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-25

An Interesting instance OF the ef1ect
which an active county agent, supported
by progressive farmers, can have upon
the agriculture Of county is afforded by
the experience of Culpeper county. Va
An article in the new yearbook of the
United States Department of Agriculture
traces the Transformation which has
taken place there since the appointment
of county agent in 1911.
The Department of Agriculture CO.
operated with the fiscal court of the coun-
ty in the appointment OF this agent. At
first the farmers were none too receptive.
The agent often had to spend from four
to five hours to secure the cooperation
of a farmer. while today the unsolicited
calls for assistance require all OF his
time.
The first efforts of the county agent
and the men behind him were toward the
betterment of the lines of farming that
supported the growing OF live stock. the
greatest agricultural industry of the
country. Corn, accordingly. was among
the FIRST crops to receive attention. The
aim was to secure the introduction of
more productive varieties and proper cul-
tivation. The first year twenty-five men
on their farms. The demonstrators
averaged forty-eight bushels an acre,
whereas the average for the county in
1910 had been only 21.01 bushels. The
following year more demonstrators were
secured, and they averaged 706. The
third year the average for the demon
strators fell to 50.7, but In the fourth 1t
rose again to 65.5. For the four years
in which demonstrations have been car
ried on 212 demonstrations on 1,160 acres
averaged 5S.7 bushels per acre.
Another object lesson was afforded by
the Five Acre Club. formed in 1914 In
this club forty farmers agreed to grow
each a five-acre field of corn to deter
mine what amount could be raised on
that area The result was an average
of seventy-five bushels per acre. AS a
result of this work the increase in the
yield of corn over the entire county has
been estimated at 2212 per cent
In the interest of more and better live
stock more forage as well as more grain
is necessary, and to this end the county
agent has conducted systematic demon
and increase Of alfalfa meadows and pas
lures. In the fall of 1911 only two patches
of alfalfa were being grown in the coun-
ty, and they were partial failures. The
and Immediately three or four other farm
ers did the same thing. These plots
were visited by farmers from all over the
county in order to learn the best practices
to follow. AS a result 1000 acres were in
alfalfa in 1915. One of the most interest
ing demonstra tons with this crop took
place on a large dairy farm. Last year
six acres on this farm were cut five times,
and the hay sold at SIG a ton. The gross
receipts from the six acres were 1874 "a,
the total amount of hay being 46.7Sk
tons and the average per acre being
1872 tons.
Our soils are running short in humus.
And still we are burning straw! Straw
will keep up the humus content of the
soil if spread over the farm and allowed
to rot.
In planting vegetables use enough seed
to be sure of a good stand. If later the
plants require thinning this is prefera BILE
to the Inconvenience and delay of making
a second or third sowing.
Missouri county agent reports an
orchard spraying demonstration that re-
suited in profits of $500 in 1915, when
profits of from $500 to $500 year had
usually been received without spraying.