The Denver star., 1917-06-16
RURAL LIFE IN
old DOMINION
Virginia Farmers Realize Big
Increase 10 Crops.
USE OF IMPROVED METHODS

USc Uf ] !rnUvcU MclOVUO
Report Of John .. Pierce Shows Re-
suits Obtained Through ths ce-epsr-
stion Of Farm, Demonstration Agents
Undsr the States Relation Service.
Great Interest," TaI<sn In Corn ciubs.
IL wlLLIAr1 ANTHONY AERY.
Some 5000 farmers Of Virginia. un-
der the leadership Of John B. Pierce
who IL q Tuskegee-Hampton product,
were Influenced in the single calendar
year of 1916 to improve their methods
Of work and secure crop yields far be-
yond the expectations Of the most
hopeful advocates of the farm demon
stratton idea. Eighteen local farm
demonstration agents working In twen-
ty-two counties of Virginia under the
States Relations Service South-the
fruit3on itself of the epoch making
work Of Seaman A. Knapp-have
brought to the Negro farmers not only
new ideas and better methods OF till
ing the soil and caring for farm prod
ucts, but also q new vision Of farm life,
q clearer insight into farming as a
business rather than as mere occu-
patton and q deeper sense Of response
biity for the all around education OF
their boys and girlsS
Let facts tell the story Of orEaniza-
tion's gift to Virginia, Tor whatever
helps the Negro farmer to increase his
earning power also helps the white peo-
pie to make genuine progress. During
1915 50 Mr.. Pierce reports to Bradford
Knapp, chief Of the States Relations
Service, South, 40 Negro corn demon
strators In Virginia, cultivating 2,15o
an average yield of thirty-three bushels
per acre. This was an increased yield
Of 90 bushels on demonstration plots
! over plots cultivated by ordinary meth
oda In addition. 1,O01 co-operators re
ported q yield Of twenty four bushels
per acre on 1852 acres n
Granting that q similar result could
be obtained by all those who raise corn
II only education could be carried Oh
broadly, Virginia in 4 single year would
add $4,000 600 to the value of her out
put Of corn. Who dares to be skeptical
or cynical OF the NegroeS interest in
better methods Of farming in the light
Of these fActsi
Corresponding results have been &C.
cured In the small grains demonstra-
lions. The average yield Of oats per
acre on demonstra ton plots was 1S.9
bushels, representing an increased yield
Of 81 bushels and Of wheat 16.1 BUSH
els, representing an increased yield Of
6.5 bushelA Today over 1000 Negro
, farmers are using better methods OF
growing small grains ON account Of the
governments interest in them.
Does all this pay in dollars and cents.
in increased interest In farming, in bet
ter homes: To ask the question - to
| answer it-certainly!
Hay, forage, cover crops! Theee
words commonly mean little. To the
Negro farmer Of Virginia they nov
spell success on the land. The local
demonstration agents have worked night
and day to make farmers understa nd
the importance of making tho land pro-
duce without wearing 1t out) more
food for man and beast and this story
Of awakening life on the farm.
Community development along all
good linesw This is the object of the
l34 Negro farmers clubs which were
organized in 1915 throughout Virginia
through the cooperation Of John b.
Pierce and sixteen local demonstration
agents working under the States Re
lations Service and the extension divi-
sion Of the Virginia Polytechnic insti-
tute at Blacksburg. The total member
ship Of the clubs was 1888 and repre-
sented q progressive, farsiEhted group
OF farmers in the Old Dominion.
These clubs made 4 good beginning in
cooperation by buying 1924 tons Of
lime Five Of the local agents also
kept q bulletin board, listing goods for
sale and goods wanted.
What do the local demonstra ton
agents do besides helping the farmers
till their land and grow better crops?
Here 10 q partial list, based on Mr..
P:erce's 1915 report Of the farm and
farmstead Improvements which the
farmers Of Virginia have made with
the ADVICE and assistance OF the agents:
Buildings erected, $50: farm build
inss painted or whitewsshed, 5so: san.
itary conditions (farm and home) i'm
proved. eS3: homes screened against
dies. s37. farmers furnished with plans
and induced to adopt . systematic ro-
tation. 1855: sotal acreage put under ru-
tarion. 1895: drainage system estab.
hshed. 80; home water systems in
stalled or improved. 81: home grounds
improved, 394 home gardens planted |
or improved. l.l0s; farmers induced to |
save surplus farm products for winter
use, 1873.
Can there Ike any question that the
work OF the local agent liz limited mere
ly to helping the farmer grow more
CrODN 80 thnf he can snanro ,nnrx, ,,,o,,