The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1917-06-02
RURAL LIFE IN
old DOMINION
Virginia Farmers Realize Big
Increase In Crops.
USE OF IMPROVED METHODS

use OF IMPROVED METHODS
Report Of John 3. Pierce Shows Re.
suits Obtained Through the Cooper.
alton of Farm Demonstration Agents
Under the States Relation Service.
Great Interest Taken In Corn Clubs.
BY WILLIAM ANTHONY AERY.
Some 5000 farmers Of Virginia, un-
der the leadership Of John B. Pierce,
who is 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
stration idea. Eighteen local farm
demonstration agents working in twen-
| ty-two counties of Virginia under the
States Relations Service SOuth-the
| fruition 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 new vision of farm life,
| clearer insight into farming as
business rather than as a mere Occu-
patton and a deeper sense of RESPONSE
bility for the all around education Of
their boys and girls.
Let facts tell the story of organiza-
tion's gift to Virginia, for whatever
helps the Negro farmer to increase his
earning power also helps the white peo-
pie to make genuine progress. During
1915, SO Mr.. Pierce reports to Bradford
Knapp, chief Of the States Relations
| Service, South, 40 Negro corn demon
strators in Virginia, cultivating 2,150
acres under improved methods, secured
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
DDS. In addition, 1,OO1 co-operators re-
ported a yield Of twenty -four bushels
per acre on 1852 acres.
Granting that similar result could
be obtained by all those who raise corn
If only education could be carried Oh
broadly, Virginia in single year would
add 100000 900 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 facts?
Corresponding results have been Sc
cured in the small grains demonstra-
tions. The average yield Of oats per
acre on demonstration plots was 1870
bushels, representing an increased yield
Of 81 bushels and of wheat 1871 BUSH
els, representing an increased yield of
SO bushels. 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 is to
answer it-certainly!
Hay, forage, cover crops! These
words commonly mean little. To the
Negro farmer Of Virginia they now
spell success on the land. The local
demonstration agents have worked night
and day to make farmers understand
the Importance of making the land pro-
duce (without wearing it out) more
food for man and beast and this story
Of awakening life OH the farm.
Community development along all
good lnes!' This is the object of the
1874 Negro farmers clubs which were
organized in 1916 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 progressive. farsighted group
Of farmers in the Old Dominion.
These clubs made q good beginning in
cooperation by buying 2,234 tons of
lime. Five Of the local agents also
kept bulletin board, listing goods for
sale and goods wanted.
What do the local demonstration
agents do besides helping the farmers
till their land and grow better crops?
Here is partial list, based on Mr..
Pierce's 1916 report Of the farm and
farmstead improvements which the
farmers Of Virginia have made with
the advice and assistance Of the agents:
Buildings erected, 100; farm build
ings painted or whitewashed, $50; san
itary conditions (farm and homel i'm.
proved, 933; homes screened against
t1ies, 1877; farmers furnished with plans
and induced to adopt a systematic ro-
tation, 1876; total acreage put under ro-
tation, 1895; drainage system estab-
lished, 80; home water systems In
stalled or improved, 66; home grounds
improved. 8Q4; home gardens planted