The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-01-14
VIRGINIA TECH
| SAVING MONEY
| FORT ARMERS
Department Of Engineering Is
Making Itself Useful in a
Great Variety Of Service
WET.LANDs BEING DRAINED
Truck Grower Obtains Surpris-
ing Results After Filling His
/ IL Acres Of Raspberry Land
By H. H. HILL.

AAs-A - AaAAA4Ss
BLACKSBURG, Va. Jan. Ia
s.From Acorn to Oak" is one of
Roanoke's slogans. This express
sion may be aptly applied to one
Of Virginia Techs youngest and
most energetic departments-the
Department of Agricultural En-
gineering. This department, q
mere pigmy three years ago, is
today giant in agricultural en-
deavor. Prof. Charles Seitz and
his corps of trained assistants are
giving the farmers of Virginia,
right in their own back yards,
scientific information that means
dollars and cents when the yearly
balance is struck. Reaching out
with its international and in
structional tenacles to every
agricultural hamlet of the State,
the department is making itself
felt in q most substantial way. !
WORK BEGUN IN 1914.
Agricultural engineering extern
sion work was begun in Virginia
during the year 1914, with the
employment of Charles Seitz as q
specialist in land drainage, to give
the farmers of Virginia demonstra-
tons in the proper methods OF
draining their wet lands.
The demand for information on
al phases of farm engineering grew
90 rapidly that by 1917 demonstra-
tfons in other farm engineering
problems. such as farm power and
machinery, land clearing, ter
racing, water supply and santa
ton, farm buildings, farmstead
planning, and miscellaneous farm
engineering problems were begun.
This extension work was handi-
capped. however, by the lack of
q regular college department Of in
gtruction and research work in az
ricultural engineering The demand
Tor resident instruction, as well as
extension work, became SO insistent
that in 1920 a department of Ag-
rtcultural Engineering was estab-
hshed at the college with Professor
Seitz, extension specialist, as its
head. Two men were added to the
department, j. s. Glenn and H. B.
Boynton. each employed in teach
ing and extension. 1nstructional
work was given to all agricultural
men IN the following agricultural
engineering subjects: Farm struc-
rnres, farm implements. agrfcul-
tural drawing, graphic methods
farm power and machinery, and
farm surveying and drainage.
a large frame building so $50
feet was erected in the summer Of
1921 for the farm machinery labora-
tory. Approximately eighty farm
equipment companies are co-operat-
ing with the department by furnish
ing, on a loan basis, equipment
Tor the laboratory, such as engines.
tractors, lighting plants, heating
plants, water system equipment
trucks, automobiles. and farm.
equipment of all kinds. Approxi-
nnately $4,000 worth of equipment
has been acquired by the depart
ment IN this way.
RESEARCH WORK.
In 1922 further development
Of the department was made when
research work was added to its .ac-
Invites and four year curriculum
IN agricultural engineering adopted.
: At this time the services of two
additional men were secured.
These were J. A. Waller, instruc.
tor in farm power, and r. C. Hub.
bard. Acknowledgements in agricultur.
al engineering.
Besides Institutional work to
regular students, the department
conducts summer tractor and farm
short courses, boys clubs short
courses, and other work of q SINH
lar nature.
Students may select agricultural
engineering as an option and re
ceive intensive instruction in the
following farm power courses: Farm
power and machinery, farm motors
water power and electricity, rural
sanitary equipment. motor vehicles
and advanced work in farm power
and machinery. Twenty-Five mer
were enrolled for this four year
course last year.
The department has done some
very valuable work with the farmers
Of the State. One Of the most inter
esting and helpful, as well as ii
nancially- successful projects wal
for L. E. Myers Of Route /, Rich
mond. Va
MONEY IN DRAINAGE.
Mr.. Myers is a truck farmer
specializing in raspberries. He drain
ed twelve acres of land which had
q stiff clay sub-soil and a clay
loan top soil. This work was don,
according to plans and specification.
laid down by the department here
The tile used in this project wal
laid closer than is the usual Gus
tom at cost of 81 200. or 500 pc
acre. On six acres of the twelv,
mat Were tiled he had been cultivat
ing raspb"rries for a number Of
years. In 1921, which was. a we
year, MS yield was 1903 hints n
berries on the six acres. This ue,
an average wet year. In 1920 III,
crop season was unusually wet anr