A Visit to the Eastern Shore Experiment Station and County Agent's Office
Last week we dropped in unexpectedly on W. O. Strong, County Agent. Three men with earnest faces were firing questions at him as fast as they could shoot them about a sweet potato storage house they propose to build. With blueprints and the latest government information he gave them the kind of counsel experience and study can give. We saw the County Agent in action.
More and more, farmers throughout the County avail themselves of the services offered by the Experiment Station at Onley. More and more it is realized that expert knowledge of farming is essential to success. The day when farmers shook their heads and discussed around the country store fire the "Book Knowledge" of men employed by the State Department of Agriculture, is very nearly a forgotten day. They know that the Experiment Stations combine theory and practice.
The world, the flesh and the devil are ever on the track of the tillers of the soil. Every means of learning to fight his enemies should be welcomed by the men of the country. Pests, droughts, poor soil, low land, high land, diseases of vegetation and animals, are all targets for farm experts to shoot at. In the City of Richmond one may find in the Department of Agriculture and Immigration the following sub-departments: the Division of Chemistry; the Division of Agricultural Statistics; the Division of Botany and Seed Testing; the Division of Markets; ten or more Inspectors of Fertilizers, Agricultural Lime, Field and Vegetable Seed. The staffs of these divisions are always ready to pass on their knowledge to the County Agents, which in turn seek the interest of the farmer that he may benefit thereby. The local Boards of Supervisors realizing the value of the State Department, invest heavily in the carrying on of this work.
Alas, a prophet is not without honor, save in his own country. Right here under our nose is this problem-solving station with its courteous and efficient employees. Right here is soil-testing; right here advice on poultry and cattle can be had; right here all sorts of fertilizers are given the "once-over;" right here new varieties of strawberries, round and sweet potatoes are introduced; right here new vegetable seeds imported from Europe, are tested out. And yet and yet scores of people who make their living off the upper crust of the earth, have never put foot on the Station. The best woman in the world as far as our humble opinion is concerned, was born and reared in New York City. But she had never seen the Statue of Liberty until we induced her to take a trip to the gift of the French Republic to the greatest Republic in the world.
We sound a clarion call to all who are interested in the processes of agriculture to visit the laboratory of the soil at Onley and to learn as we have learned.
A visit to the office will be of the deepest interest. Here one may find reports from all State Experiment Stations throughout the United States. Here books and reports on the science of farming may be consulted. Would a farmer know how round potatoes are raised in Montana he may satisfy his curiosity. Would he like to know how chickens are raised in Delaware? He may find out how from Mr. Strong's library. Would he know the history of sweet potato culture in Virginia twenty-five years ago, he may learn how his grandfather did it. Is he interested in the benefits of sulphur to fight rust, here is the man who knows, for he has used it on the Experiment Farm. Is there anything anyone can tell him about Guernsey cows and pedigrees? Certainly the office force can tell him all about that. Is there any kind of fertilizer composition he wishes to investigate, the tests made here and their resultants are carefully tabulated and filed.
A man in South Dakota wants to settle on the dimpled cheek of the State of Virginia, the Eastern Shore. All right. All he has to do is to write Mr. Strong and the information in his. Is he eager enough to come down to see for himself? Well and good. Mr. Strong will take or make time to pilot him from place to place and to answer questions.
An insect pest arrives unheralded. The farmers throw up their hands. The agent literally immerses himself into the life history of the pestiferous insect that might play serious havoc unless checked. He may not succeed at first, but in due time he will be ready to offset the danger through his experiments in the "bug house" and on the open soil.
It is a pity to see a fine orchard go to waste, because of some fungus or blimp eating away the very life of fruit trees. To be congratulated is the man who comes to the County agent for information about spraying. The correct mixture will be prescribed and even the right kind of spraying instrument will be loaned unless he is ready at once to purchase one. He will be directed to the proper firm handling the article he needs.
Temperature being of vital importance, the State Department placed at the disposal of the State a number of instruments to register temperature (maximum and minimum) as well as relative humidity. The hydrothermograph, for instance, literally writes down the temperature on specially prepared report sheets. The rain gauge, an affair with a funnel shaped mouth that drinks up the raindrops, tells what the rainfall is from day to day. The blanks sent out by the Weather Bureau of the U. S. Department of Agriculture have spaces for the precipitation for every day in the year. The weather man gathers up this valuable information and while he may miss the mark once in a while, history of the weather like all history repeats itself. Thus newcomers can be informed about the mean temperature, seed sowing, harvesting time, markets and transportation, for the weather man, the chemist and the County Agent work together for the common good of the farmer.
A woman has diseased chickens. Heavy loss and keen disappointment would be hers, should she lose her means of making pin money. Someone tells her to send for the County Agent. With his experience and free counsel, he may save her from a loss that only country people can fully appreciate.
The hog cholera breaks out somewhere in the County. The wise farmer gets his recipe for inoculation to check the daily disease from the Station. What losses can be avoided by knowing the symptoms of animal and poultry diseases. What a field for the insurance of stock in this county, if only the farmers would heed the warnings of men who have studied these things from the scientific point of view.
Modern farm machinery is quite an item in the budget of the farm. Thousands of dollars go to waste annually by not placing valuable implements under shelter. They rust out before they wear out. The American people are too prodigal with their implements and resources. It behooves farmers to learn the lessons of system and of science. To that end there should be the closest co-operation between the farmer and the Agent.
Twenty thousand miles is the record made by the County Agent in one year. It would be fascinating indeed to have the history of these twenty thousand miles of travel up and down the county. That story would tell of the discouragements of the tillers of the soil. It would tell of men who have taken an interest in the breeding of fine stock through the agent. It would tell of men who have turned failure into gain by adopting methods discovered through years of study. It would tell of farmers who have "always done it that way," wise fellows who could not learn from anyone, but who (like some people in the church) have had a change of heart.
What a fine sermon we saw in formation when we heard of the "Four H Club," better known as the "Virginia Boys' and Girls' Agricultural and Home Economics Club." The local work is in charge of an athletic young man, F. E. Gillette, Assistant County Agent who has a way of winning the friendship of boys and girls on the farm. The four "Hs" represent the training of the head, the hands, the heart and the health. Fine! Yes, the members also do practical work. They raise fancy vegetables, poultry, and stock of all kinds. Prizes are awarded annually. This demonstrates that the State Department of Agriculture and Immigration has a heart and a soul.
We glanced at the outline of extension work for 1926. An ambitious program: Soil improvements; farm crops, how when and why; horticulture; forestry; rodents; animal husbandry; dairy work; poultry; rural engineering; agricultural economics; club work. As we looked at the business like office, the agent in working clothes, the intelligent faces of the visitors, we realized that we know but very little about the problems of the farmer. But here was a place and here was a man who had ideals that will do as much for the uplift and happiness of the Eastern Shore as anything. And when we thought of the other men who at other stations toil and ponder against all sorts of obstacles the layman knows nothing about, we thanked God and took courage. Oh this is a grand old State and the State Department of Agriculture is improving the heart blood of the state. Prosperity to all connected with it.
As we came away as full of new ideas as a college graduate and as full of new knowledge as a pitcher full of sparkling water, we looked at our Ford and behold the starboard front tire was empty. Again the County Agent was seen in action. He took off his coat and while the preacher said his prayers he repaired that tire like a good fellow.
When the clouds hang low and when discouragement is written on your face, take a trip to the Eastern Shore Experiment Station and come away with a smile and with faith in God and in man. The laboratory of mother earth has not yielded up all her treasures. Dig deeply and you will find your treasure. We found some of that treasure in our own back yard. Please do not accuse us of being entirely theoretical. We try to practice what we preach. Farmers of the Shore, may the God of the harvest prosper you and may the labor of your hands not be in vain.