Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-01-29
A ..s.s Board OF Agriculture.

a .AAts Board Of Agriculture.
EdHJr Gazstts. The bill 10 create
a State board Of agriculture, introduced
into the House Of Representatives by Mr..
Brown, is, IL seems to me, q movement In
the right direction. have examined
the provisions Of she bill very carefully,
aud believe II meets the requirements Of
the case admirably.
Il lie designed 70 meet the present needs
Of the agricultural interests Of the State
and 10 embody the suggestions Of the
govern or In relation to both the board Of
agriculture and an experimental farm, 30
far .. least 80 II IL deemed practicable "
meet them under existing oircum-
stances. The clause requiring the
board to hold annually at least
one farmers institute In each county Ia
In accordance with what has been found
in other states 10 succeed in practice, to
di seminAte useful information and to
awaken . greater interest on the part Of
the farmers themselves In the most In
proved methods as we'll as In the scientific
principles upon which the successful
practice OF husbAndry rests When
common farmers with their vast practical
knowledge and experience are addressed
by men who have made . careful study
OF topics relating TO the operations Of IL
farm, they are able 10 so apply what they
hear a. 10 add much to their annual 10.
come II helps them to increase the amount
on the right side Of the balance sheet.
Bot apart from and In Additi n, TO 9iffus
ing useful knowledge In this manner the
bill directs that the board shall plan and
ext cute practical experiments to deter
mine the value Of fertilissrs and their
AdaptRbility TO various soils and crops,
to test all new varieties Of fruits and TO
ascertain what forage plants are adopted
TO our sandy soils. These are important
subjects. A isrtili1sr may be very yalu.
able for one crop on = certain kidd OF
soil; and for another crop upon different
soil 1t may utterly fall TO produces any
good result. Only practical experiments
can determine how to properly regulate
these things. A thorough know
ledge upon this subject would save
Delaware sands ( dollars every year,
The growers Of small fruits fnd 1t necss-
sAry to test new varieties continually, and
they find that large part Of shose tested
prove worthless In our soil and climate.
A board Of agriculture could arrange to
have these all tested at one place in the
central part OF the State or two or three
places In different localities, BY men who
are at once reliable, and skilled in rails
ing these fruits. The results published
would indicate what plants to Introduce
and what to reject. It is . serious prob.
lem TO determine what plants will Iur
nish good forage crops on the sandy soils
Of Sussex county. One man alone can
not determine this &; hut little aid from
the State would enable Il to be done,
and thus supply what Ia needed
to make mixed husbAndry possible and
profitable. Fruit raiaipg is prrf'Able. but
even with this as the leading farm In
dustry n c-riaiu amount Of forage crops
will b4 necsssarY /; aud the m2u who has
tried for yea-s 10 raise clover, millet and
sarious grasses with only indifsren,
suooess will appreciate any help or di.
recslor board Of agriculture may be
| rbe 10 givs him The board Ia also di
rec ed t, invsstis ate the rsvages OF insects
a$d causes Shioh mi ariously al sot AZ, 4.
cultural product. II q man has never
tried the experiment he will bs astopished
to see she nu bsr OF insects thA
may u dislodged from pesoi
tree, fOI example, by smoking
il With burning cjAl tar. These insectl
e ed upon lhs tree and irjure IL more o.
less. Then when the frost or other nm
favorable csuses reduce the peaches Il
ore fourth Of & cop the ourouli0 may
ke the balance, which, II allowed 4
mature would sell at such prices as Il
make the crop very valuable one. HoV
TO ocpe with these enemies is certainly
rohlem which the State can we'll sff)rt
10 help solve The "yellows" have almoa
driven peach RAISING out Of New Castl
couaty, and il ia now playing sad hAvo
Htnoug the peach orch ards Of Kspi
II lot checked Ii will des.ro
the entire business Of peach raj
ing 10 Delaware, There are some Of th
drawbacks which the Delaware fArme
must encounter. It Ia no more tina
right and just that he should have StAi
sanction aod State aid In systemati
efforts to meet aud overcome these evils
A large majority OF the voters and
the tag. pay ers Of the State are farmer
or At least directly interested in the pr,
ducts OF the soil. The promoters OF tn
enterprise have long had some snoh pli
under consideration and the farmers
: the State demand that their interests |
Q oonsid red and their rights acknowle dgt
. IN this mAtler. Under these Of
oumstAnces IL seems almost oe
tain that the bill will pass both hous
! Of the General Assembly without seriol
/ opposition. The plans for carrying OF
a the requirements Of the act are we
matured and only wait the sanction
the law ard little aid from the State
go into effect the present season. VIII,
D once established such board will dout
: less iud room to exercise all its skill
: plan Measures and means to develop u
resources Of the State. Such an instit
ton could not fail, il properly manage
to add thousands Of dollars to the veal
!. Of the State every year. X, X.
THE UORPUhA AMnHDM