Milford chronicle., 1888-02-17

THE State Board of Agriculture held their
annual meeting on Tuesday and reelected
the old officers. Mr.. Hayes, the secretary,
stated that the Society, with the limited
amount of money appropriated for agricul-
al purposes by the State, 5000 per aunum,
found it a difficult matter to decide how best
to use the meagre sum to advantage. The
society finally decided to give one hundred
and fifty dollars in premiums for the follow
ing;-best acre Of wheat, $75; best acre Of
corn, S25i best acre of clover hay, $40; best
acre Of timothy hay, $40; best halfacre Of
Irish potatoes, $40; best halfacre of toma-
toes, $40. All to be grown in Delaware dur
ing 1885, and samples of each to be exhibited
at the next State Fair, with certificates and
aihdavits Of two disiuterested citizens that
the samples represent what they purport to.
The committee was also authorized to call a
public meeting at Dover some time in April,
to discuss the question sent out if they decide
1t advantageous to do so. The remaining
$50 will be used in collecting and arranging
statistics in relation to the agricultural inter
ests Of the State.-Sfafe Sentinel.
The above item speaks volumes of
the incompetency of those having the
disposal of public funds; the fact that
but $500 have been appropriated for
the encouragement and furthurance
OF agricultural interests in this State.
shows how little these men appreciate
the importance of this most essential
branch of State industry, to which all
Others are but secondary. The en-
eouragement of agricultural progress
and competency among rural classes
is what has made New York worthy
of her pseudonyme of Empire State y
And while our leading interests are
allowed to languish for lack of the
financial allotment of our Legislature;
we cannot expect to secure tue best
results from her industries. Practical
farmers have demonstrated the feasa- |
bllity Of various methods of culture |
and soil nutrition in Delaware. which |
ifpropeTly applied and the facts and |
figures of increased production result
ing therefrom demonstrated to those
interested in agriculture throughout
the State, would increase the yield in
cereals so per cent, thereby not only
improving the condition of the masses
Of our people. but augmenting the
wealth.of the State and increasing her
revenues in proportion far in excess
Of the necessary expenditure.
Other states have experimental
FARMS operated at the expense of the
State, and Issuing annual reports Of
all their various achievements which
have gratuitous circulation among the
farmers, and while this is necessarily
a most expensive method Of conduct
ing this important branch of public
education, those who have adopted
this method avow that it has repaid
expenditures in the increased produc-
tion and superior method Of agricul- ,
ture in their districts.
The limited means at the disposal i
of the State Board Of Agriculture ne I
cessitates that prizes offered for supe- !
Tior production in the various branches I
of farm industry be of beggarly small
ness, and while such state Of affairs i
exists no progressive farmer can afford 5
for the recompenses given in return, .
to quit his labor and devote valuable r
time to the showing of his exhibit aud
demonstration Of the methods by
which such excellence was obtained ;,
md most Of the few competitors who 4
nave responded. to the call Of the !,
Board heretofore, have done SO merely n,
rom a desire to promote the condition ia
{ brother farmers, and not from mo. a