The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-01
FARMERS INSTITUTE.
Professors Balentyne and Jordan of the
State College, Speak on Topics of Inter
est to Farmers and of Value in Domestic
Economy-Values of Food.

k'eato CoiioSe, speak On topics OF Inter
est to Farmers and of Value in Domestic
Economy-values of Food.
One of the Farmers Institutes for
Cumberland County was held at Gorham
yesterday in Grange hall. Among those
present were Messrs. B. f. Carter of Scar
boro, Gardiner Parker of Gorham, Henry
johnson of Gorham, Charles Deering of
Gorham, Fred Seaman of Gorham,
Rufus Fogg of Gorham, Mr.. Greward of
Gorham, Mr.. Aver and Mrs. Aver of
Westbrook.
Secretary B. Walker McKeen of the
board of agriculture. was also present.
n In the forenoon VIII. Vinton, ESQ.,,
of Gray, was to have spoken of sheep
husbandry, but the attendance did not
begin until the afternoon meeting, SO
Mr.. Vinton's part was put over. In the
afternoon Professor Balentyne of the
Experiment station at the State college,
spoke ON special fertilizers The speaker
said he had just returned from the
West. where he had attended the
Farmers Congress, and been among the
farmers From his observation he be-
Eeved that the farmers of Maine could
do a more profitable business than those
in the West. Times were less hard
with our farmers than those in the West.
1t was true that the western farmers
cultivated larger areas, and had a more
extensive line of machinery. In ARGOS
took county it is true that our farmers
have good machinery for potato cultiva-
tlon, using machines by which one man
may plant five or six acres of ground
with the fertilizers in day. They are
also using potato diggers in Aroostook.
But in general they are ahead OF us in
the matter of machinery in the West
Our farmers ought to give more attention
TO this machinery question.
In the matter of fertilizers we have a
great advantage over the West. They
raise only ten or fifteen bushels of wheat
on an acre. We should not think that
profitable.
The ordinary manures should not be
neglected but commercial fertilizers can
be used to great advantage if the right
kind is used. The lands vary greatly in
what they need. Some do not respond to
potash manures. For instance, heavy
clay lands do not need the potash, and
respond better to the phosphoric acids.
it's needs. Let him take small plot of
land and divide it up into little plots
Use. on one plot the heterogeneous fertilizers,
upon another the phosphoric, another
the potash, etc. AS rule for crops
planted in hill, some fertilizer should
be put in the hill.
The commercial fertilizer has two
another to feed it through the season.
Thus, the fertilizer must be readily
soluble to give the crop it's start The
super phosphate does well to give this
first start. Then there should be more
of the fertilizer scattered out for the
roots to use, after the plant has pro-
crossed beyond the early stages. For this
soluble will be cheaper and probably
will do as well.
The effect of fertilizers will depend not
only upon the soil, but also upon the
| nature of the crop to be raised. A fer
tilizer that will do well for barley will
fail on wheat; potatoes have pecuIiarities
of their own. Prof. Balentyne gave an
account of several of his experiments
| which have demonstrated this.
In his opinion the farmers ought to
pay more attention to the study of these
peculiarities, in order that the right
Fertilizer may be used in each case.
The pea, barley and turnip will take
insoluble phosphoric acid (crude phos-
phate) in good shape.
machinery, Prof. Balentyne said
much money now paid for help could be
savedsby machinery, especially by haying
machinery. If he had large farm ne
would have hay loader which will
save the labor of three men in the field.
1t takes the hay from the swath or from
the winrow and piles it onto the cart as
fast as a man can take care of it.
Commercial fertilizers can be used on
the hay crop to good advantage. Prof.
Balentyne said he could not use barn
manure at So cord profitably when he
could get commercial fertilizers at their
present prices.
In the evening Prof Jordan of the
State college, gave an interesting lecture
on