Middletown transcript., 1896-12-26
OF Interest
To Farmers
AGRICULTURAL CoU RISE.


The authorities of Delaware College
have arranged for short special course
in Agriculture, to begin on the first
Wednesday in January, 1897, and to
close on the last Friday in March of
the same year. The course thus COW
ers the second, or Winter term of the
college year. Students undertaking
this special course will have the bene-
fit Of "a lectures on agricultural chem
isty, - lectures on dairy and creamery
work, one lecture Per week on entomol-
ogy, three lectures per week on horti-
culture, six lectures on agricultural
engineering, and six lectures on agri-
cultural physics and mechanics. The
course will also include twelve hours
per week in class study of general ag-
riculture, soils, crops and manures;
two hours per week in the class study
of live stock, husbandry, and breeding;
two hours per week in class study of
plant diseases. one hour per week in
agricultural bacteriology; four hours
per week in the class study of botany
and two hours per week in shop-work,
which last will include instruction in
handling tools for wood working and
in black smith forge-work. The only
part of the course not directly bearing
upon the agriculture in some of its
branches will be embraced in six lee
lures upon the government of the
United States and State and local gov
ernments.
This course is open to all youths
above 15 years of age, and to men of
any age, and no examination for en-
trance will be required, though the
course is such that a previous general
training will prove Of great valueto the
student. There will be no charge for
tuition, and as board and lodging will
cost the student not above $3.75 or
S4.00 per week at most, the whole cost
of the course, including necessary text
books, will hardly exceed $40 or $45.
APPLE ORCHARDS AS WIND BREAKS.
Wherever forests are cleared off
there soon comes demand for a wind
break of some kind to shelter buildings
and stock from cold blasts and to pro-
tect the farm from the severest winter
winds. It is good practice to set an
orchard either on the windward side of
the farm or of the house and other
farm buildings. 1t is true the trees are
bare in winter, aud un less there is a
close fence to Obstruct the wind near
the surface it will blow under the
trees nearly as strong as if no orchard
were in the way. This can be remedied
by planting row of evergreens on the
windward side. This will also hold
the snow from being blown away from
the orchard.
WHEN TO USE nEN MANURE.
There is little objection to putting
the hen manure directly on the garden
to be plowed or spaded under in the
spring. One advantage in keeping
this manure over winter is that when
thoroughly dried out il may be crushed
or ground and used with muriate of |
potash and ground bone to make good
fertilizer. This dried manure makes
an excellent s'fillern for a home mixed |
fertilizer. The carbonate of lime |
should not be used on fresh hen manure
If ycu wish to retain its value. This |
form of lime liberates the ammonia by |
permitting it to pass into a volatile,
form. Land plaster, or sulphate Of |
lime, viii s'sweeten" the house and |
preserve the manure much better than |
tie s'lime."