Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-23
RHODE ISLAND FARMING.
Prof. L. F, Kinney Tells the Local Market
Gardeners About It.

Prof L. F. Kinney of the Rhode Island
agricultural experiment station lectured
before the Market Gardeners Associa-
ton, Saturday afternoon, in Horticul-
tural Hall, on Market gardening in
Rhode Island"
At a short meeting preceding the lee
ture, B. NJ Chamberlin was elected to
membership. President ]. l.. Ellsworth
of the association pleasantly introduced
the lecturer who said in part:
There is much difference of opinion
about agriculture in Rhode Island. 1t is
not thought that Rhode Island is the
state to which one should go for adj
vanced ideas on the subject Massachu-
sets is certainly pre-eminent in scien-
tific gardening, vet according to an ex-
pert from Mississippi, the largest farm
from a financial standpoint is situated
in Rhode Island. The j. E. Budlong
farm near Providence covers about 700
acres and gives employment to 125 men,
1t is monument of good business man
agement, and its success represents
careful study of market and economi-
cal farming. On this farm, particular at
tention is paid to the matter of fertil-
izer, which is collected from a vast eX-
tent of territory. The farm produces its
own seed--a method more expensive but
much more satisfactory than others.
The land is not left idle except in mid
winter, and such vegetables as cucum-
bers, lettuce, spinach and celery are
grown.
Many of these vegetables, such as
caulifiower and cucumbers, are pre-
served in brine, and the farm includes a
vinegar factory to supply the brine
watts Personal superintendent is also
one of the secrets of the farms success,
and as a result of it. the men work eff
fectively but not excessively The men
are hired by the year. and in winter are
employed in making barrels and in re-
pairing machinery. etc. The glass struc-
lures upon the farm cost $4,000, but the
receipts from them have amounted in
fifteen years to $780, 600
Another large farm is that of c. w
Patt & Son, where celery of the Paris
golden variety is grown. This is planted
in July, blanched with boards and all
sold before Christmas. Dandelions are
grown by the acre and are satisfactory
crop. The Payne lettuce farm adjoins
this, where there are three large hot
houses heated by a steam boiler of 100
horsepower.
These farms are very profitable, prin-
cipally because they do not depend on
the local Providence market, but are
operated for the national market, and
tttil laiNc VI var ylllS COnul-
tons of markets throughout the coun-
try. Most of the product however, goes
to New York
After the lecture many questions were
asked, and the fact was brought out that
irrigation is extensively practiced and
IN many cases the power for the pumps
which supply the system comes from the
steam boilers which are used to heat the
lettuce houses. The processes of celery
cultivation were described in detail
much as the lecturer described them be-
fore the Horticultural Society on Thurs
day In regard to the Budlong farm it
was learned that Italian laborers are
employed there at less than 81 per day.
perhaps a result of the immense scale
Of his operations. but certainly an inn
portant factor of his success. Some of
the employees are Swedes, who are bet
ter paid, and are found to be the best
class of farm laborers. In the Budlong
lettuce houses, the earth is changed
every year, and consists of 2-3 soil and
1-3 stable manure, a laborious and
rather expensive proceeding for the
small farmer The question of fertiliz-
er was discussed, and Prof. Kinney said
that he had yet to see a successful mar
ket gardener who used phosphate fer
tillzer. The discussion continued until
o'clock, at which time the meeting adj
i0Ilrnpd