The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-01-14
FARMERS MEET IN TOWN.

Agricultural Experts Discuss In
teresting Farm Topics.
Valuable Hints from State Agricultural
Secretary franklin Dye-says that Few
New Jersey Farmers Know How to
Farm-The Question of Fertilizers and
How to Raise Potatoes-Professor yoor-
for the Dairy and How to Feed Economi-
caIIy-Other Farming Notes.
The Farmers Institute, held by the Of
icials Of the N. J. State Board of Agri-
culture in the County Hall, Morristown,
on the 18th inst, was success. Although
the duties relative to the ice harvest de-
tanned several, those at the meeting were
representative men, and the discussions
were conducted in a fine and cordial
manner.
At 1920 a. M, after the Introductory
remarks by the IState Secretary, Hon.
Franklin Dye, President; DID. Denise,
of Freehold, N. j., gave an informal
talk on ''some subjects of general inter
est to farmers He humorously styled
himself as a professor of agriculture,
and said that he thought the farmers
knew how to appreciate the truth told
in plain way, and wished them to ask
questions freely. He said that he had
learned more in seeing how some one
else did than in any other way, and ad-
vised farmers to go see some one who
had made farming success, and ask
him questions. Continuing, he said,
that it didn't pay to farm worn out land:
that he had big farm and let great
part of it lie in sod. He remarked that
not more than one-third of the farmers
of New Jersey knew how to farm, and
that it was better to till 25 acres well
than fifty acres poorly, adding, "Never
plant thing that yon don't fertilize
WE'LL" With regard to the pasturing of
meadows in December, he said it was a
poor plan; as the cattle tramped the
ground solid and greatly lessened the
coming crop. But, he observed, New
Jersey farmers generally did this. He
said that the Monmouth County farmers
moved crops of hay from the same field
six or seven years in succession, but they
fertilized very heavily. In order to make
the farm pay, they were compelled to
buy fertilizers cheaply, and accomplish
ed this by dealing directly with the
brokers. They had formerly bought
from so-callo,1 manufacturers, but who
were merely importers themselves, and
had paid from S. to So per ton more for
the convenience of buying at second
hand. With regard to the adaptation
of fertilizers to certain crops, he said
that different soils required different pro-
portions of potash and we could best de-
termine the correct rate by experiment,
heavy soils requiring more than light
ones. For potatoes, he observed that
10 per cent. Of phosphoric acid was
enough, and that we should aim to COM
bine such a rate of ingredients as will be
used by the plants; hence the objection to
using all bone in the manufacture of
phosphate, as the per cent. of phosphate
acid therein would be too high. In buy
ing fertilizers at first hand, we were told
that fifty ton lots secured the lowest
prices, and that orders from abroad were
closed by the month of June. He urged
upon farmers the necessity of buying
everything in quantities, and Of consult
ing the demands of the market in regard
to the kinds of crops raised; also, that
farmers should be their own merchants,
and should keep one-half of their inferior
stock at home as they would realize fully
as much in all on the good stock that re-
mained. He also said that as rule far
mers didn't know how to manage econo-
mically, and alluded to the necessity of
education to keep them from being
driven to the wall. In regard to mixing
fertilizers he recommended using a
screen and said that most of the bone
came from the west, and that the freight
rates from there were exorbitant, often
amounting to more than the cost of the
material, or as 10 to 9. In growing
early potatoes a little more of nitrate
of soda can be used than you would
for later crops, as its acts immedi-
ately, and dried blood is good to sup
plement the growth when the soda is
gone. Muriate Of potash will raise more
potatoes than the sulphate, in spite of
what objectors say. Potatoes grown
late are best for planting as the seed is
solid. The first sprout to start is the
best. He demonstrated that commercial
fertilizers alone would raise crop sue
cessfully. The trouble is that farmers
don't put on enough of it. "a good
quantity per acre is from 1000 pounds to
1900 pounds. Sow timothy seed with
grain in the fall and clover in the spring.
Dress the meadows every spring, putting
400 pounds Of mixed fertilizer to an acre.
Change your potato seed every year.
When you can buy cotton seed meal for
$22 or $23 ton, the value, after feeding,
is worth the cost. Don't be afraid to
trust your neighbor, as it is not to his