Evening journal., 1901-10-12
AGRICULTURAL
HintS and Help for Farmers Of
This State

Farmers throughout the State have
been exceedingly busy during the past
two weeks harvesting their fodder
crop and digging their sweet pota-
toes, and preparing them for shipment.
In speaking Of the sweet potatoes, it
might be well to mention the fact that
the growth Of that tuber Is becoming a
leading industry, and especially 50 with
agriculturists of lower Delaware. At
this season of the year, many farm
ers who have no facilities for keep
ing them until the early spring months.
ship their entire crop. As conse-
quence, markets become glutted,
prices fall Through and a howl goes I'D
from the farmers to the effect that
there Is no money in growing sweet
potatoes. other and more practical
farmers store theirs away in buildings
especially constructed for the purpose.
In early spring they begin TO ship the
tuber and never fail to receive prices
which handsomely repay them for their
trouble. The keeping of the potato
through the winter Is an art which has
caused the grower much useless OK
pense and worry. Many experiments
have been made In that line, and not
o few have proved failures
There appears TO be but one sure
method and that Is to keep them in
buildings heated by coal fires.
Coal fires are absolutely ESSEN
tial as they enable more
uniform temperature TO be maintained.
Accordingly down State farmers club
together and have constructed a build
ing with dimensions capable OF hold
ing their yields. Men are hired TO
watch the fires day and night, and
where, say one dozen farmers. club to-
gether. the expense is not great, and
the benefits derived from the method
are excellent TO say the least.
Dr. o. c. Townsend, Of the U. S. De-
partment Of Agriculture, has made ex-
periments demonstrating that celery
blight on rust can be kept in check by
thoroughly spraying the plants during
the season with the ammoniacal copper
carbonate solution. It Is made by plac-
ing one ounce Of copper carbonate In
just enough ammonia water to dissolve
It. and then dilute It to nine gallons,
using ordinary well water. Take about
one-half pint Of ammonia water and
add one ounce Of copper carbonate.
When thoroughly dissolved dilute to
nine gallons and spray thoroughly with
any ordinary spray pump. To secure
the best results the plants should be
sprayed at least once a week. or oftener
II rain follows shortly after the appl-
cation is made. Unquestionably the
safest way Is TO begin with the treat
ment before the disease appears; but
the development OF blight may be re-
ltarded and perhaps completely checked
even after II has made some headway
by continued spraying. The leaves
which will have been attacked will diein
spite of all treatment but the other
GrOWlh which Is covered with the solu-
ticn, VIII resist the attack of the fun
gus spores and keep green DR. Town
send considers the ammoniacal solution
far superior TO Bordeaux in preventing
the development OF the rust. Shading
the plants has also been tried, but with
Indifferent success.
Those who have abundant crops of
corn and potatoes will be the pluto
Gratis among the farmers this year. if
all reports are true. From all sections
comes the cry that there are few po-
tatoos. Tho shortage covers New
England, the West and also the South
ern States. Maryland and Delaware
seem TO be the only exceptions, and on
the Peninsula. at least there will
probably be tho usual yield. South Of
Pennsylvania there arc two crops, an
early and late one. while In the
Northern and some Western states
there Is but one.
nTnasf f,f IIu oa,sIrr I1.I,...,,..
have been marketed at good prices, but
there is yet a steady advance.
From present indications late pota-
toes are making we'll, and a dollar a
bushel Is not high estimate for them.
Almost every farmer has a surplus
after keeping sufficient for home con-
sumption, and this will mean a great
deal Of ready money for our farmers.
That the reports are pretty accurate is
evidenced by the present market quo
tatlons. as dealers have a way of
reaching the future yield pretty ac-
.ourately. In the New England cities
they are now selling at from $3.50 TO
Sl75 per bushel.
Farmers and truckers in Delaware
and on the Eastern Shore of MARYLAND
and Virginia have been particularly
fortunate this year in having good
crops The weather has been season.
able and all the crops have produced
well. There have been no long contin-
ued drouths to destroy crops, such as
have prevailed in many sections Of the
country, particularly the West, and the
result is that Maryland and the East
ern Shore Of Virginia truckers and
farmers have been called upon to fur
nish less fortunate sections with a
supply of fruits and vegetables, at re-
munerative prices.
When hogs are fed grain largely It
VIII pay TO grow some sugar beets for
them; but in any case for hog feeding
it Is cheaper to grow either the golden
tankard or long red Pound for
pound the sugar beet is the better for
hog feed; but the others so far surpass
the sugar beet in yield that they are
much cheaper to grow.