Smyrna times., 1901-01-30
KENT FARMERS ASSEMBLE
At INSTITUTE IN SMYRNA
PROF. JAMES S. ROBINSON OF MARYLAND
COLLEGE TALKS ON TOMATO GROWING.
"GOOd Roads" Movement Introduced BY R.
NJ. Cooper of CheswOld and Institute Di-
rected Him to Appeal to Levy Court.


NJ. Cooper OF CheswOId and Institute Di-
rected Him to Appeal to Levy Court.
The Farmers Institute of Kent |
county met in Odd Fellows Hall yes
terday afternoon, and was one of the |
most largely attended meetings held
this winter. The meeting was pre-
sided over by r. NJ. Cooper, Esq, pre-
sident of the Institute. The principal
speaker was Prof. James S. Rob-
insOn of the Maryland Agricultural
College.
President Cooper made the first talk
of the afternoon in introducing the sub
ject of ''Good Roads" He exhibited
on a table in front of him model of
the road bed that in his opinion ought
to be made throughout the county and
in contradistinctiOn to this, he showed !
the character of roads famlliarly seen
IN these parts, as superIntended by the |
Road Overseer. President Cooper
prepared a table showing the amount
VI VoACo SOllCCIcu III edCu representa-
tive district of Kent county, the ap-
preparation no per cent? to the pub
lie roads, the additional appropriations
required, the balances returned, the
total amount used in each district, and
the percentage of taxes used on the
roads. He showed cOnclusivelv that
Kent county expended yearly on the
roads, $1S, ,093. .02 for which very unsat-
isfactory service was rendered. He
advised that the Levy Court appoint
efficient men as Road Overseers, re-
wise laws pertaining to road making,
pay them a stated salary, and have the
appointees of all districts appear before
the Levy Court to receive instructions
just how the work should be done. At
the conclusion of his remarks, Mr.. J.
E. Carter moved that President Cooper
be instructed by the Farmers Institute
OF Kent county to lay his plans before
the Levy Court, which was carried
unanimously.
The rest of the afternoon was taken
up in a discussion on Tomato Grow
ing," by Prof. James S. Robinson of
Maryland Agricultural College, Be-
fore he took the chair of Horticulture
in the college, he was large tomato
grower, and has been looked up to every
since as an authority. The tomato in
dustry he said, had grown to one of
large proportions, an idea of which
can be gained when it is considered
that New York, Pennsylvania, Della
ware, New Jersey and Maryland are
putting up 240, 900, ono of cans yearly,
not counting those which are grown
for consumption In the markets. To-
mato Growing can be made profitable if
practice is carried out in accordance
with the basic principles of the life of the
plant. He said he found by his exper-
fence that it was never wise to set out
plants after a rain, on account of the
winds that usually follow from the
north OF west. Winds blowing from
the south or eastward are much more
conducive to the plants growth.
Among the best early varieties of to-
matoes he named the "Acme, " "Cl-
max" Beauty" and early Anna"
The latter was a comparatively new
variety which gives promise of being a
popular plant. For canning purposes,
where the need is for mediu m size
fruit, red and smoothe, he advised the
Paragon" "Stone," "Queen" and
"Matchless." ;"
Interesting and valuable information
was given ON the tomato blight. the
mechanical admixture and use of
the Bordeaux Mixture, straining of
seed, care for the health and vigor of
the plant, transplating, fertilizing, uses
of cold frames, preparation of plant
beds. &c. The lecture was followed
by Free Parliamentary discussion.
Prof. Robinson is most entertaining
talker and his remarks were received
with favor by the fifty or more up-to-
date farmers, who gathered there to
hear him.
President Cooper adjourned the
meeting and invited all to be present at
the Cheswold meeting to be held to-
morrow afternoon, when w. M. Dick
son would talk on ''Cattle Raising"