Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-02-13
FARMERS INSTITUTE.
Interesting Talks Given Mt the Meeting
Held nj Merinain.

Held ut Mermaid.
The meeting held at Mermaid last
Friday by the Farmers Institute of
New Castle county was well attended
and interesting. James Hossinger pre-
sided.
James L. Shallcross, member of
the Delaware State Board of AGri-
culture, spoke of the work and needs
of the board.
Edward Van Alstyne of New York.
commissioner in charge Of the model
dairy Mt the Pan American Exposition,
gave u detailed account of the expert
ment and the results. Ten breeds were
represented, composed of the hest ami
mails obtainahle. and the greatest care
was taken to get accurate information.
All feed and milk products were
weighed. and an account of each COW
was kept. The results showed rs much
variation between tho highest and low
est record of cows of the same breed as
between the different breeds. In one ex-
treme case difference of about s25
net profit in six months was shown
between two COWS of the same breed.
The Guernsey record was little higher
in net profit, but it did not follow that
they were the best for every one. The
purpose and conditions should be con
| sidered, and the breed selected that
would best fill all requirements, The
| test showed that the individual COW
controlled the richness of the product
almost irrespective of feed. and while
an increased amount of butter was
obtained by the heavy feeding Of rich
fed the increase came from the larger
flow of milk, not the richer quality
At the close of Mr.. Van Alstyne' S
talk, there was general discussion Of
the various feeds and methods of feed
| ing The advocates of ensilage were
numerous, and did most of the talking,
the present high price of grain being
in their favor. Ii was conceded that
ensilage and cotton seed meal gave the
greatest net product, nut while no evil
results had been found to follow this
method it was considered best to add
some bran as sort of insurance in
their long continued Use.
After bountiful supper at the home
of James ii. Walker, the speakers and
members of the institute felt we'll pre-.
pared for the evening work
S. Ii. Derby of Woodside talked Jr
apple culture. He is especially vel
qualified to speak on this subject
being one of the largest apple grower!
in the State. His apples have received
both gold and silver medals at Pari
and Buffalo, and can compete in thu
open markets with the fruit grown il
New York and New England. He i
an advocate of clean culture and spray
ing as the best method of growing fin
fruit. For fertility he has found
| crop of crimson clover, which, sow
! at the last cultivation and plowed dow!
, in the spring, will furnish everything
needed. In experiments where heav
dressings Of chemicals were used i
t addition to the clover no benefit wa
apparent, while on land where n
7 clover had been grown the results wer
, marked. His advice was not to go int
I apple culture unless one could regar
I the trees as friends, knowing all th
n good and bad qualities of each ind
s vidual tree, in which case no bette
Z place could be found than right on thi
e Peninsula. 5-. ...z ..
y The best manner of building up
e dairy herd was then taken up by Nj
y Van Alstyne. He severely criticised ii
too common practice Of using grac
r males, as the produce would be unce
q tain, while with the continued use
a high-class, pure bred sires constar
improvement would be found.
n The farmers seemed we'll pleased wit
n the several talks given, and felt amp
e repaid for having ventured out.