Gloucester County Democrat., 1903-11-26
THE farmers INSTITUTE.

Iile Gloucester County tarmerS 1nStl
tute, under the direction Of the State Board
af Agriculture, which meets every Other
year at Swedesboro, and the alternate yeal
at Mullica Hill, held two days meeting
in Guests Hall, Swedesboro on Wednesday
and Thursday of last week.
THIS annual gathering of the clans i:
looked forward to from year TO year as the
time when the farmer meets his brother
farmer from all over the county, and the
successes and failures of the year are dis.
eussed and plans and projects for the COM
ing year as well. The good book says:
Iron sharpeneth iron, so man sharpeneth
the countenance of his friend;'' and these
tillers of the soil find that their annual
gathering gives them new inspiration. a
broader vision, and lifts them out of their
little rut and puts them into closer contact
with the great outside world.
John Tonkin, Presidents of the County
Board Of Agriculture, called the Institute
TO order at 10 o'clock on Wednesday morn
ing and gave pleasant aand appropriate
words Of greeting; Secretary Of the State
Board Of Agriculture, Franklin Dye, fol-
lowed with interesting remarks, ami intro
duced David NJ. Kelsey, of Durham, Conn
who had for his theme, Chemistry for
Everybody In introducing his subject
he said it was tough one and hard to
understand. He only expected in his brief
talk to get his hearers interested and set
them to shrinking along the lines of solids.
nuids, cases. oxygen, carbon, hydrogen and
nitrogen. The speaker was at home in his
subject, indeed, considerably more so than
were his listeners.
Secretary Dye followed with an exec
iDgIy helpful address on Variety, Power,
and the effect Of Influence /" He urged
the young, especially, to study things as
they met them every day; the things that
we're all about them; spoke Of the inffu-
ence Of natural things; as heat, cold, moist
ure and dryness; said the young should
study nature more than the text books
atsll learn ii shs Influences, good and bad,
which surround them; how to encourage
she one and ward of the other.
The afternoon session opened with music,
after which the subject, (which is
most Profitable, Extensive or Intensive
Farming ?n Intensive by James T. Budd.
and Extensive by Edward Van Alstyne, of
Kinderhook, New York. As Mr. Budd
discoursed on the marvellous amount OF
crops raised On the small farms Of ten to
twelve acres, and the more marvellous sums
Of money realized from the sale Of the
crops, one was sure that he had great
deal the best end of the question, but when
large farms in the Hudson river valley, aud
Of his wonderful dairy, and of the amount
Of gilt-edged butter sold at fancy prices
and Of his fruit growing, and general
farming, the scales were more evenly bal
anced In closing Mr.. yanAlstyne said,
man should never cultivate more land than
he could cultivate well, and should never
buy large farm if he had only money
enough to buy small one.
Increasing the Productive Power of the
Soil by green manuring, also by green ma
nuring and commercial fertilizers, was
treated by H. W. Collingswood, and Prof
j. G. Lipman.
Work Of the Department Of Agricul-
ture and origin and development OF our
Domestic Fowls, were the evening topics
discussed by Mr. Van Alstyne and w T.
McGrew These topics were illustrated by
calcium lights and stereopticon ides.
Thursday mornings session opened with
the subject, Apples for proft,7 by Mr..
Kelsey. This was one of the most helpful
talks Of the meetlng-fuI Of wise suggest
ions from large fruit grower, regarding
the best time for planting apple trees, the
best kinds to plant, the distance apart, the
manner Of planting, etc. He advised grow
ers to patronize their own nearest nursery
man, go to the nursery and select their
stock themselves, rather than risk that
ordered from a distance. Mr.. Van AIstyne
TO lowed with Packing and Marketing
Farm Produce = This talk also was full
or helpfuIness and practical suggestions.
s.steel Highways and By-ways'' were
treated by Thomas q. Gibbons. School
Horticulture and Nature Study, by Mr..
Kelsey, and Home Life on the Farm, y BY
Mr.. vanAIstyne. Mrs. Mary Haines read
an excellent paper, The Younger Mem
bers' part 10 the Grange aud Institute .
The three latter were especially interest
ing, and deserve more time and space than
we can give.
Mrs. Beulah D. Gardiner read fine
paper on Wednesday. Subject, How
much Of the Success Of Life Depends on
T;kfia Th;nos9 Rsah az honeakv rersist