Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1903-12-24
WILLIAMSBURG
farmers INSTITUTE.

neiu, NOT entlE6lys PERHAPS OWiug " ehS
superior instructive ability of the speak
ers, but because Of the increased attendance
OF the farmers of that section Of the county
The representative of the DEMOCRAT was
not present at either the morning on even
ing sessions because the morning and
evening train service is not in harmony
with ours, but from what he saw and heard
at the afternoon session be is sure the
Institute is growing in popularity in that
section of the county. The commodious
Town Hall was filled all the afternoon,
and the audience followed the three speak
ers closely to the end.
The first topic was Asparagus Culture,
Facts not Theories by Mr.. Henry w.
Ridgway, of Swedesboro, and he held the
close attention of the audience for full
hour. Mr.. Ridgway being a successful
asparagus grower Of our county, who is in
the business for profit and not as fad,
spoke of the practical features, and in such
way that the farmers derived valuable
information facts that will stand them in
good stead should they enter on asparagus
growing.
The profit Of asparagus growing is due to
the season Of the year in which it reaches
the market, he said in opening, as it
practically has no competitor. 1t can be
grown anywhere-in Northern New Jersey
there are now 1000 acres of newly planted
beds, while in Californian there is one bed
of 1000 acres. The demand is greater
than the supply, hence it can be cultivated
with safety, if cultivated right.
The most important factor in its cultiya-
ton is in getting the right variety
variety that will resist the rust.
In the cultivation of ordinary crops, a
mistake can be corrected in one year,
while mistake in the growth of asparagus
will not be fully discovered within five
years. You cannot afford to make a mis-
take. He advised the beginner to put out
half acre and grow with the business, and
let the business grow with him.
In securing plants be advised: Don't buy
of nurserymen, but from some grower who
is growing for himself. If you grow your
own plants, get your seed from beds you
know to be good and free from rust. 1t is
more profitable to pay SIS per thousand for
roots, than getting them from nurseryman
for nothing. In selecting seed from which
20 propagate roots, select the plumpest
seed from the lower part Of the stalk, and
stalk surrounded with stalks with no
seeds on them, SOW seed to grow twice as
many plants as you need, and sell the
balance. In raising plants from the seed
you get larger and stronger plants than You
can buy.
Culture has SO improved asparagus that
the article put on the market ten years ago
wouIdn't sell in the market to-day, hence
the grower must always be on the lookout to
improve his bed, or he will soon be a back
number. In selecting plants choose those
with large eyes and few of them.
1t costs as much to cut small stalks as
large, the small will net cents per bunch
aud the large 80 cents. Plant your roots
in light soil, sloping gently to the south
east, free from basins, trees, sticks and
stones Make your rows five feet apart
and place the plants twenty-four inches
apart in the row. Some people say this is
too far apart, but my experience is that
while you may not get SO much grass the
first year, you will every year thereafter,
and more as the bed ages. A good aver
age depth at which to place plants is six
inches below the natural level, not so deep
in clay soil. Set plants eyes up. Spread
fertilizer over the row; keep the weeds out
as long as the growing season lasts; ridge
fup the row slightly. | broadcast fifteen
tons Of stable manure to the acre in the
fall; give the land coat Of fertilizer in the
Spring. | cut the first year, provided the
grass is big enough to cut. A bel put on
right is worth $40O an acre more than one
put out wrong.
Mr.. Ridgway uses paris green on aspala-
gus insects-while the rust bears no relation
to insects, but where You find bed eater
up with bugs, sooner or later you win fluid
rust there. Rust is our greatest enemy; j,
is driving some growers out If the bust
ness There is no known remedy for rust
and she only thing he could say on tbs
subject was breed away from it-select i
variety that has ability to resist it.
In the discussion that followed, Henry
Hurff, a grower from sicklerville, said that
flock Of guinea fowls were the best bug
destroyers he had found next to catching
them in basket.
sanitation and Hygiene was discussed
by Mr.. Re sey in a way to interest and
enlighten his hearers in care of their health.
His talk was Of a character that more harm,
than benefit might result from fragmen-