Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-01-19
STATE BOARD
Of AGRICULTURE
Interesting sessions.


Farmers from all sections of New Jersey
gathered at Trenton last Wednesday, Thurs
day and Friday in attendance at the thirty
second annual meeting OF the State Agri-
cultural society.
Many subjects of vital moment to agri-
cultursts were presented each day, but
by far the greatest interest was manifested
in the scheme of Syndicate farming pro
posed by Secretary Franklin Dye. This
provoked discussion lasting half an hour,
some members actively favoring it, while
others were strenuously opposed.
The meeting was in charge of the follow
ing officers: President, Dr. E. B. Voorhees,
New Brunswick vice president, John 7
Cox, Readington; secretary. Franklin Dye
Trenton; treasurer, Walter Heritage, Swedes-
boro.
The Rev James G. Kennedy of Trenton
offered prayer, and after some routine busi-
ness these committees were appointed: Gre
dentias-M. D. Dickinson, Samuel r.
Demorest, Jr., Hackensack; Jos W. Ward,
Newark. ResoIutions-.A r. Rider, Ham
monton; George +. DeCamp, Essex; S. B.
Ketcham, Mercer. Officers reports-John
M. Dalrympe, Hopewell; John Thompson,
Theodore NJ. Roe, Sussex county. To wait
on Governor Murphy d. D Denise, Mon
mouth Ezra E. Darnel. Freasurer's ac-
counts-H. v NJ. Dennis Monmouth: ]
NJ Lippincott, Moorestown.
/ a nominating committee of one member
from each county was also appointed with
L. H. Parkhurst, Hammonton, as chairman
and Josiah T. Allison as the representative
from Mercer county
George w. F. Gaunt read the report Of
the state grange, which showed an increase
OF 1000 in membership, "A new oranges
and four new grange halls
The report II Tiaesarar walter Heritage
showed the state board to be in good fpan-
cial condition.
i Vice President John T. Cook read the
officers reports.
4 SECRETARYS REPORT
Secretary Dye read his report, which will
be presented to the Governor. 1t reviewed
the entire agricultural situation in the work
of the state board for the past year. Mr..
I Dye showed shat while generally the year
Of 1904 had been better for farmers than
1908, there had been many failures and
that only the most up-to-date and business
like methods of the farmers and fruit grow
ers had been able to work profitout of
the soil.
BY investigation it had been learned that
4 failures we're due in some cases to natural
causes-cold weather, early frost, too much
rain, insect pest and vegetable blight and
disease.
Other failures were due to cause for
which there could be found remedies, such
an inefficient help, lack Of interest of farm
ers sons and daughters, high taxes and not
being able to market the products Of the
farm to the best advantage, owing to the
keen western and southern competition.
Mr.. Dye devoted considerable attention
his valuable paper in suggesting the
remedies for the evils
First and most important of all, the sec
retary suggested syndicate farming" By
combining the interests Of number OF
! farms: having some oil the owners remain
at home and care for the produee and
others in the markets arranging for the
sale; by giving high c'ass employment to
the farmers sons aud by running the farms
thus combined at great saving. Secretary
Dye believed that farms not now paying
ventures could be developed into good in
yestments.
Among other things shown by the re-
4 port were that New Jersey now ranks
third in the tomato canning industry; that
the total value of the past years crop was
SAG, 81, 200; that the average earning of
each farm In the State was 81, 33s 80, and
that the value of the crops in the State this
year was So, 600, 600 more than last year, in
corn, wheat rye, oats, buckwheat, hay and
potatoes, that the cranberry crop will be
considerable smaller than last year, due to
early frosts.
Al. Rider spoke in favor Of the farmers
trust idea, and others followed him in APP
proving it. Elias S. Black, Of anti-robin
protection fame opposed, the scheme on the
ground that it would crush out the small
farmer just as commercial trusts have
driven hundreds Of small dealers out Of
business.
Secretary Dye defended his proposal
against this attack by claiming that every
small farmer would be interested in and
have small part in the Syndicate, = and
1 il would only be a community Of interest
for the benefit Of all. He was enthusiastic
lin his advocacy Of the plan