Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-11-30
FARMERS INSTITUTES.
At Clayton.

last. The meeting was called to order
soon after ten a. M, by Mr.. Van Alstyne,
of Kinderhook, New York, who stated
that Mr.. Dye scheduled to open this meet
ing, was detained at Keyport to close the
Institute there, and could not reach here
until the opening Of the afternoon session.
He then introduced Rev. R. S. Carlisle, Of
the Aura NJ E. Church, who made an ap-
propriate prayer. THE exhibit of farm pro-
ducts was exceptionally fine, and embraced
all products of that section in highest per
fection and no small quantity.
The first lecturer was Prof R. T. Watts,
of near Johnstown, Penna., whose topic
was Practical Plant Foods. The speaker
said this exhibit Of products was evidence
TO him that the farmers Of this section must
be practical and skillful plant feeders.
Continuing be said that fertility Of the soil
was the foundation Of success in general
farming. By fertility Of the soil, he meant
Its capacity to produce crops. Fertility
does not depend ON any one thing. The
soil is great store ho use Of plant food,
and to liberate this is study.
Nitrogen is the most important element
we have to do with. Il is that that gives
to plants their deep, rich color. 1t is too,
the hardest element to keep after being lost
the first year after use.
A cabbage head that is small and leaves
tough is a sure sign that nitrogen is scarce
in the soil, the same may be said Of corn.
Then apply nitrate of soda.
Potash has to do with color Of fruit. An
application Of potash is necessary to pro-
duction of potatoes.
Phosphoric acid is necessary to produc-
tion Of grams Of proper development
Lime is necessary to the growth Of Grim
son eioger aaa asssssfs5s. Il fads together she
sandy soil and pulverizes the clay and
tough soils.
He advocated cement floors in stables
saying they were cheaper than plank, and
saved the valuable liquids, which were two
thirds the value of the manure.
Profits on the farm are largely dependents
on commercial fertilizers. Those pay best
that analyze the highest. He found it most
profitable so mix his fertilizers on the barn
floor, as it saves from $5 to $40 a ton. Mix
them to suit the crop, he said. There is an
educational value in mixing your own
fertilizer.
He gave this formula for tomato fer
tilizer.
He warned his hearers that percentages
always represented pounds.
500 lbs nitrate OF soda.
1143 lbs. rock phosphate.
400 lbs. nitrate Of potash.
He mixed by use of wire screen, set up
at an angle Of As degrees, the Jumps that
did not go through the screen were crushtd
with shovel.
Then he gave this as potato fertilizer
Tankage 500 pounds.
Cotton seed meal 200 lbs
Nitrate Of soda, 100 lbs.
Acid phosphate, 400 lbs.
Sulphate, 200 lbs.
34 per cent of nitrogen.
6.8 per cent potash.
Here is top dressing for grass
Nitratic of soda, 125 lbs.
Bone meal, so lbs.
Acid phosphate, so lbs.
Nitrate Of potash, 25 lbs.
For acre. $50 lbs.
Here is his mixture for corn, per acre.
Nitrate of soda 100 lbs.
Screened tankage, 200 lbs.
Acid phosphate. 300 lbs.
Nitrate of potash, $50 lbs.
81 per cent nitrate.
7.2 ph0sphoric acid.
SO potash.
: Mr.. yanAlystvne occupied the last hall
hour before the noon recess in talk on
spraying, and describing the difference be-
tween the eating and sucking insects. San
Jose scale, he asserted, will pay the careful
man in the long run, because only the
careful man will haYe fruit to sell. He
said many orchards had been destroyed in
the last fye years, and more will be de
stroyed in the next FIVE years, and fruit
will avance in price.
He ADVOCATED lime and sulphur as the
best cure for the scale Crude oil will Kill
the scale, but IL used year after year will
kill the tree = n
Lime and sulphur had cleared up ths
scale in York State, and would in New Jer
sey. It should be used in the Spring be
fore the foliage comes out, but may bs
used in the Fall. The sulphur and sail
helped the peach curl and fungus growths
[Our readers may procure the formulas
for this preparation by addressing posta
TO Franklin Dye, Trenton.
Here are some Of Dir. vanAtstyn's for
mulas:
For Fungus Troubles. Bordeaux and
Arsenite Of Soda. Apply just as leave'
appear.