Smyrna times., 1905-06-21
SMYRNA FARMERS LARGELY
REPRESENTED AT CAMDEN
ALLDAY MEETING OF FARMERS ON CAMDEN
CAMP GROUNDS ATTRACT CROWDS.
interesting Program Given Uuder the Auspices
Of the Grange and Institute at Which the
Pesky Mosquito Was Discussed.

resky mosquito was Discussed
Smyrna and vicinity was we'll repre-
sented at the farmers meeting at Cam
den Camp grounds Saturday, it being
said that between rs and 100 from the
immediate section were in attendance.
Besides a number of private teams
there was a large hack party under the
direction OF Joseph E. Carter. This
meeting which was under the auspices
of Fruitland Grange Patrons of Hus-
bandry and the Farmers Institute of
Kent County, it is claimed has been one
of the largest and most enthusiastic
ever held in Kent County. 1t was
called to order at IL O'Clock by Past
Master s. II. Derby of the State
Grange, who introduced Hon. John r.
Nicholson, Chancellor of Delaware, as
the presiding officer of the morning
session. The latter introduced the
first speaker, DR.. A. T. Neale of the
Delaware Experimental Station, New
ark, whose subject was Alfalfa" DR..
Neale exhibited a large specimen of
alfalfa grown on the farm of William
M. Dickson near Woodside. He
named several prominent farmers in
Delaware who were successfully grow
ing alfalfa. Referring to the origin of
alfalfa, DR.. Neale stated that nearly
1900 years ago the Romans cultivated
the plant and it was also known to
have spread along the Mediterranean
Sea, and had been grown in parts of
Asia and Russia. 1t was evidently
brought to this country by the Spanish
invaders, and is known to grow more
successfully on dry and arid land,
where no other plants will grow.
While it has spread throughout the
world, it has not so successfully
thrived in Delaware. Continuing, DIR.
Neale said: "Alfalfa is a clover-as
good as red clover in many respects.
A good crop can be cut from four to
five times year, and in this respect it
differs from red clover" DIR. Neale
submitted seven specimens of soil
taken from farms in New Jersey,
Pennsylvania and Delaware, illustrat-
ing where alfalfa was best grown.
Prof @. l.. Penny, chemist of the Ex-
perimental Station, explained the
terms of "acid" and "alkali'' as spoken
of by DR.. Neale in relation to the soil.
he gave illustrations showing the diff
ferent effects of acids and alkalis on
the soil. Prof. Chester, also of the
Experimental Station, spoke of "Bac-
terra in the Soil" He exhibited sew
eral jars containing roots of clover, etc
which had been innoculated with bac-
terra.
Ditching Method For Eradlcating Mosquitoes.
''The Eradication of Mosquitoes,
by Prof. John Smith, State entomolo-
gist of New Jersey, was very interest
ing. The speaker said he had been
laughed at by the newspapers, and in
fact by everybody, even the New Jer-
sey Legislature which had appro-
priated $4,000 for the Grad ication of
the ''pesky mosquito" He demon
strated that by experimenting along
the salt marshes in New Jersey by the
ditching process, it had become pos
sible to rid many of the sections of the
mosquito which foryso many years hes
infested that State. He stated that
while there were at least 40 kinds of
mosquitoes in New Jersey. there were
but three or four kinds which were
necessary to fight. Marsh mosquitoes
ne continued, lay eggs anywhere, in
mud or on water. In New Jersey,
Prof Smith stated, many of the large
cities are making appropriations for
the eradication of the mosquito, and
owners of lands in the heretofore in
tected districts, claim that their pro-
perty has wonderfully increased in
value since the elimination of the pest,
and can be more readily sold than be-
fore In speaking of the mosquitoes
in Delaware, Prof. Smith said that he
had met few Delaware mosquitoes,
but such as he had met originated from
the salt marshes and were not local.
he advanced the belief that the same
conditions, formerly existing in New
Jersey now exist in Delaware, and
that the remedy applied there would
prove effective here.
Afternoon Of Bright and Spicy Addresses.
The afternoon meeting was presided
over by the venerable Manlove Hayes,
secretary and treasurer of the Della
ware railroad. Gov. Preston Lea
made brief opening address. Prof.
W. b. johnson, editor of the American
Agriculturist, took for his subject,
Opportu mites, and his address was
mingled with wit and humor. In the