Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1906-02-07
FARMERS INSTITUTE MEET IN SMYRNA
Dan'ei thompson Awarded Prize of SIS. 90 For
urowiug the Best corn-Prominent In.
struciors Address the Local Farmers

urowing the Best COrn-promIuent In.
structors Address the Local Farmers.
AT the session of the Farmers Insti.
tute held in the Smyrna Opera House
last Wednesday, Daniel Thompson.
the we'll known and progressive farmer
hVing on the Hudson Farm between
Smyrna and Clayton was awarded the
prize OF $500 for growing the finest
specimen Of corn in this vicinity. The
corn was of the Golden Beauty" yari-
ETY. and the prize was awarded on the
basis of the 20 best ears. There were
half a dozen contestants who exbib-
tied some fine specimens, The indges
OF the contest were W. G. Dawson of
Cambridge, Md, Henry VanDresser
OF New York, aud Prof. G, l.. Penny.
OF Delaware College. The "Oorn
Prize Contest" was only one feature of
the excellent Institute that was
brought to Smyrna by Prof. Wesley
Webb, secretary of the State Board of
Agriculture. From the time that Vice.
President j. E. Carter (who took the
chair in the absence of President Tay-
lori called the meeting to order until
the close of the evening session there
was interest and enthusiasm and fully
200 or more farmers of this vicinity
participated. The morning session
opened with discussion on "Straw-
berries" in which A. ". Slaymaker, of
Dover and Charles Barker of Milford,
made interesting addresses. Follow
ing this was lecture ON ''San Jose
Scale" by Wesley Webb, of Dover.
The subject was one of intense inter-
est to the farmers, since the scale had
made its appearance to a considerable
degree in this vicinity. Prof. Webb
advised those using oil sprays with
success to continue the use of them,
but he emphasized the fact that the
concensus of opinion of experiment
stations throughout the country was
that the lime, sulphur, salt solution
was the best spray that had been found
up to this time.
Crimson Clover a Valuable "Cover Crop"
The afternoon session opened with a
valuable discussion on ''Crimson Clio
yer" by Prof. Gil. Penny of Delaware
College. The chemical properties of
this clover which furnished humus and
nitrogen in considerable quantities
was shown to be the most profitable
scoyer crop" the farmer can grow and
he advised the continued cultivation
of it. He showed conclusively that
great benefit could be derived by con-
tinuing its growth to the first of April.
at which time the ground could be
used for other crops. Henry VanDres-
ser of New York, the King of Poultry
Raisers was the next speaker and his
remarks were intensely interesting.
His idea was to encourage in every
child love of pets, something they
could have aud call their own whether
1t be pigeons, rabbits or chickens.
There is much in having personal in
terest in and love for pets. Twelve
years ago he had never given chickens
any consideration. Since that time be
has developed business Of them tC
the amount of $500 year. He com
menced with so hens and has increased
the number until he now has 1900
hens. He. says he matches them in al
incubator and mothers them in I
brooder, at first giving the little chick
proper heat and decreasing the tenn
perture according to their growth. H,
Judges this by their wing feathers. Fo
the first SO hours be gives them no fee
after which he gives them dry bread
crumbs with the ground up shells from
which they were Matched. For the re
. naming two weeks he cooks thei
: food and gives them plenty of cleai
. water. He considers the first tw
. weeks the most critical period, afte
this they are able to take care of them
: selves. All chickens should have
3 scratching pen and dust bath and TO
the latter he strongly recommends
+. acid phosphate which makes a goo
dust bath and absolutely prevents lice
Birds Known TO be Our Valuable Friends.
Q The closing afternoon lecture an
= evening session were IN charge of ST.
O nerintepdent A. r. Spaid of the Ne
1t Castle Comfy Schools who talked 0
It ssR;rds. He pointed to the fact thi
f we have few enemies in birds. Eve
n the pesky English sparrow feeds 0
10 insects and weed seeds. The despise
y blackbird, though he may pull corn
IN season, lives the balance OF the year O
ii insects. He said if birds were a
70 driven out and destroyed, in nine year
" time the insects would be so numel
A