The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1907-03-22
FARMERS INSTITUTE.
r. L. Watts and J. T. Campbell Ad j.
dressed the Gathering.

|
mers and citizens turned out in response to the
invitation sent them by Prof. W. l.. Amoss,
director of Farmers Institutes, to be present
at their two days meeting to be held at the
Courthouse, this city, to hear addresses by j.
T. Campbell and r. s. Watts. both of Pennsyl
vania, on various subj ects of farming.
Each days session started at 10 a. m, and
continued until p. m, except between II
and l, when recess was taken for lunch.
In the absence of Prof. w. l.. Amoss the
institut director, who could not be present on
account of sickness Mr.. l.. P. Slinguf. New
Windsor acted as the director, and who is
| great institute man aud hard worker for llsl-
| tute success.
| On Monday the meeting was fairly we'll at
tended, but the attendance was not up to the
expectations of those present.
| The morning program consisted OF two
subjects: First, 1.-The Farm As Factory, by
r. l.. Watts, and second, Potato culture,
| by j. T. Campbell. Both OF these SUBJECTS
we re ably DISGUISE =,
The afternoon session consisted Of the fol-
lowing: practical Plant Feeding K. l.:
Watts; and Poultry, Horses and Pastures.
J. T. Campbell, after which they adjourned
until Tuesday.
| TUESDAYS session was much better attended
than on Monday, but was not up to the expec-
tation of the PROFESSOR of the institute.
Morning subjects: r. l.. Watts, Care and
Management of Orchards" ). Il. oswald
of Washington county, breeding and Selee-
ton of Seed Corn" J. L. Campbell, 'Soil
Fertility" u,r,c >,
The afternoon, R. l.. Watts, on alfalfa.
Col. S. K. Herr also made brief address ON
the usefulness of Alfalfa" Feeding Poultry
for Egg Product" j. I. Campbell.
The address on Market Gardening by
| R. L. Watts. was in part as follows:
There are certain items OF expense that are
practically uniform whether the crops large
or small. The gardener is compelled 10 ex-
mend almost Fixed amount for blowing, har
rowing, cultivating and hoelng' and there must
| be fair crop before these expenses Will De
| covered To clear profit, the yield must be
more than fair; it must be at least good and
large profits usually come from large yields.
| Early planting, liberal feeding, are the most
| important elements in securing large crops.
| Too much effort cannot be made IN working
| for quality. This is what secures fancy prices
| or even paying prices. Quality usually, not
| always, accompanies quantity. The rapidly
grown vegetable is usually the pest SO lar as
palatability is concerned because it is the most
succulent. The variety and character OF the
| fertilizers have much to do with the quality OF
| the products. Earliness is of vital importance.
| Reaching the market few days later than
necessary may mean quite loss.
Having produced vegetable OF good quail
| ity and at the proper time, see that it is put
on the market in the most salable condition.
Exercise great care in cleaning, grading and
packing Give full measure and see that the
quality of the product is uniform throughout
| the package.
The sneaker gave minute instructions for
the erection and filling of the hotbed and also
the cold frame, and emphasized the impor
lance of the thermometer test before the seeds
were planted. Rash judgment should not be
relied upon. The heat should subside to IS
degrees before seeds are placed in the hotbed.
Hot beds are valuable in the start of all veg
etables in which eariness is essential: The
first sowing of cabbage, cauliHower and lettuce
seed should be made not later than January.
The practice of many gardeners is to place
few inches of good soil directly on the ma
nure. Ii is more convenient. however to use
flats These can be made by ripping small
boxes into sections about two inches deep.
The bottoms of the flats should be OF this lum-
ber 1t is temptation to make the flats three
or four inches deep, but they are of no advan-
tage over those of two inches deep. Just as
good plants have been grown in shallow flats
as in the deeper ones. When the time for
sowing has arrived and the temperature IN the
hotbed is not more than IS degrees, fill the
flats with fine (screened) soil, pressing firmly
broadcast, making perhaps thousand plants
to the flat the size of an ordinary soap box.
Stronger plants may be secured sometimes
by sowing more thinly, but by good care the
above number may be produced. If possible,
do not allow the temperature OF the HAT to rise
above 60 degrees. and lower temperature
will make stronger plants.
Cabbage, caulihower and lettuce seeds will
terminate at a temperature OF 40 degrees and
slow termination and growth always result
in better plants. This is a strong argument
in favor Of early sowing so that it will not be
necessary to force the plants too rapidly. Ven
tilate when the weather permits and make
applications of water only when absolutely
necessary, shown by the plants willing or re-
fusing to grow fast enough. Every precau-
ton should be taken to prevent the plants
from damping off 1t should be constantly
kept in mind that high temperature and ex-
cessive moisture are the two chief factors IN
promoting this disease.
Cabbage, lettuce and caulItiower trans
planted in the cold frame about the middle of
February, and protected from cold when nee
essary, should be large enough for the field
by the middle of March. To take them direct
to the field from their warm home under the
glass, would prove disastrous to the tender
plants, unless they were first subjected TO
hardening process. This must be gradual.
Begin by ventilating more than usual in the
| day time and in day or two remove the sash
entirely through the day, then do not cover
sash with the mats at night, and hually give
| no protection during either day or Light. 1t
plants are thoroughly hardened in the frames
| they will stand severe freezing in the field.
| This is true of the three vegetables named
| 1t is also decided advantage to harden toma
| toes and other tender plants before setting in
| the field.
The mechanical or physical properties of
| the soil are of greater Importance than the
chemical. The soil should be loose and fra
BILE, we'll drained, but retentive of moisture
| Moisture is the most important factor In secur-
| ing large crops, and gardeners should strive
| for that mechanical condition of the soil which
| will enable it to retain liberal supply of
| water to meet the needs of the growing crops.
Liberal feeding counts for much with mar
ket gardening. Those who have reaped the
| largest profits in gardening have used immense
| quantities of both manure and commercial
| fertilizers. The haphazard method employed
| by some general farmers in cultvating their
crops will absolutely fail to secure even fair
| results in the production of vegetables
The corn exhibit contest and prize winning
at the Institute was interesting TO farmers VINO
like to raise good corn. The prize was won
by Clarence S. Yingling, of Pleasant Valley.
father, Mr.. Joseph P. Yinging. When he
was asked by the farmers how it was raised he
said on poor land. Mr.. Yinglng bong hit his
farm three years ago and can safely say it was
the poorest farm in the district: He did not
have the rich experience and the well titled
field that his father left him, as many have
| that raise corn. 1t was done by following the
instructions of the Institute and his own skill
full labor, the result of which he seems
proud. The first year he raised on his poor
| farm 81 bushels of wheat, 80 barrels corn. II
tons sweet corn; second year, "a bushels
wheat, 70 bushels buckwheat, $50 bushels rye
| and "a tons sweet corn; third year, nearly 500
bushels wheat, 400 barrels corn, Is tons sweet
| corn and 1856 bushels rye. Besides this he
raised clover seed. fattened 35 hogs for mar
| ket and saws could have raised 1000 bushels
of wheat if it were not so low. This is Mr..
Yngling' experience in raising crops on thin
land.