Evening journal., 1909-05-28
FARMERS DAY AT
COLLEGE FARM
Governor PennewiII TO Pre-
side at Exercises on
June Id

Governor Pennewill will preside at
the Farmers Day celebration at the
delaware College farm on June IA, and
Professor Spillman, of the United
states Department of Agriculture will
make an address on an economical
phase of agriculture. Governor PEN
newill is farmer actually engaged in
that pursuit at Greenwood. He is one
OF the most successful farmers in the
State, too, so far as the financial end
OF his farming goes.
Luncheon will be served at noon t.
those attending the Farmers Day ex-
ercises. 1t is hoped that as many
farmers and their wives as possible
viii attend.
1t is day set aside by the trustees
OF the college for the reception of the
farmers of the State. The day will
be given up TO demonstration of the
experiments now being carried on, and
TO give some idea of their value to
the agricultural welfare of the State
Among the experiments that are in
teresting and instructive is an extern
sive wheat variety test. In this test
there are over sixty named varieties
of wheat. A detailed study Of this
experiment shows a wide variation in
length of straw and head, stiffness cf
straw, stoolng properties, and other
attributes which go to make up a de-
sirable wheat. A study of the forty
varieties of oats shows similar differ
ences which are both interesting and
instructive. The corn variety test,
while not far enough advanced to show
as, much as it viii a little later, will
present some interesting features by
Farmers Day.
Experiment With Wheat.
A most interesting experiment, ard
one which win be nearly finished for
the year, is one to determine what dif-
ference if any. exists between different
varieties or types of wheat in taking
up and using to advantage various
kinds and quantities Of plant food. or
in other words, to ascertain To what
extent the feeding capacity of sertain
types or varieties Of wheat differ To
study this problem. over $4,000 indi-
vidual wheat grains were planted six
inches apart each way. The differences
they exhibit are of great interest to
every wheat grower I'm the State.
Study Of Orchards.
There is now about thirty-five acres
vi NhNnH OAAIeiAnE Nll AAit ANiAAlls 4 AN
larger part of the trees consist Of
peach and apple. and are being used in
a study of the plant food requirements
as we'll as some other factors in grow
ing peaches and apples. The trees arc
looking unusually well this spring. and
afford a pleasing study to the orchard
/ ist The most important experiment
| from the view point of thc fruit grow
I de-.
pertinent TO determine the function OF
nitrogen. phosphorus and potassium in
/ the production Of the peach. For this
work 40 concrete pits 70 feet in
diameter and 3 feet deep have been
built Each pit drains in such a man
ner that the drainage waters can bC
collected, measured and analyzed. The
pits are filled with wash sand, ir
which a peach tree has been planted
Each tree is fertnized with an exact
amount of nitrogen, phosphorous oi
| potassium, or a combination of thesl
clements The investigator, knowini
how much plant food the tree received
and how much leacked out i'm the drain
age waters. has a fair idea of th'
amount that has been taken up by the
tree. As further check the trees
] are 10 ne encloSeu Win u WIZ hettihN
the leaves gathered, weighed and an
alyzed. The fruit will be studied II
a similar manner. and every precaut nr
taken to determine. not only what lh'
tree does with its plant food. but tc
learn also what effect Il has upon the
amount and quality of the fruit pro
duced II is hoped, too, that an eX
pertinent planned with so much care
will give an indication at least as e
tho effect OF the various elements OF
plant food upon the resistance of tho
trees to disease.
Those who are interested in improved
live stock win find in the paddocks ant
stables horses, mules, sheep and hogs
that viii stand critical inspection.