Middletown transcript., 1911-07-01
IT WAS FARMERS DAY
Fine Farm, Big Crowd, Good Speak
ing-Cood Grb

Our 6rst Farmers Dayr' We didn't
have to sprinkle our bald pate with hay
seed, nor stick our pants in our boots and
90 around chewing a rye.straw to pass for
farmer. We just talked crops, now and
then working in q few observations about
rotation ''shortstraw" - sub-soiliug
.'Fultz-Wheat" &C., and We passed fairly
we'll for the real article:
But it was q great day, this Farmers
Day, June 19th, 19l1-the 4th and the
biggest YET held in the State, and in every
feature oft a success. The weather was
perfect; the attendance very large, pro.
hahly over 1000 people from all parts of
Delaware we're there; the exhibits, cattle,
horses, swine, crops &C., fine, the speak
ing interesting and instructive, and last
but not least ''the multitude was fed till
all were filed; and judging from the
prompt fashion in which the sandwiches
disappeared down bucoiic and other
throats and the energy shown at the front
where the ice cream and cakes fight was
most fierce, the treat was like everything
else in that lovely spot-frst class
The farm house is occupied by the
Superintendent Prof. Hayward and is 8
handsome building. The entire farm is
well kept and trim in all its appointments.
The model dairy is good object lesson
of how to keep and feed stall cattle scien-
tifcally and cleanly.
The farm has scores of small expert
mental plots throughout it, devot-
ed to all sorts. of farm and garden pro-
blems, testing different varieties OF grains,
vegetables and fruits, with the best soil
conditions suitable for each one
truly most difficult and complex subject
but one, too, of the highest interest and
value to the farmer, aud in fact to all the
citizens.
Prof. Hayward made about the farmers
the same complaint that the Bacteriologic-
al Department used to make about the
doctors-"They don't use Us enoughl
There are hundreds Of things daily arising
in the lives Of farmers, which, if reported,
might solve many useful question. Re.
port your troubles to Us and help your.
selves and your .neighbors. A postal card
sent to the State Farm might lead to the
discovery and solution =. svtn; USEFUL pro-
blem.'
Professors Grsntham and McCue also
discussed in an instructive way number
Of questions about farming methods, soils,
etc. Speaking of experiments being at
tempted in the State in alfalfa and soy
beans, two..of the useful plants rich in "ni
trogen fxers,' Prof. Grantham said there
had been 70 applicants for alfalfa and 175
for soy beans.
Prof. McCue spoke Of years expert.
ments in improving the two leading vege.
tables-the potato and the tomatoes.
pecially of the latter for canning purposes.
He also told about experiments in soil
fertility in the growing of strawberries,
apples and peaches, etc.; talked about
pruning the ''open head vs.. the two story
method, phosphate applications, etc.
Prof. F. W. Waugh of the Massachu-
setts Agricultural College, the oldest in
the. country, made the principal address
Of the day. He has travelled all over
Europe and the. United States studying
crops and farming His subject was
"The Disposal of the Profits"
He stated that the value of the States
crop in 1890 was $500, 900; in 1900, &c.
100000; in 1910, $4,000, 900, with per
cent. less land in tillage. He discussed
the important questions of transportation,
middlemen, etc, how to get the farm.
ers' stuff into the hands of the consumer.
Farmers are suffering because they have |
improved their business faster than the |
big men generally. Captains of industry |
stand in between the farmer and the con.
sumner and absorb the greater part of the |
profts-and then put put the blame of |
high prices on both. In the Reciprocity |
Treaty the interests OF the farmers were |
boldly sacrificed to these of the manufac.
turers. Hescored the refusal of Congress
after 20 years OF popular demand to allow |
the passage of the Parcels Post laR, be.
cause the enormously enriched express
companies forbade.
Proi. Waugh recommended return to |
the sensible, comfortable building meth.
DDS of colonial times in the erection of |
farm houses.
Take it altogher, this valuable aid to |
the important movement of improved
farming in Delaware, Farmers Day, was a
superb success and THE TRANSCRIPT re-
commends every farmer who missed this
years pleasure and profit, to be sure not
to do so again.