Smyrna times., 1911-03-15
FARMERS INSTITUTE HELD
FINE COURSE IN SMYRNA
PROGRAM RENDERED AT OPERA
HOUSE, AUSPICES STATE BOARD

Prof. A. E. Grantham, 60. OswoId.
Richard Vincent Jr. Composed the
Principle Speakers at all Sessions
The Farmers Institute held in
the Opera House last Friday was a
success, although the ATTENDANCE
was not so large as it should have
been. The morning session opened
at ten O'Clock, when Professor A. E.
Grantham, of Delaware Experiment
Station gave an exceedingly instruc-
tive talk on soil improvement. AS
a preliminary to the discussion of
the subject, Professor Grantham
stated that the matter should be
considered in connection with the
general problem of farming, for the
condition of the soil determines manv
other things on the farm, and the
problem of improvement can be
solved best by knowing the cost of
various operations and the profits
from various crops. The problem
is therefore somewhat complicated,
but the use of leguminous crops is
one of the best, safest and cheapest
ways of building up a soil that is
out of balance. Every soil contains
large quantity of plant food, but
it may not be available. Soils are
not worn out, but the available plant
food is lacking or is out of balance.
The leguminous crops restore the
needed nitrogen and the humus that
holds both nitrogen and moisture.
The best crops of this kind are GRIM
son clover and vetch for winter use,
sowing in the fall and either plowing
under or cutting for hay in the
spring; and soy beans and COW peas
are best for summer. Soy beans
yield more hay and more seed than
COW peas. The Holybrook is one of
the best varieties of soy beans for
Delaware. The use of lime was dis
cussed, and ground limestone, un-
burned, was recommended if it can
be delivered at the farm at the right
price, but a ton of freshly burned
stone lime contains neary twice as
much lime as a ton of limestone.
The ground burnt lime was recon-
mended for certain purposes, but it
may burn out the humus too rapidly,
and should be used only when you
are sure that yon want to break up
the organic matter rapidly.
Urged Growing of Healthy Orchards
Professor Grantham was followed
by E. 1. Oswald, of Chewsville,
Maryland, who discussed orcharding
in Western Maryland, where both
apples and peaches are grown very
extensively and very proftably. The
methods used are not altogether
adapted to Delaware conditions, and
the varieties are different, but in
pruning, spraying and tillage theii
methods are similar to ours. MIR.
Oswald heads all his trees about Is
inches from the ground, keeps the
tops thinned out, kills scale with
lime sulphur, and other insects witt
arsenate of lead, and prevents fun
gous diseases by dilute home made
lime sulphur spray. Yellows de-
stroy the peach orchards sooner OF
later, but is held in check by cutting
out Immediately every tree as soon al
it shows the disease. Professor
Gratham spoke briefly on corn i'm
provement and suggested that farm
ers of this vicinity should compete
for all the prizes offered at the State
Corn Show and the National Corr
Show. Wesley Webb, who presided
at the meeting stated that the Stat'
Board of Agriculture would give so
for the largest yield of corn on on
acre, with second prize of $50 an
a third prize of $40. There will
also be prizes of $25, SIS and $40 t
the boys of each county for yields o
corn. These and other prize
should bring out sharp competitio
and increase the corn yield. In
average corn yield in Delaware ma
increased from 20 bushels per acr
to 80 bushels per acre since 1885, an
it is the aim of the Board to kee
up the work until the average yiel
is so bushels per acre for the entir
State.
Forage Crops and Poultry ProductIo
In the afternoon Professor Gran
ham discussed the leguminous croI
as forage producers and showed the
superiority to other crops in the
feeding value, and showed plainl
that while corn is the great forag
crop for Delaware these soil in
provers have an important place
food producers. Mr.. Oswald di
cuased nonItru nrnductinn shOWlr