Milford chronicle., 1912-02-09
SOME GOOD ADVISE
TO OUR FARMERS
Given at the Farmers Institute at George
town Last Week by Practical
Farmers.

Farmers of this district and other Sec
tiOns of the county gathered at GEORGE
town on Wednesday of last week to at
tend the annual farmers institute which
was held in Odd Fellows Hail, The at
tendance ia the morning was rather small
but in the afternoon and night record
breaking crowds we're in attendance, and
many valuable thoughts given them by
theseve raj speakers. Prof Wesley ebb,
OF Dover, member of the State Board of
Agriculture, presided over the morning
and afternoon sessions, but left at night
for Lewes, where he conducted the insti-
tute Thursday
D. N Kern of Allentown, Pa, a WE'LL
known farmers institute lecturer, ad
dressed the morning session on potato
culture, and went through all the details
of growing the vegetable, commencing
with the cutting OF the potato to plant
until the harvest time. He stated that
the proper way to cut the potato for plant
ing was to sever it in swain. Just before
putting it in the earth place the fresh cut
into ashes to prevent the moisture from
coming out of the potato The rows are
placed three feet apart and the seed are
dropped about Is or Is inches apart down
the row. As a preventative of what is
commonly called 'pOck," he advised the
use of six pounds each of sulphate OF
ammonia and nitrate of soda, added to
twenty five gallons Of water. The seed
are placed in the solution and allowed to
stand in it for "a hours before planting.
Another method employed was to place
wheat bran mixed with sulphur in the
bills and lay the seed on il. This would
not only prevent the ''pOck" parasite
from working on the potato, but would
have tendency to increase the yield.
He disfavored the formation of mounds
similar to those used in this State by pO-
tato growers. but advocated the leveing
of the potato hills almost even with the
fields on the farm. He laid much stress
on the cultivation of the potatoes, and
advised the farmers to start as soon as the
sprouts we're about two inches above the
ground and continue to work them until
about two weeks before harvesting them.
He cautioned the farmers to be sure aud
break the crust that is formed after a
rain, and stated that the purpose of this
was to retain the moisture. II this is not
done he stated that several tons Of mOis-
ture would evapOrate in a short time. In
cultivating the patches he uses a disc |
harrow of his own invention, with the
teeth only about one and a halt or two
inches long.
Following this talk Eugene Shallcross,
of Middletown, one Of the most successful
soy bean growers in the State, gave a very
instructive talk on the cultivation of this |
crop. The method usually employed by
Mr. Shallcross is to thoroughly prepare |
the soil, and then drill the seed in rows
about two feet apart and about one and a
half or two inches deep, not over that.
Cut the crop at a time when the topmOst
leaves begin to turn yellow. This is done
when itist to be used for feed. He touched
upon inoculation, but did not 60 into
detailed account but advised the farmers
to write to the Department of Agriculture
for Bulletin 3l5, which would thoroughly
explain the process, which he considers
one of the essentials to successfully grow
soy beans. The "Wilson" and 'Peking'
are his two fsYorite varieties, Should
farmer desire to SOW COW peas with his
soy beans, he recommended the planting
of the Whippoorwill" COW pea, which
is a prolific yielder. Is,
At the afternoon session Prof. Hayward
of the Delaware Experiment Station ad-
dressed the institute, more especially the
women, as to the proper way to make
butter that will prove a big seller. He
went lutO Aobaun Auliyt huu tuo uuttcA-
makers at the institute we're given some
lessons.
Mrs. Frederick q. Snyder, of Newport,
Del, an expert in canning fruits and vege-
tables, gave several good recipes to the
housewives present in canning, and told I
at length the process Of preparing the {
fruit, cooking, ETC., which proved to be
very interesting and instructive. 9
Professor Pelten of the Experimental
Station followed with q talk on growing
tomatoes, and recommended the Coreless,