The Penn's Grove record., 1912-01-12
THE EDUCATIONAL TRAIN.
The First Visit to PENIS Grove Greet
ed by Large Audience

The special train run by the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad Company on which were
lecturers from Rutgers College, New
Brunswick, ran Oh the PENIS Grove
branch last Monday. The first stop was
at PauIsboro, the next Pedricktown. The
audience there was not as large as last
year, because Penn's Grove folks had to
| go..tlere two years previous.
On the arrival OF the train at Penn's
Grove there were a hundred farmers and
several wives who filed the two lecture
cars. The one in which were given the
Illustrated lectures on fertilizers and
poultry was the most instructive and
most appreciated.
In it DR.. ]. G. Lipman head State
Chemist spoke on fertilizers, giving illus
tratf6ns by ~stereoptican views. He said
there is less land titled in New Jersey
than ten years ago and a less number
of farms.
This is due he said to the fact that
large estates in northern New Jersey have
been taken from active production as the
result OF their requirement by few OF
the big capitalists. l suppose these men
hold about 100, 900 acres, while another
200, 900 acres has been taken by the land
improvement companies. On the other
hand the value of the crops per acre has
made a market increase.
When the experimental station was
opened in 1880 there were only a few
Thousand tohs OF fertilizer used in New
Jersey. Last year the farmers of the
State spent 81, 900, 900 for fertilizers, and
in ten years from now | venture to say
that this amount will reach $40, DOC, 900.
Views were given of land in Virginia
similar to much III New Jersey, where by
the use OF fertilizers lime, COW peas,
clover and alfalfa the crops had been
greatly increased. Fertilizer is to the
soil what medicine is to the man, but
there must be humus, vegetable matter)
for it to work. Crimson clover and
alfalfa are the best to do this. They are
deep root plants. The roots rot and put
nitrogen in the soil and leave holes for
the water to be sucked up by the sue
ceeding crops. Clover needs lime. One
ton per acre is about the amount needed.
The potash used in fertilizers is brought
from Germany where are great mines.
The phosphoric acid is got from phos-
phate rock in South Carolina, where it is
mined and treated with other acids to
make the element available for plant
food. Tankage used in fertilizers is the
refuse of animals in packing houses after
the grease has been skinned off Tor max
ing soap. Dried blood is another mater
ial used in fertilizers. Nitrate of soda is
brought from the mines of Chile in South
America.
Illustrations were shown of mines and
fertilizer factories, also plants i'll pots,
winch had been fertilized with the differ
eut ingredients in fertilizers.
While commercial fertilizers are bene-
fetal the conditions of the soil must be
made favorable for their operation.
Prof. I'll. r. Lewis gave an interest
ing lecture OIL the Essentials to Profit
able Egg Production" He said White
Leghorns are the largest layers. They
lay white eggs which bring the best
price. The Plymouth Rock poultry are
best for general purposes. The best
poultry depends more III the strain IN
tile breed than the breed. He advised
keeping the most vigorous for breeding.
Eggs should be assorted as to color and
size. Fresh eggs from New Jersey bring
the best price. There need be no fear OF
furnishes only 2 per cent. OF the eggs
which go into New York market and
only 5 per cent. are fresh at this time OF
the year. The others are from cold
storage.
Rhode Island Reds Matched in March
and April and the other varieties men,
toned in May and June should begin
laying in October and November if prop
erly cared for and will continue to lay at
this time of the year when eggs are at
the best price. Poultry should have all
abundance OF space, green food, and a
dry mesh to be scratched for. Green
food is best made at this time OF the year
by sprouting oats until two or three
inches long.
The success in poultry raising dope nds
ed upon having good environment a
well as good stock. The poultry houses
should be well ventilated, but there
should be no drafts. To avoid drafts
have muslin screen doors made which
prevent drafts, admit air and keep out
moisture. Birds can stand the cold
better than thew can a draft.
For distinction he advised the use of
cream of lime, creolin and Kerosene, with
water added.
In the other Car Prof. A. S.. Cook spoke
on dairy feeding, illustrated with charts
and a blackboard. He endeayored to
tell tie farmers the most economic way
to feed dairy COWS to get the best results.
As this is not a dairy region, as there is
not a silo within seven miles; calling
corn stalks corn slower, a word not in
some dictionaries, his talk was Greek to
farmers who knew nothing of agricultural
chemistry. Many never heard of pro-
tein, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nit,
rogen.
A cow will be the best on a good rich
pasture. The problem is to supply those
elements at this time of year when there
is no pasture. He said that ensilage
[green corn cut up and stored in a large
barrel like stucture] is the best greer
food for milk cows. In this region where
dry corn stalks and rough hay is mostly