Smyrna times., 1913-02-12
FARMERS INSTITUTE ENDS
FINE SESSION IN SMYRNA
TALENT BROUGHT HERE BY SEC
RETARY WEBB FINEST EVER"
Practical Men and Women Tell of Their
Experience to Farmers and Grang-
ers But Attendance Very Poor

Practical Men and Women Tell of Their
Experience to Farmers and Grang-
ers But Attendance Very Poor
The Farmers Institute held at the
Century Club House last Wednesday
and Thursday under the auspices of
the State Board of Agriculture, con-
cluded its sessions Thursday evening
and left the next day for Dover.
The weather conditions were fine and
the talent brought here by Secretary
Wesley Webb was probably the finest
aggregation ever brought to a Farm
ers' Institute in Smyrna, yet there
was much regret that the meetings
were not better attended. The after
noon sessions were not so bad but the
morning and evening sessions were
far from what they should have
been. Thursday evening there was
hardly more than a corporal's
guard" present. This may have
been due to the attraction of Hall
and Mack, the singing evangelists,
at the Asbury M. E. Church revival,
but even then, there were enough far
mers in this vicinity, who were not
at church, to swell the Institute ses-
sion to filled house. That the far
mers do not better patronize this free
course of instruction on the part of
the state is very discouraging. The
Institute was one of the finest ever
held in Smyrna. There were good
speakers, men of great practical ex-
perience present.
Professor McCue on Tomato Growing
Professor Chas. A. McCue, of Del
aware College, spoke on tomato grow
ing. The College has been getting
reports from the growers in all parts
of the State and from these reports
they learned that on an average it
costs $32. II per acre to grow tomatoes
and counting Sc for the use of the
land. One must have about SIG per
ton and grow A tons per acre to make
it a paying crop. He strongly con-
demned the Gamers, who keep the far
mers waiting at the factory to un-
load, thus adding to the cost of pro-
duction. He advised growing more
than one variety, ripening at slightly
different dates to avoid such gluts.
and make it better for both farmers
and Gamers. Spraying with bor-
deaux mixture is the only remedy for
blight, but the cost is too much tC
make the process always profitable.
Prof. Mcdowell on Future Farmers
Professor J. C. Mcdowell of the
US. Department of Agriculture spoke
on the management of the soil. He
first expressed great surprise that Del
aware soil produces such crops and
that prices of land are so low. He
recently came from the Northwest
where lands much less valuable than
ours are selling for much better
prices. Poor, unimproved lands, far
from transportation selling for $50
per acre and good apple land selling
at $40 per acre. Prof. Mcdowell
spoke Wednesday on the Farmers
of the Future - In this talk q
strong plea was made for better
public roads everywhere. When mod
ern roads, modern machinery and mod
ern methods are adopted in all parts
of America the farmers will make
mole money and the high cost oi
living will be materially reduced
Thursday evening Prof. Mcdowell
gave another talk on the county fielC
agents, to be placed in as many coun
ties as possible in the whole com
munity. These agents will be paiC
by the joint cooperation Of the stat,
and Federal governments. Prof. Ca
Christopher of the Delaware Expert
ment Station has been appoined Stat
Agent for Delaware.
Three Fine Talks on Poultry Cultur
Mr.. ]. Harry Wolseifer, Poultr
Editor of he Philadelphia Record
owner of a large and model poultr
plant at Vineland, N. j., made a BIZ
hit in Smyrna with his poultry talks
He talked on Incubation and Brood
ing" "Care~ in Feeding Youn
Chicks" and winter Eggs and Ho,
to Get Them Much informatio
was given out in all his lectures and h
was piled with many questions
While here he visited the poultr
plant at Belmont Hall and compli
mented Messrs. Speakman an
Josephs on what they had accom-
plished in the short time they hav
been in BUSINESS.
Other Speakers Lend Attraction
Miss Mary A. Bernite advised ths
home economies be taught in the
public schools, and Mr.. Fred Brady
~ r L..