Newark post., 1914-11-25


Delaware College is making steady
and rapid growth. The students in
the entering class who have elect
ed agriculture number 35, prac-
tically one-third of the Freshman
class. In the spirit of these stu
dents there is much to be admired
They are better prepared upon en-
tering. and their attitude toward
their work is highly commenda-
tory. AS usual, the College sent
team of three students to COM
pete at the National Dairy Cattle
Judging Contest. Sixteen teams
entered this competition. Della
ware stood eighth; defeating the
teams from Cornell, Pennsylvania,
Maryland, New Hampshire, Neb-
raska, South Dakota, Kansas, and
Arkansas. The College feels proud
of the record that these young men
have made, because their standing
in this competition is indicative of
the character of work that Della
ware College is doing in agricult-
ure.
The only minor chord that makes
itself heard in the work of instruc-
ton at the College is the great
need for better facilities. We need
more, larger, and better equipped
laboratories. We especially need a
building at the farm in which the
chill can be taken from the air, for
Judging live stock, harnessing
teams, studying farm machinery,
repairing various kinds Of farm
tools. etc. Our work will never be
complete until this want is sup
piled.
Extension
Thru the provisions Of the Smith
Lever Bill, passed by the last Con
gress, Delaware has placed an ag-
ricultural agent in each Of the three
counties of the State. These men
are just getting their work well
started, and we have a right to ex-
pect much from it. It is hoped that
having the county agents in the
field will lessen the demand for ex-
tension work in the field by heads
of departments. This has not yet
proven to be the case, but we are
still hoping that the men who are
manning the various divisions of
the agricultural department will be
relieved to large degree when the
present season s work is finished.
We all appreciate how unsatisfac-
tory it is to have one man engaged
in so many activities, as it makes
it impossible for him to do his best
work in any one of them.
In this connection, | should like
to call your attention to the desir-
ability of having the bill accepting
the Smith-Lever fund by he State
drawn in such a manner that it will
automatically carry with it the in
crease of appropriation which the
State must make in order to get the
increase appropriated by the Fed
eral Government. This amounts TO
$1260 for next year, and an addi-
tional $l26O per year until the
amount reaches approximately
$4,000 per year. If the bill is
drawn in this way it will relieve
the College of any further action
in securing the necessary approp-
ration to receive the increased
Federal appropriations.
In connection with our extension
work, the College has recently in
augurated what will serve as a de-
partment of poultry keeping. This
came to us by the offer Of the State
Board of Agriculture and the Phil,
adelphia North American to coop.
crate with the College in establish.
ing on the College Farm the Inter,
national Egg Laying Competition
This has brought to us 100 pens OF
five birds each with a reserve per
of 100 birds. The State Board OF
Agriculture has furnished the
houses and the fence; the North
American supplies the feed, uten
sils, and the care takers. The Col
lege has furnished the ground
erected the plant, and will pay the
superintendent salary of 500
per month. Inasmuch as this worl
has to do with extension, it ha
been thought best to charge th'
superintendent salary to thu
State Extension fund. 1t has beer
announced in the State papers tina
the superintendent Of the poultr.
plant, who is an expert in all mat
ters pertaining to poultry keeping
will be available for interviews, an
swering questions and, in som
cases, for lectures on poultry keep