Middletown transcript., 1915-02-13
MODERN FARMING

THE Transcript believing its farmer
readers would welcome a brief,
clear presentation of the leading sub
jects in agriculture, purposes to discuss
few of these plain things in farming
Not many years ago, farmers as a
class turned up their noses at any sug-
gestions from college professors on how
to farm-dismissed their suggestions
with some comtemptuous remark about
book farming" etc.
They thought these professors, be-
cause they had never worn cowhide
boots, and with grimed hands followed
the plow as it furrowed our mother
earth, did not know as much about the
secrets hidden in her bosom as did these
horny-handed delivers themselves.
This refusal of farmers to adopt new
and better methods reminds the writer
of his visit once to Cuban sugar plan
tation. In a huge vat were boiling
thousands of gallons of cane juice
which must be cooked just so much
and no more or loss of hundreds of
dollars would result. The fellow who
was watching the process, refused to
use the thermometer hanging on the
wall to determine the degree of heat
ETC., but ever and anon withdrew his
big wooden stirring paddle, and touch
ing it with his finger, solemnly pulled
thumb and finger apart, thus by ''rule
of thumb" to sett that nice question |!
But in these days farmers have got.
ten we'll over sneering at this same
"book farming" because they have
found that the professors with their
scientific ideas and methods have lust
about revolutionized farming.
To mention but single improvement
therein, Prof. Babcock $ separator and
scientific process of determining butter
fat percentages, has literally created
the modern industry of dairying in the
United States.
So farmers who read and many do
nowadays-are waking up especially in
the Western States, to the demonstra-
ted fact that with the help of these
scientists they can now get for their
labors at least twice as much crop re-
turn as formerly.
To give one more illustration. After
few years demonstration work on
County Poor farms, short courses on
farming in the Agricultural School, and
lectures in travelling Demonstration
Car, on better seed, better tillage etc.,
Prof. P. G. Holden, of the Iowa State
College, so aroused the farmers of that
state thatin the past few years, $50, 900,
600, it is estimated, have been by this
means added to the states wealth
through increased corn production
alone!
This present Legislature can do the
state no higher service than to make a
yet more liberal appropriation to the
Agricultural Department of Delaware
College in order that the Experiment
Station may improve and extend its
work, and give our farmers and the
youth of the state, better and cheaper
facilities to learn scientific farming.
There is but one other employment of
state funds that can be compared with
this in tar-reaching ecocomic usefulness
viz. good roads.
Then let our farmers see to it that
their views in this matter of a liberal
treatment of the Delaware College
Experiment Station, be made known
to their representatives in the Legisla-
ture, to the end that greater advantages
from modern scientific agricu lture may
be realized for the State.
So much by way of introduction to
the theme. Next week we shall discuss
the question of "Robber Cows"