Middletown transcript., 1917-04-21
] wTAND THE FARMER
~ NAwark, Del. April 1S, 1917
EDITOR OF TIE TRANSCRIPT


Dear Sir:
The chief contribution which war
makes to a Nations internal affairs, is
the new perspective it gives upon the
identity of interest, which after all
exists among all classes in great body
polite. Never absent, this community
Of interest, peacefully sleeping in nor
NAL times, is dragged to the forefront
in times of war, where all may observe
it. In response to its dictates, conces-
sions should and must be made by all
the farmer as well as the soldier. Ser
vice in agriculture is fully as patriotic
as service in the army or in the navy.
More than this, the services which the
farmer renders in the form of conces-
sions will be a service to his bank ac-
count as we'll as service to his coun-
try.
Hand in hand with the problem OF
raising an army of million men, comes
the problem Of feeding such a vast army.
To the farmer falls this responsibility.
In or to perform this grave duty ne
must persue one of two possible courses;
he must either increase his acreage OF
by intensifying cultural methods. The
former method, that of increasing acre
age is practically eliminated because OF
several causes, chiefly among which is
the labor question; this vital question,
already serious will be brought to q
crisis by the Nationwide war spirit
which is dragging men by the thousands
from factory and farm to army and
navy. Hence we find only one feasible
course to pursue, that Of intensifying
cultural methods.
First we will consider Delaware
most important crop, corn. For the
last ten years this crop has shown an
average yield of 81 bushels per acre.
This could be increased from 6 to IL
bushels per acre by the use of larger
quantity of fertilizer, providing the crop
is we'll tended. Results of tests at the
Experimental station show that 4OC
pounds of high grade fertilizer will pay
good returns. In the year 1915 there
were harvested in the State of Della
ware 1900, 900 bushels Of corn, value OF
which was 81, 100000
The wheat crop of our state for the
past ten years has shown an average
yield of 16 bushels per acre. This could
be increased to 25 bushels per acre by
using a top dressing Of from rs to loo
pounds of nitrate of soda per acre. OF
course this all means an increased eX-
pendture for the farmer, but when one
stops to compare wheat at $500 per
bushel with nitrate Of soda at $50 per
ton, then remember at from Is to loo
pounds of nitrate of soda will increase
the yield from to 10 bushels per acre,
it is easy to be seen that it is good
paying investment.
In the year 1915 the farmers of Della
ware harvested 1,875,000 bushels of
wheat, value of which was $4,000, 900.
Just imagine the increased revenue
realized by our farmers should these
two great crops be increased to IL
bushels per acre. One added attraction
is the fact that the increased crops can
be handled by the same help as could
the normal crops.
In regard to the growing of Spring
wheat, which newspapers have of late
given much attention, a few words
might be added. For localities such as
Pennsylvania, with an attitude of 1900
feet, Spring wheat may be very good;
but here in Delaware Climatic conditions
tend to discourage the idea. Many tests
have been made at the Experimental
station, all of which prove that Spring
wheat in Delaware is not practical.
The government at Washington can,
by carefully planned legislation keep
down the price Of foodstuffs, but by nc
act can this same government enlarge
the actual supply. This can be done
only by the farmer.
Reader.