Smyrna times., 1917-08-22
MEETINGS ABOUT SMYRNA
PROMOTE WHEAT GROWING
SELECTION OF SEED, FERTILE
ERS, AND TREATMENT OF BUST
Meetings Held Monday and Yesterda,
on Farms of Edw. Donovan. Will
George, jackson Snow and Others

on Farms OF EQW. donovan, VIII
George, jackson Snow and Others
For the purpose of promoting the
growing of wheat in this county, and
to give to those farmers of Kent who
are interested in growing the grain
such information that will enable
them to raise larger and better crops,
series Of meetings are being held
this week at various farms through
out the county. Nj. 0. Pence, form
erly County Agent for Kent County
and at present the Assistant Director
of Agricultural Extension Work in
Delaware; Professor A. E. Grantham,
of Delaware College, and County
Agent H. H. Zimmerley, of Dover,
have charge of the meetings. Mon
day, meetings were held at the farms
of Ed Donovan, William George,
Jackson Snow, and yesterday at D.
A. Knots. Eugene Attix, J. Wesley
Smith, in the Smyrna Brenford- Ches
void Leipsic-Ken vicinities, at all
of which places enthusiastic farmers
attended.
Treatment for "Bust" and "WeeviP'
At each of the meetings, all phases
of wheat growing are being discussed
and practical demonstrations are given
in treating wheat with fnrmalin for
"bust" and with carbon bisulphide to
control the weevil. The question of
seed is also being discussed in detail
and the farmers who attend the
meetings are being advised just how
and where to secure the best seed.
This year large amount of sinking
smut commonly called "bust'' has
been found in various parts of the
county not only decreasing the yield
but in some cases rendering the wheat
unstable until it has been washed
at a great expense. This will mean
that considerable of the seed wheat
will be infected with the spores of the
smut which are too small to be seen.
Every precaution is being taken anC
growers are urged to treat the wheat
with formalin before it is sown.
Actual demonstrations for treating the
wheat are being made so every farmer
can see how simple and cheap the pro-
cess of treatment is. The farmers
will necessarily have to hold a large
amount of wheat for many months in
their own storage houses as no more
than months supply of wheat car
be stored in mills or elevators not
owned by farmers. Last year the
weevil worked havoc in wheat that
had been stored and if the wheat is
not properly treated to control the
weevil the loss will amount to many
thousands of dollars this year as it is
already at work. By proper treatment
this loss can be largely avoided.
Great Opportunity for Wheat Growers
Every effort is to be made by the
agricultural workers to encourage the
planting of the largest acreage of
wheat in Kent County this year that
has ever been planted by Kent farm
ers. The fact that the growers are
guaranteed minimum price for their
grain that will insure them gooc
profit unless their crop is an unusally
bad failure has served to encourage
the farmers in the planting of the
grain despite the prevailing high
price of the seed. The use Of proper
fertilizers and the planting of gooC
seed have been the dominating fea
lures brought out at the agricultural
meetings about Smyrna and farmer.
no doubt will pay more attention tc
seeding wheat this fall than ever.