The Mount Holly news., 1917-01-09
FARM BUREAU A SUCCESS
ENCOURAGING REPORTS ON FIRST
YEARS WORK

|
YEARS WORK
) Success in every direction-that was
9 the report made at the annual meeting
I of the Burlington County Farm Bu
reau on Saturday. The first year ol
, the bureau ended on December l, with
: all bills paid and successful work re-
, ported in its demonstration and ad.
visory departments. The members
now feel much encouraged, being salts
fed that the bureau has come to stay,
and it is being supported by steadily
increasing number of farmers, who are
beginning to realize its scope and ad-
vantage.
The meeting on Saturday, held in
the Kelsey & Killie building, was a
composite affair, composed of the
Farm Bureau and the Burlington
County Board of Agriculture, which
have been consolidated.
The meeting was called to order by
Edward E. Logan, president of the
bureau.
The first business was the annual re-
port of the demonstrators, George T.
Reid, which was an interesting docu-
ment. 1t covered the year ending No
vember 30, 1916.
The report opened with description
of the diversified land of this, the
largest county in area in the state.
On account of the great section of pine
district, comprising nearly one-half of
its entire area, this county has no
greater amount of improved land than
many other counties. The farm bust
ness here is quite diversified
Farm values in the dairy section are
not as high as they were 40 years ago,
due mostly to the fact that the milk
business is Improbable. Land, how
ever, has advanced in price the past
few years, as these farmers are learn
ing that they can receive greater profits
from potatoes and tomatoes than from
milk.
After referring to the trucking, berry
and fruit sections of the county, which
are fairly profitable crops, the report
takes up the subject of potatoes, the
most important cash crop in the
county.
The Irish Cobbler is the most impor-
tant variety grown, occupying a far
greater acreage than any other variety.
Because of it's early maturity many
farmers use it is as an intercrop. 1t
has failed to produce full crops oftener
than all other varieties combined.
Demonstrations were conducted with
the American Giant variety, which
heretofore has not given good results
in this locality. Sixteen farmers CO.
operated on this demonstration. AS
large yields can be obtained here as
elsewhere. Four farmers secured over
335 bushels per acre-John Black, AL
len M. Fenimore, d. Budd Jones aud
Silas- Walton.
Selected seed of this variety, secured
from New York state, gave an aver
age yield of 26 bushels per acre more
than Maine Prize, which was some
what diseased.
Widely different yields were obtain
ed where different kinds and amounts
of fertilizer were used. The best re-
suits were obtained from applications
of 1900 to 1900 Id. of 400 mixtures. |
On account of the difficulty of pro
curing pure seed of strong vitality,
demonstrations were conducted on the |
home production of seed, which will |
continue through another year. Nine |
farmers are cooperating in the expert |
ment.
Two varieties of immature potatoes |
have been placed in cold storage, to be
used as seed this spring. Late crop
potatoes were grown on five farms, to |
be planted the coming season. Some
potatoes grown ON three farms were
placed in the light to green, and re-
planted to produce seed.
The next subject referred to in Mr.. |
Reid's report is the dairy situation.
Good average COWS are being kept in
the dairies, but many are not being
handled to produce milk economically, |
all being bred to freshen at the same
period, and balanced rations not being
used. A COW test association has been
formed, and the records of about 450
COWS are being kept
Alfalfa ono
conducted on ten farms. The extreme
ly dry fall interfered with this work,
and in many cases the seedlings of
clover and timothy failed. The bureau
has advised adding alfalfa seedto the
regular grass mixtures, which has been
success. The soils were tested, and
lime applied as needed, Alfalfa can
be grown on any type of soil in this
county, provided the drainage is good.
The use of leguminous cover crops
was urged as pressing need in this
county. Someinteresting experiments
are being conducted on D. Budd Jones'
farm. with variety of combinations of |
cover crops.
Demonstrations have been conduct |
ed on three vegetable crops-side prun-
ing the roots of horse radish; sweet DO
tato seed selection and treatment with |
corrosive sublimate, and treating
strawberry plants with arsenate of lead |
and sulphur. Beneficial results were
obtained.
The result of one seasons expert
ments with salt, as ia substitute for pot
ash, showed that it is of no benefit to
potatoes, while light application is
beneficial to corn.
Orchard pruning; spraying and |
general management was parTof the |
bureaus work. Many beneficial de-
mon5trations were made.
The proper feeding of swine and the |
prevention or control of hog cholera |
were referred to in the report. A sue
cession of pasture crops, supplemented |
by grain, assists in solving the prob |
lem of high cost of feed. Serum Sc
cured at wholesale price stopped the |
cholera in nearly all instances.
During the year two educational ex-
hibits were made, and two automobile |
inspection tours conducted.
The report closed with a statistical |
statement of the work done by the bu-
Icdu uuIluS OuC YcdI- OI ldT0lS |
visited, letters of information writ |
ten, meetings held, etc.
Prof. Alva Agee, of the state agricul- |
tural department., complimented the |
members upon the excellent work |
done, by the bureau here during its |
first year. He advocated the reorgani- |
zation of county boards of agriculture |
on a community basis; the formation |
of county agricultural council, com |
posed of a delegate from each COM
munity, which central body will be |