The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-07-31
Farmers Hold Field Meeting

Farmers Hold Field Meeting
There were number Of interesting
addresses, exhibits Of products, and
field tractor demonstration at tn
} annual field meeting of the Burlington
: County Board of Agriculture on Satur
day. The affair was held on the farm
OF Arthur J. Pedley, near Moorestown
and there was an attendance Of abou
200.
After an address of welcome by Mr.
Pedley, there was talk by J. b. r
Dickey, Of the State Board of Agricul
ture, who is extension specialist n
agronomy and soil fertility He urged
the farmers to use cover crops to keel
up soil fertility, in view of vhe high
cost OF fertilizers. He had heard tha
the 1873 combination of commercial
fertilizer will be not less than $65 pc
ton. 1t is therefore necessary to use
every means of adding fertility to the
soil without the use of fertilizer. Much
can be obtained from leguminous
cover crops, which will add nitrogen
and ammonia to the soil in sufficient
quantities.
On account of the high price of seed
for cover crops, lighter sowing Will
cheaper the cost and will produce the
desired result.
Crimson clover has been unsatisfac.
tory during the past few years on &C.
count of poor seed and because it died
out. If sown in good time and is mixed
with rye or wheat it will prove satisfac-
tory. Alsike clover, under proper con.
ditions, also is satisfactory.
Alfalfa and sweet clover is good
combination provided the farmer is
familiar with these crops. This re-
quires lime and incubation. 1t is
not much affected by drought.
Winter vetch is quite satisfactory,
but is high in price. The cost can be
lowered by using 10 to % Id. OF yetch
to bushel of rye. The vetch must be
inoculated.
Rye alone does good by preventing
teaching and blowing of the soil, and
adds organic matter, but is not as
valuable as other crops mentioned
above.
John Hankinson, state leader of
farm demonstration, urged those pres
ent to support the farm bureau, which
is not only personal but commun-
ity benefit. The farmers need more
than eyer the advantages of an organi-
cation of this character, in view Of the
necessity of having close at hand, the
machinery for education and instruc-
ton.
DR.. Melvin 7. Cook, state plant
pathologist, said that although there
are many plant diseases, he did not
think the menace is as serious as
heretofore.
Potato diseases were less prevalent
and severe than usual up to about
three weeks ago. Since the beginning
OF the recent heavy rains the vines
have gone down rapidly, causing quite
decrease in the crop. This was due
to weather conditions, and could not
be helped by spraying. Diseased seed
is responsible for the early and rapid
dying Of the vines.
Tomatoes, he said, were in good con.
dition until quite recently, when the
vines became affected with blight and
mosaic diseases. The light set of to-
matoes is due to the heavy rains,
which damaged the blossoms.
The blight is difficult to control;
spraying is only partially effective.
The state chemists are experiment.
ing with new spraying mixture.
which probably will be introduced
next year, and it is hoped will be effec-
tive against some of the diseases now
prevalent.
Prof. Cook recommended using
home grown potato and tomato seeds
and rotation of crops as a preventive
measure against disease.
George i. Reid, farm demonstration,
told about the number and variety of
experiments that are being conducted
in this county. These consist of four
demonstrations on producing eggs;
four on teeditfg calves with milk
substitute; three on tomato fertilizers,
using 800 lb. per acre of $50, 5-12-0
and $50 mixtures; four on economical
swine production; 13 on corn variety
tests, to determine the best strains for
this county; 5 on soil fertility from
cover crops; about 81 on better seed
potatoes by using immature and see
ond crop homegrown seed; four on
economical milk production by feeding
balanced rations; on orchard manage
ment of peaches and apples; and a
number OF demonstrations on estab-
fishing alfalfa fields. The state board,
in conjunction with the county board,
also is making experiments here on
potato fertilizers and the best strains
of alfalfa.
DR.. William Stewart, secretary of
the National Potato Growers Associa-
Nd vIr To IL.
national department of agriculture,
was present at the meeting by reason
of happening to be in this neighbor-
hood to examine conditions relative to
the potato crop.
He said that crop in the Norfolk sec
ton was about go per cent of normal.
with a considerably larger acreage
than usual. The Eastern shore crop
has been harvested and amounted to
about 10 per cent of normal.
In the Salem, Bridgeton and other
south Jersey sections he found that
there had been light set, the potatoes
only of medium size, and prospect of
about $50 bushels per acre. The plants
died down rapidly the past week, due,
perhaps to climatic conditions.
In Wisconsin the crop had been af-
fected badly by potato bugs, as the
farmers were not able to obtain spray
ing material.
The government has estimated the
crop this year in the United States to
be 452, 000,0 900 bushels, which is 2,O00,-
600 bushels greater than ever hereto
fore. This estimate, DR.. Stewart said,
he believes to be too high. 1t is doubt
full if the crop will reach normal figures.
Referring to prices, he expressed the
opinion that very low figures will not
prevail, but there will be none of the
fancy prices of last winter.
AS to the advisability of storing po-
tatoes to obtain high prices, DIR. Stew
art advised that, considered from all
points, the farmer had better ship di-
rect from the field if he can sell at a
fair and reasonable profit. That method
generally pays best.
S. c. Damon, of the Rhode Island
experiment station, said he found that
the farmers of New Jersey have about
the same problems and difficulties con-
fronting them that they have in his
state. He urged heavier paintings as
the farmers patriotic duty.
Miss Minch, one of the states home
economy experts, gave demonstra-
ton of drying vegetables. Some won
derful results can be obtained by this
method, which is easier and cheaper
than canning and, in many cases, pro-
duces equally as good results.
First and second prize ribbons had
been offered for farm products raised in
this county, which were awarded as
follows:
Best five Star apples, Howard G.
Taylor, Jr., Riverton.
Best five yellow transparent apples,
George 2. Lippincott, Marlton; ID, H.
g. Taylor, Jr., Riverton.
Five Bonnie Best tomatoes, II. g.
Taylor, Jr.; ID, George L: Gillingham,
MOorestoWn