Milford chronicle., 1918-04-05
KENT FARM BUREAU NOTES
Nitrate

/ Nitrate.
| Due 20 the great scarcity OF ships tn,
nitrate purchased by the Department o.
| Agriculture to be sold 10 the farmers a
| cost has been somewhat slow in comina
| but Ii is expected IL will be here in time
| for top dressing wheat and in advance
Of the time for top dressing orchards. OF
/ 20 be used IN the tomato fertilizer. Mr.
/ VI. o. Pence received last week "A wire
| from the Bureau of Markets stating that
"A boat load is expected in Norfolk in
/ about two weeks and that Delaware will
/ be supplied from that shipment Accord
/ ing 10 this the nitrate should be here al
| least by May /. which viii still be suf-
| fcieutly early for top dressing wheat
Many would prefer TO top dress wheat
earlier than May /. but unless April
proves to be an unseasonably warm
month and the wheat makes more rapid
growth than usual the nitrate will give
just as good results when applied early
In May as when applied the middle Of
April Nitrate is very soluble and quickly
available and should not be used until
the wheat has started to grow fairly we'll.
II applied too early some OF il will be lost
before the plants can use IL.
When the nitrate arrives in Norfolk
those who ordered will be given one day
10 notify the County Agent II they de-
sire 20 reject their order. II they ac-
cept the order they will deposit in the
Della ware Trust Company upon notice
given them by the County Agent, the
amount 10 cover the cost Of the mira te.
Il is hardly expected that many will re-
fuse 70 accept the nitrate even II Il does
not come before May /. as II can be used
as a top dressing on tomatoes and corn
or even saved for next years use. The
price OF SIS ton is only about two o-thirds
Of the price at which 1t can be secured
I from other sources.
If there are any who desire nitrate and
did not put in their order early enough
they should inform County Agent zim-
merley 50 that in case some who ordered
should reject their order they might take
that rejected BY those who originally or
dered.
Corn termination.
Last week FIVE evening meetings were
held at which testing seed corn for ger
mination was discussed. A large num-
Der of members have promised 70 make
a preliminary test and il necessary test
every ear to be used for seed. Be sure
you have seed corn that will grow. II
you are not sure take a grain from each
Of one hundred ears and plant them in
a shallow box back ot the kitchen stove.
II less than eighty-five or ninety out Of
the hundred grow each ear should be
make this final test.
Tomato Spraying.
Due to leaf blight our tomato yields
are often very low. Experiments in New
Jersey and Maryland have given an in
crease Of forty per cent in yield due 70
spraying with Bordeaux to control leaf
blight. Special spraying machinery is
needed for this purpose. A number Of
Kent County tomato growers are cO-op-
Grating with DR.. Manns of Delaware Col
lege in tomato spraying this season and
it is hoped that any others who are in
terested in increasing their tomato yields
by spraying will take advantage Of this
cooperative offer and consult your county
agent for particulars.
Ii We expect to continue in the tomato
business in competition with the middle
and far West We must learn 20 control
the diseases that are cutting down our
yield TO about an average Of three tons
per acre.
Tractor Denomination.
Do not forget the big tractor demon
stration April 16. II and IS, to be held
one mile west Of Dover.
Full details Of the demonstration will
appear in next weeks issue Of this paper.