Evening journal., 1918-05-18
Home for Feeble Minded
Not to Cost Stale One Cent

Senator Hart tract They made their
Investigation AZ the request OF the COM
mission Their report is as follows
Tho report of the committee on in
spccting farms follows.
by request OF the commission ap- /
pointed FOR the purpose OF securing a /
farm for a home for tho feeble minded /
Director Hayward and tho writer In
spcctcd two farms with the view Of
determining their adaptability for tho
needs of such an institution
ION December 2s. 1917. a farm belong
lng 90 Governor John O.. Townsend. and
lying one or two miles south Of Stock
Icy. Sussex country. was visited. This
farm. including about 800 acres, lies on
the east side of the Delaware railroad,
and consists Of both cleared and timber
cd land. a fair proportion Of the land is
/ in cultivation some of 10 having been
recently cleared and plowed The timber
growth Is small. chiefly scrub oak and
pines of small size. Tho soil Is ~
sandy loan nature. some of it quite light,
while a considerable portion n the farm
appears to be underlald with a fairly
stifT subsoi This is indicated By the
presence Of an old brick yard on the
farm The stIff suhsoll Is quite desirable
IN that ~ enables the surface soil 10 re-
tain moisture and plant food in a more
satisfactory manner While the soil Is
naturally rather thin % IA capable Of
rapid Improvement through the Use Of
animal manure green manure and the
rotation of crops. The major portion OF
the farm lies Well above stream level
thus insuring good drainage. A feature
Of this tract of land Ia that u appears
10 have q variety of soh types adapted 10
almost any kind or crop production
Portions or the land are we'll adapted
to the growing OF fruit truck and grain,
, Grass OF pasture are not likely TO sue
, ceed very we'll on this soil.
"Tho land lies In such manner az %
afford a good building site for the
, buildings Of the institution. Perhaps
I tho chief difficulty Is the lack OF main
4 highway through the farm. However
Z ih. tract lies only a short distance
= perhaps = hall mile from the new du
I Pont road The nearest railroad sta
\ llons are Stockley and Millsboro. th'
latter the chief market place and ship
ping point This land can be pur
s chased for about gas per acre.
M
3. mttee visited the farm Of senator Hart
n located near Blachbird. in Blackblr'
Z hundred New Castle county The on
q farm Of Mr. Hart which seems especial
y ly adapted 70 the needs Of the hom'
d consists Of COZ acres, about 200 OF whic'
are in cultivation. The topography o
.e this soil is more uneven than that O
10 the Sussex county farm, but Is vel
u drained. water courses lying 10 "a
)t north and 20 the south OF the tract, Of
fordlng a good natural outlet Tor drain
OF age The soil. according ~ The soil su
u, vey Of New Castle couniv is sassafr'
az oamy sand and sassafras loan, the latt
!! predominating While this soil deteri
cl rates rather rapidly under carele
h handling h. is quickly rebuilt or
~ responds generously 20 any ration
'li method of soil improvement Tho lai
,sa not IN cultivation Is covered with go
le second growth of small oak, map
on chestnut and occasi i0nallv some popl
and gum Practically an the saw a
- tie timber has been removed. The
~. naming timber on This farm is mu
.a more valuable than that on the Tow
~, send farm, owing 90 iis quality and si
r,- The soil Is adapted 10 The growing
.a almost any neld or truck crops and
IL orchardinr purposes A main pub
.,- road runs through the tract. The {
~, able land lies on the southeast OF
mn, road affurdlng a good location
l,, buildings The eastern edge of
"a. farm Is not more than one-third OF
,sf mile from the Delaware Railroad.
r,, gsnnerv located al Blsckhird station
LA about "a mile away. The timber on G
le, tract would AFFORD sufficient material
M fencing for a number OF years and q
he furnish plenty OF winter work 20
le, inmates of thc home during the win
months Much OF the land can be Gle
ion Cd to good advantage and put into O.
IN. tivsiion The Yields OF tomatoes swN
Of corn and neld corn have been very 81
lld on this soil the past season. This tr'
Of land can he bought for $50 per al
Inc Tor any or an OF o.
am I'm comparing the two farms
Ne committee agrees that the soil OF
sy Blackbird farm Is the better The los
.or ton OF the Bl3ckbird farm IS SUPER
-, with respect 90 canneries. milk sh
80 pins station and marketing facilities.
'b. also has the advantage NJ the possih
si,. ties Of maintaining a more dNersin
,..s type Of farming especially the keepi
of cattle for dairy purposes. The lo'
tion Is more readily accessible from
e parts ~ the state. being more neai
o. .. the center Of the population. The ma
o. tenance and upkeep OF such an insti
lion would probably he less Y loca
'oll In The Blackbird section.
'a- Respectfully submitted
and ". HAYWARD.
are "A. 4. GRANTHAM.
fhr