Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1924-02-02


Use of certified potato seed has
shown a marked increase in New Cas-
tie county, DEL, within the last four
years according to the United States
Department of Agriculture. This
country, while not a large producer
Of potatoes, grows annually about
100000 bushels as a secondary cash
crop, supplying a nearby city mar
ket. Use of certified potato seed to
improve the quality of the crop,
which the county extension agent has
advocated as part of the county's ex-
tension program has, therefore, in
terested the farmers of the county
generally.
AS beginning, two bushels of GER
titled potato seed were tried out by
one farmer. This yielded at the rate
Of considerably more than double the
average yield from locally grown seed
and aroused much interest in use of
certified seed. The following year
for farmers volunteered to grow
larger demonstration plats, as there
was some uncertainty felt as to
whether or not it would be practical
to use the certified seed in extensive
paintings. This time the certified
seed more than doubled the yield of
marketable potatoes from local seed
grown under like conditions as a
check. These demonstrations were so
convincing that 400 bushels of certi-
fed seed were planted the following
season and the next year, 1923, the a
mount of certified potato seed used in
the county increased to over 1400
bushels.
That the livestock industry of the
United States has benefited by the
many years of effort toward improve
ment was brought out recently in a
statement made by DR.. John r.
Mohler, chief Of the Bureau of Ami
NAL Industry, U. S. Department of
Agriculture. He called attention to
the fact that in this country nearly
all the important breeds of livestock
of all kinds are being grown and that
many breeds have been developed here
to a state nearer perfection than in
any other country. In addition to
growing the cattle, hogs, sheep,
horses, goats land poultry American
farms grow all the feed needed and a
surplus for export, condition found
in few we'll populated countries.
Among other things listed as con-
tributing to the high standing of this
large industry are cow testing asso-
Citations, which now number 627; bull
associations, numbering 218; means
for controlling or eradicating every
important disease of farm animals;
freedom from dangerous plaques
which exist in many foreign coun-
tries; more than $4,000 herds of cattle
officially declared free Of tuberculo-
sis; an dmore than 10000 stock grow
ers who have agreed to use nothing
but purebred sires of all kinds Of ami
mails on their farms.
Doctor Mohler also called attention
to our highly developed meat inspec-
ton service which is favorably recog-
rized by all foreign countries and
which has had much to do with the
development Of the meat industry in
this country. He said that we have
one-fourth of the worlds dairy cat
tie, and although we only have one
sixteenth of the worlds population
We use practically all of the dairy
products produced here.
Few of the problems of the breed
ers and feeders are deep seated, he
believes, as the industry is we'll pro-
tected and on a-solid economic foun-
dalton.