The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-08-28

director OF the Geological survey, 10
Secretary Work OF the Interior De-
partment. DIR. Smith attended the
recent World Power Conference in
London as a special representative OF
the Secretary of the Interior. In his
report he says:
A the World Power Conference In
London last month one section deYot-
ed its sessions. to the subject OF pow
err in industry. To this part of the
program, American delegates contri
buted papers on the application OF
power to the iron and steel industry,
and to textile mills, but America was
not represented in papers dealing with
electric 1--WE in the household ana.
on the farm, this subject being treat
ed by delegates from England, Hol-
land, Denmark. Germany, Norway and
Sweden. This is significant, for it
was noticeable that the contribution
OF the United States to the power
program was on the larger topics of
power resources, steam generation,
electro metallurgy, s~uper-power in
s~tallation, hydroelectric efficiency,
long distance trlnsmission, public
utility regulation, while delegates
from other countries presented more
OF the papers ulSCuSSlHS ullIlShtiOh
of power In a small way.
at was because of the opportunity
to examine such small unit operation
that | visited the farm of II. Borlase
Matthews. who is without doubt the
leader in England as an electric farm
err. His farm, Greater F%elcourt, East
Grimstead, is near the counties of
Surrey, Sussex, and Kent come togeth-
- Fat.r ,N,1ng attf fpnt1 tho
famous race course of Lingfield, and
Mr.. Matthews Is an inventor, econo-
mist, and truly progressive farmer
who mixes brains with the soil.
Fancy pork, standard eggs, and
certified milk are the three chief prod
ucts sold from this 600-acre farm,
much OF which is c~ut-over land, the
result of war demand for timber, and
nowhere Is the soil especially favored
by nature. But to the conversion OF
common soil into these essential food
products electricity Is applied in every
possible way, even to the extent OF
making bees work out of season n
hens work overtime.
"Electricity furnishes heat, y%entila-
ton, and moisture control III egg
Matching on a large scale, and is fur
lHtl appilth " t6b IhpNtN''p" ~ 'HN
automatic control of the electric
lights with which the $50 hen houses
are all equipped, the lights having
the latest type of dikused reflectors.
An automatic astronomical switch
takes the place Of human care, n
the hens have an allotment of only
ten hours sleep out of the twenty
four. With this longer working day
In fhn Nuinfar n0u nrOInntinn ig in
creased 20 per cent above the normal.
"In the electric-lighted dairy, with
SO milch COWS, electric milking mach
ines are used and Mr.. Matthews finds
that electric lights in a COW barn pay
for themselves in the saving Of split
milk, especially as the certified milk
is sold for double the price of ordin-
airy milk.
"The question has been raised by
visitors to the Matthews farm as to
the ethics of making hens as well as
bees work overtime. But another
one of his electrical propositions is
beyond question of attack. Mr.. Mat
thews makes hay when the sun doesn't
shine. The electric making of hay,
as he practices it, is not a matter of
electric heating or curing but rather
u fNhitihiih6 Pi'NNp'' $3.50
hay is brought to the large mows COX
2Ox25 feet high directly from the field
as cut, and is built up as cured hay
would be put into the NOW, except
that the NOW is provided with air
ducts and built up fues. AS the
green hay begins to heat, this is de-
teeted NAy the thermometers and the
tempefAtpre is kept under control by
electrfH fentilating fans.
"Bacfefial action is thus stimulated
but kept under control, and not only
Is there independence of the sun in
the process but the product is said
to be better. A five horse power
electric fan is sufficient to cure the
hay in a 100 ton NOW and the actual
operation is only 1 10 hours a day
for 9 days. After the hay has been
electrically cured, the same portable
motor Is used at another point for cur-
ing grain, which is taken direct from
the binder to the rick and cured by
this method. Time and labor losses
are thus avoided, and the and cleared
for immediate blowing, while the
product is wheat that brings a better
price from the millers. barley that is
regarded as better suited for malt
Tx. anu Odih iiaA ~ ~ RoP bNttNi
looking thar il field cured. The ex-
pertinent was also tried of thus cur
ing field peas. with the result that
they turned out green in color rather
han brown.
ELECTRICITY is also used in the prep
a~ration OF silage. The base of the
silo Is wired, so that artificial heat
ing of the fresh silage Is possible.
the quicker action resulting in super
Tor quality and a Alo juice that Is
good for the COWS, instead OF being a
waste product.
"Mr. Matthews is now engaged In
equipplng a high-tension electrical
unit for stimulating plant growth,
This phase of electric culture is still
in the experimental stage but is to
be applied on a practical scale. Mr..
Matthew'S experience has shown that
electric blowing can be done at less
than one-half the cost of blowing by
a tractor and of course with even a
greater saving over the horse pillow.
He makes the point that it is neces-
sary- In educating the farmer to use