The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1924-11-22
Program
Is Continuous
County Agricultural Glasses Teach
How Time May Be ProhtsbIs
Spent at All Seasons.


The town and city man not entirely
familiar with farm affairs naturally
assume that with the first killing
frosts the farmers quit work, sit
around the fire and read or go to the
country store to sit On cracker boxes
and cuss and discuss everything imag
Unable. To the initiated 1t Is needless
to say that farm work is never really
done, and the bulk is never done until
it is really too cold to actually and
satisfactorily perform a days work on
of doors. Then stored crops must be
graded, packed and marketed, either
directly or by shipping to distant
points.
Ordinarily the middle OF November
proves satisfactory for the opening Of
the winter classes in Agriculture
However, the seasonal conditions from
time to time exert an influence. An
open, mild fall gives the farmers an
opportunity to put in full time out OF
doors. so that by night he is tired and
ready for bed. A full days manual
work and an evening of study and dis
cussion of farm problems seldom &c
hand in hand. In spite of the conds
lions this year some of these classes
have already been started in the Cour
ty. The work in these classes already
started has been organized more par
ticularly for poultrymen and those
who attend the Community Markets IN
Atlantic City.
Last year there were fifteen classes
organized, with an enrolment of tive
hundred and ninety-seven, or practf
cally an average of twenty in each
class. These classes are maintained
in the County by the corps of instrucs
tors, two of whom do not devote fup
time to agricultural work, part of their
time being spent in Continuation
School activities delegated to the
County Vocational Board to maintain
and carry on. There were six poultry
classes, at Minotola, Elwood. Devon
shire, Cardin, Leeds Point and Oah
Road. In these classes such live top
les as management of pullets, ehicf
brooding. diseases. feeding. both with
and without extra illumination to Icing
then the day. and when to hatch 70
provide eggs for the Atlantic City
trade were discussed Occasionally
successful poultrymen have been Sc
cured to lend their experience to those
who attend the classes
In the IIT7n management c1aes65
East vineland. Nesco. Egg Harbor.
Rosedale, Folsom and Oak Road. bran
ches of the general scheme Of farming
were the topics of vital interest to the
farmers having fruit side lines. For
the men with vegetable side lines the
growing details of special crops, suct
as asparagus, early lettuce and other
greens, were the principal items dis
cussed. In some of these classes, how
ever. the proper fertilization OF special
crops were considered in detail in or
der that healthy and bountiful CROPS
might be produced.
Three Cooperative Marketing groups
attended classes during the winter
One class was organized for the pur
pose of studying the proper methods
of organizing and conducting business
to sell farm products, mainly berries.
comparatively and to purchase certain
agricultural supplies to advantage
The other two classes were made NJ
of the farmers attending the two Com
munity Markets in Atlantic City. As
the result of exhaustive surveys vars
u factors relative TO the supply and
demand for various commodities have
been found. Certain crops have been
found that are supplied more abund
antly than are readily consumed and
certain others could be easily provided
in larger quantities to meet the de
mand. In order to meet the expected
demand for each crop the farmers
studied the problems as presented and
changed their plans accordingly, IL
creasing certain crops or decreasing
others and mor especially adding new
crops to their list, such as asparagus
and more particularly earlier crops OF
beets, carrots. lettuce. spinach and the
like.
The instructors have TO be contint.
ally on the job looking for pointers
that a be prohtably used by the mel
with whom they come in contact SO
that their farming may be more profit
able, for profitable farmers are good
citizens and the more there are the
better. Since the establishment of
these schools much has been done to
increase the average OF the farming
operations OF those who attend the
classes. Maintenance of soil fertility
through the use Of cover crops has
done much. Elimination OF certain
wasteful practices and better utiliza
ton of capital and labor have also
helped; in fact The instructors have at
one time or another given aid IN at
most every phase Of farming as prsae
ticed in the County.
Each year the classes are assembled
to teach methods Of improving over
the past year. either to comply with
the changing demands Of the times Or
to correct practices not wholly sound
or to initiate newer practices found to
be economical and practical. These
are the things that are being taught IN
the classes already started tins yeaf
or in the classes soon 60 5e started
Help is extended TO every class mem
Der throughout The whole year so that
he may be able 10 put into practice
all Of the principles taught and die
cussed In the winter classes. This
makes a well rounded year theors
and planning during the winter, fur
Their study and practical application
during the balance of the year.