Milford chronicle., 1926-09-10

may be expanded to such degrees as
the farmers think feasible, consider
ing their individual farm organiza-
tiOns."
Big Wheat Center
The section in and about Middle
town has always been noted for its
wheat production. The farmers have
believed, until the facts contained in
this survey were obtained, that they
knew better than anyone else how to
cultivate and harvest wheat to the
best advantage. In commenting on
the wheat situation Mr.. Bausman
said:
Wheat is the major cash crop in
the MiddletOwn area. Thirty-four per
cent of the total farm receipts of the
area were derived from wheat in
1924. Wheat is a crop adapted to the
local soil and climatic conditions. 1t
is however a pertinent question whe-
ther or not the acreage of wheat
grown has been adjusted to meet the
present demands of eastern markets,
and whether or not there are other
crops that are adapted to local eli
matte and soil conditions that would
return wider margins of profit.
The cost of producing wheat in
the West and in the Northwest is ap-
preciably less than it is in Delaware.
Furthermore, wheat is a staple and
a fairly concentrated product; two
factors which contribute towards
low transportation costs. Due to the
low cost of production in the West
and in the comparatively low cost of
transportation, western farmers are
able to put wheat on the eastern
markets at prices with which it is
difficult for the Delaware farmer to
compete. Wheat is also a product
which competes on the world market.
For these reasons largely, the mar
gin of profit in the production of
wheat in Delaware will probably al
ways be small when compared with
that of other crops that are being
grown economically in the Middle
town area.
1T is recognized that it is desir-
able to grow a certain acreage of
wheat in this area for the purpose
of the utilization of the land, a crop
rotation, and for a nurse crop. How
ever, it has previously been pointed
out that some of the better paying
farms in the area had perfected sys-
TENS of farm organization which
permitted the supplementing of
wheat with more of the intensive
type of crops, such as sugar corn, to-
matoes, and asparagus.
"Soy beans also give promise of
/ becoming a permanent crop in the
crop rotation in this area. To what
extent it would be practical to sup
plant wheat with these more inten-
sive types of crops, is a problem that
will have to be determined on the in
dividual farms. 1t is apparent that
the smaller farms in this area could
improve the farm organizations by
reducing the acreage of wheat and
increasing the acreage of the inten-
sive type of crops. However, on the
larger farms it is not likely that the
acreage of the intensive crops grown
would have any appreciable influence
upon the acreage of wheat grown"
Mr.. Bausman after careful cOnsid-
Grafton has made recommendations
which according to the facts obtain
ed in the survey might help the far
mer in raising bigger crops. The rec
concentrations are as follows:
Grow More Intensive Crops
Supplement, and on some farms
= supplant, a portion of the acreage O
wheat by growing more of the inten
= sive type of crops such as sugar
corn, tomatoes, asparagus and so!
= beans.
Cost. The labor cost in threshinj
= wheat should be reduced through
e. more liberal exchange of worl
among neighbors, especially in per
= fecting threshing rings.
5 The use of better seed seed treat
e ment for smut control, and improves
e cultural methods are essential Of
4 many farms in increasing yields pc
= acre of wheat.
e Investigation has shown tina
4 weight per bushel" garlic, and cor
e cookie content are the important fac
e tors which reduce the commercial
S grades of wheat produced in thi
}. area. More attention to the selectio
d of seed would do much towards i'm
?. proving the value of the crop.
= Dairy Products
o Next to raising wheat the dairy in
s dustry leads the agricultural activit
- in. the Middletown area, dairy pro
r ducts averaging 81 per cent Of tn
0 total farm receipts. In cOmmentin
l on the dairy industry, Mr.. Bausma
says:
a "A comparison of the climati
. conditions and the topography OF tn
n area with that of some of the mol
= thern states, indicates that this sec
n ton falls short Of being IDEAL
l. adapted to the dairy enterprise. Tn
o climate is warm with an abundanc
e of noxious insects. The greater POI
It ton of the pastures occupy tillabl
= land. However, many of the norther
states afford cool summers, fex no2
d ious insects, and an abundance
" natural pasture land. The Middle
l. town area however, is afforded
y splendid market for whole milk.
d then, the market for whole milk
n the factor on which the dairy entel
e prise hinges in this area it seem
l. evident that, as a general practic
= well-bred grade cattle are MOI
r practical than are pure-bred cattle
d "The survey showed that mos
: farms were raising heifers, and thu
e some farms were producing heifel
# in excess of the number necessa1
+ to maintain the herds. The averag
t. inventory price of heifers at the az
IS of two years was about $35 pc
IS head. Recent cost accounting wor
Y done in New York State showed tn;