PAGE TWO

CAPE MAY COUNTY TIMES, SEA ISLE CITY, N. J.

SECTION ONE

Cape May County Is Expanding in Agriculture

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By J. A. STACKHOrSK Director of Cafe May County Farm Demomfrastratum amt I Wat tana/ Work

Development of Distant as Well as Local Markets Gives Special Advantage to This Southern County Cape May county, the noted summer resort county, is actively interested in the expansTon of her agriculture. She is doing this by taking steps toward the betterment of soil fertility and marketing problems. Neither of these are new and work toward their solution has been earned on by the County Board of Agriculture and county granges for some time. Each year these organizations concentrate their efforts on certain phases of soil improvement and crop market in„. The soil in Cap May county, being nat.irally adapted to nearly all kinds of vegetables, fruits and grains known, and tx ing of a sandy nature responds so quickly to .he best methods in soil science that the work towards its improvement and increased crop yields would be a pleasure rather than a burden were it not for the necessary investment involved. Individual Marketing Expensive Marketing in Cape May county has in the past few years consisted of carrying farm products to the doors of the consumer at the resorts. This method eliminated the middle man. but in some respects was expensive because it took the producer away from his farm and often caused him to duplicate the efforts of his neighbors who were, likewise, trying to dispose of goods to the same customers. This type ol marketing has divided tne efforts of the farmers between production and selling to the distinct disadvantage of the former. It. also, developed to a high degree independence or individualism in the farmer, thus retarding cooperative efforts which have proven to he so beneficial t<> producers elsewhere. Fortunately Cape May county has a long growing season and strong markets, while they last, otherwise her agriculture could not have netted the results it has. Knadside Markets Cape May county’s wonderful roads have made it possible for the farmers in the iast lew years to make some changes in their system of marketing. That is, seme of the burdens of transporting produce have been shifind from the producer to the consumer by the erection of roadside market stands where all fresh vegetables and fruits can be had in season. These produce stands are invariably cared for between limes by some member of the family with comparatively little loss of time on the part of the producer. The owners of many of these stands huiidle several hundre 5 dollars per week ami thi.form ol marketing has become so popular along the main driveways that where five years ago there were 4 or h stands there are now over a hundred. Shore .Market Season Short and Swaet All honor to the seashore resort trade. It L strong while it lasts. The average period of revenue from such market is about 10 weeks c! the year. Many fanners are able to live comiortably from the i kss of tin short summ*-r season, but a greater number find that the revenue taken over i longer ypsce of time is needed

to meet living expenses. Herein lies the big problm. Either farm expenses must be cut or the fanner must make more money. The latter sounds more attractive. Outside markets of longer duration offer an aid to our already established shorter markets. But how can we lake advantage of distant markets when freight rates are high, middlemen are regarded with suspicion ai.d we have been thoroughly schooled in individual marketing? Fanners’ Co-Operative Spirit to the Rescue Co-operation among farmers is permiting Cape May county to expand its agriculture so that distant markets as well as home markets can be used to the best advantage. The best example of where co-operative effort among farmers has given them a new lease on life is at 1 ‘.elk-plain, one of the communities in the northern pan of the county. Here, on account of adverse agricultural conditions, the farmers were discouraged to the point of giving up fanning altogether. They were urged by one or two of their number and a few outsiders to try agriculture once more in a co-operative way. An association called the “Belleplain Farmers' CoOperative Association" was formed and lime, fertilizers, seeds and machinery' were bought the first year. In these transactions some money (about 25 per cent of the purchases) was saved. This had a double effect for it not only saved hard-earned cash, but it encouraged and taught the farmers that co-operation had a power which they ceuid actually utilize. This association did not confine its efforts to buying but tried co-operation along the line of com-

munity planting and shipping. Ruby King peppei - were chosen as a good prospective crop to try. Eleven farmers planted ai: acre each. The results were encouraging and peppers are to be grown again this year in a larger way. Several farmers in neighboring communities have joined ihe association for the purpose of taking advantage of effective shipping to distant markets and thus getting the benefit of distant markets as well as local markets. The entire spirit of the community is now one of hopefulness instead of discouragement. This is shown by the long-time programs of work adopted. Strawberry growing on a limited variety basis is slated to play an important part. Over 100,000 lepton strawberry plants have now been ordeied by ihe association for 1920 spring setiii.y. The members of the association see that !:• order to facilitate community shipping, everyone must plant the same varieties and the fewer number of varieties the better. Several an of land were set to apples last fall and innrv will be planted each year until in a few i apples by the car-lot will be leaving Belleplain the same as peppers and strawberries are nnv. The three late varieties of apples to be planted art* Staymen. Wmesap and Paragon. Subordinate Granges Teach Co-operation 1 Ithough it is n r t the common practice for th< manges of the county to lay special stress in co-operative buying they can and do considerable work along this line. Perhaps the best example c.i ihis is in the Dias Creek community. Here, through the grange organization, the farmers an* able to pool orders so that car-lot purchase* in lime, fertilizers, nursery stock and

seeds can be made. During the last two years ■ onsiderable money has been saved in reduced reights and commissions on the above men’ioned commodities. The most far-reachfng work of the grange is, perhaps, its education work in the community. The granges are teaching boys and girls, men and women, that in “unity there is strength." This lesson which has been a hard one for farmers, is being mastered by them slowly, but surely, so that if the organization of this grange does not care to take active part in community buying it has prepared its members and brought them to a state of mind capable of seeing the advantages of a specific organization such as the formation oi a co-operative association organized purely for business and nothing else. Community Shipping Centers Being Considered As‘a lesult of the developing co-operative spirit the farmers of Dias Creek, Goshen and Cape May Court House are actively engaged in the work of developing a community shipping centre at Cape May Court House and the farmers of Whitesboro. Green Creek, Fishing Creek, Errna and Rio Grande are working with tne view to establishing the same at Rio Grande. Several meetings have been held and a co-opera-tive association has been formed at Ri„ Grande to aid ir. the project. Pepper Crop Can Be Grown Co-operatively The first crop to be grown and shioped co-op-eratively from the above-mentioned community

will be Ruby King peppers. The containers for shipping will be either hampers or ban-els. These will be purchased in Irrge quantities in order to make the cost as low as possible. The farmers have decided to use the pepper crop because it offers a light weight crop to gather, is not perishable on the vine and >s comparatively non-perishable in transit. It is a crop when started early under glass greatly lengthens our short market season for it can be harvested from July until about the 20th of October, when frost checks the harvest. This crop, if it proves to be satisfactory, would, together with a strawberry crop, to be shipped early before the shore markets become strong, give Cape May county farmers a market season lasting from June to November, a period over twice as great as it is at present, when catering to the seashore markets alone. Expansion of Agriculture Not Detrimental to Seashore Expanding *he agriculture of Cape May county by planting crops suitable for shipping does not in any w.*y lessen the seashore’s chances for procuring fresh vegetables. It might cause fewer farmers to peddle their goods, but the loss oi these would not be noticed l>ecause, due to the present methods of selling, there are many more produce sellers visiting the doors of the . cnnumeia than ar«* necessary. The movement will tend to reduce the loos of producers’ time in distribution and place it in production where t rightfully belongs. Thus the economic value of the county’s agriculture will be increased. This state of affairs will b*

acceptable to both "inlanders’’ and “shore dwellers.” Better Freight Service for Perishables Needed The county Board of Agriculture, recognizing the value of an express freight for perishables. has taken steps to remedy our comparative isolation from distant markets. Joseph Camp, president, and T. J. Durell, secretary, have already laid the matter before Mr. Harry B. Bamford, transportation specialist, and several high officials cf the railroad freight departments. These men ha\e arranged to meet the farmers of Cape May county on March 25, at one o’clock, in the court house building, to complete further arrangements for an express ireight running from Cape May to New York City, providing the farmers, by their interest in the matter on this occasion, show the railroad officials that the employment of such a train would be warranted. It is pretty gei. ally understood among railroad men that such a train would hardly pay the first year, but as the farmers found that perishables shipped in the afternoon of one day would reach their destination in the early morning of the next, there would soon be great use made of it. As it is practically no use is made of the freights in putting goods on the distant markets. The farmers desiring such a train service as the one proposed will not adopt the common policy of “let George do it,” but will come to this meeting to a man in trying to secure an express freight for perishables. Community Store Houses Community store houses for such crops as sweet potatoes, apple® and potatoes are not far in the distance. In fact, a community building for mixing fertilizers, storing of seeds, cir.tes, etc., is being built in Belleplain at this writing. With a community storehouse the farmers need not sell swe-et potatoes in the fall if the price is below the cost of production. A better market can be awaited. Here, again, the question of more even distribution would work to the advantage of both consumer and producer. The consumer would enjoy good sweet potatoes nearly all the year instead of being surfeited with them in the fall and then starved for them in the spring. The producer, knowing that there was a place ready for his entire crop when harvested, would make heavier plantings and otherwise increase his production. The same applies to apples. With potatoes brought to a central storehouse, better grading could easily be done by machinery and the farmers could sell large lots under a reputation of graded stock for a higher price than is being paid the fanners now fc»‘ ungraded stock. Soil Improvement Expanding the county’s agriculture cannot be done by marketing alone. Soil improvement is another very important matter that is being considered. Cover-crop campaigns are being instituted and carried out. In 1918 over 2000 acres of hairy vetch alone were planted. It was estimated that the manural value of this to the soil was over $75,000. Other cover-crop, such as crimson clover and cow peas, are planted in order to build up the organic content of the soil and increase the fertility. Home sources of fertilizers are fast being utilized by our farmers. For instance, the tons and tons of king crabs caught on our shores are being ground into fertilizers for our own use, instead of being shipped out of the county for the use of some other farmers. About 200 tons have already been engaged locally and before another year the industry should be fairly well under way. Fish waste is also be! ig utilized, instead of being taken out to sea and dumped overboaru as was formerly the practice. A factory for thL purpose his been erected near Wildwood and by next year the farmers should be able to procure some of this organic fertilizer to help make Cepe May county the garden spot of the State. In summing up some of the fine opportunities offered to agriculture in Cape May county, one would hardly feel that the greatest opportunity of all lies in the co-operation of the farmers themselves. Our fine soil and climate, home fertilizer sources, shore, roadside and distant market-, all avail us comparatively littie without co-operation. Expansion of our agriculture must take into account everyone of these things mentioned. And it is gratifying to those interested in Cape May county’s agricultural development that these things are being utilized and the machinery that is helping to do this to the fullest extent is the county Board of Freeholders, county Board of Agriculture, county „ranges and the fanners’ co-operative association*.