New Jersey hand-book of agriculture

NEW JERSEY

Hand-Book

OF

AGRICULTURE

NEW JERSEY HAND-BOOK

OF

AGRIGUL PURE

BUBEISHED BY (DHE

N: I: State Agricultural Experiment Station

AND THE

State Board of Agriculture

COMPILED BY

A. i. CLARK

UNION HILL, N. J.
Dispatch Printing Co., State Printers

1912

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INTRODUCTION.

In the preparation of this Handbook the contributors were guided
by the wish to present to the reader a comprehensive view of the
Agricultural resources of New Jersey. It was also the wish of the
contributors to point out the opportunities that are offered to the
homeseeker by the farm lands of the State.

There are many important industries in New Jersey. There are
others less important. Since the scope of the present Handbook 1s
limited, only the more important questions relating to rural life in
New Jersey could be considered at some length.

It is recognized that within the past twenty years New Jersey has
been changing rapidly the character of its Agriculture and its agri-
cultural methods. General Farming and Dairy farming are no longer
as prominent as heretofore, while fruit growing, market gardening
and poultry raising are assuming rapidly increasing proportions.
The systems of farming pursued are becoming more extensive with
a corresponding increase in the returns per acre.

A perusal of this Handbook will permit the reader to gain a more
or less definite knowledge concerning the best locations in the State
for any particular type of farming. It will also permit the reader
to understand something of the social and economic conditions pre-
vailing in the State and of the many advantages as to educational
facilities and social intercourse.

It is hoped that in future revisions, through which this Hand-
book will pass, such changes will be made as will render it more
serviceable to persons seeking information on Agricultural condi-
tions in New Jersey.

Separate portions of the Handbook were prepared by Dr. J. G.
Lipman, Prof. M. A. Blake, Dr. K. C. Davis, Prof. H. R. Lewis,
Prof. F. C. Minkler, Prof. A. S. Cook, Prof. A. L. Clark, Prof.
Julius Nelson, Mr. Chas. S. Cathcart, Mr. Harry B. Weiss, Mr.
Alfred Gaskill, Mr. W. B. Kille, Mr. Levi A. Judkins, Mr. Walter
H. Fell and Mr. John C. Smock.

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Some of the material and statistics were also taken from the an-

nual report of the Secretary of the State Board of Agriculture and
from Farm Lands of New Jersey.

3

PART: ON.E.

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES.
GEOGRAPHY AND PHYSICAL FEATURES.

New Jersey is on the Atlantic slope of the continent and is divid-
ed into four topographic zones: I. The Appalachian zone, includ-
ing the Kittatinny mountains and the Kittatinny valley; II. The
Highlands; III. The Red Sandstone or Triasoic area; and IV. The
Coastal Plain.

Beginning at the Northwest the Kittatinny or Blue mountain is
a remarkably level-topped and narrow range, which extends across
the State from the New York State line, where it is known as the
Shawangunk mountain, to the Delaware river at the Delaware Water
Gap. At High Point, near the northernmost point of the State
it is 1,804 feet high, which is the greatest elevation in the State.
This mountain range is rough, rocky and nearly all wooded.

The Kittatinny valley, ten to fifteen miles wide, is shut in by the
Kittatinny mountain on the northwest and by the Highlands on the
southeast. It is characterized by its high, rolling hills and minor
valleys and its pleasing landscapes and beautiful farming country,
which is continuous on the northeast with the valley of Orange
county in New York, and to the southwest stretching away into the
great Cumberland valley of the Atlantic slope of the continent.

The Highlands occupy that part of the zone of crystalline rocks
which crosses New Jersey in a general northeast and southwest di-
rection. Its surface is hilly and is made up of several parallel ridges,
separated by deep and narrow valleys. The valleys are like the
Kittatinny valley, smooth, cleared and in farms. The mountain
ranges are remarkably uniform in height, and this division may be
considered as a seaward-sloping tableland, whose northwest side has
an elevation of 1,000 to 1,500 feet and its southeastern side 600 to
900 fet above the sea. In the northern part there are several well
known lakes high up in the mountains, Hopatcong, Greenwood,
Macopin, Splitrock, Green, Wawayanda and Budd’s lakes are the
more important of these natural upland sheets of water.

5

6

The Piedmont plain, or the Red Stone plain is made by the
shales and sandstones of the Triasoic age. The Highlands stand
on its northernmost border; on the southeast it merges into the clays
and marls of the Coastal plain. It is sixty-seven miles long and
thirty miles wide at the Delaware river. The trap-rock ridges,
known as the Palisades, Watchung, Sourland, Cushetunk and other
mountain ranges abruptly rise above the general level of the Sand-
stone plain. They are generally forested, whereas the Sandstone
country is nearly cleared and in farms. These mountains rise 400
to 900 feet above sea level. The drainage is largely by the Hack-
ensack, Passaic and Raritan rivers and their tributaries.

The Coastal plain zone includes all the country southeast of the
Triasoic Sandstone area and borders the ocean. It is 100 miles long
from Sandy Hook to Salem and is ten to twenty miles wide. The
surface is hilly in part, but with gentle slopes, except where some
of the streams have cut their way through its earthy beds and
formed steep-sided stream valleys. The Navesink Highlands and
the Mount Pleasant hills are the highest lands in it. The drainage
is by many tributaries westward into the Delaware, and by the At-
lantic coast streams into the ocean. In the northwestern part of
this zone are clay beds and green-sand marls, which make their out-
crop on the surface in places; on the southeast there are sands, clay
and gravels and fringing the ocean a narrow range of sand hills or
coastal dunes.

CLIMATIC CONDITIONS IN NEW JERSEY.
THE HIGHLANDS AND KITTATINNY VALLEY.

These sections of New Jersey lie within the main storm tracts of
the country, and under normal conditions receive generous supplies
of moisture. The principal crop-growing months, May to August
inclusive, are favored with a large percentage of the annual precip-
itation, the wettest months of the year being July and August. No-
vember is usually the dryest month. The greatest annual amounts
of rain-fall, 51 to 53 inches, occur over Morris county, and the
northern part of Passaic county. Elsewhere in this district the
average precipitation ranges from 42 inches in the northwestern
part of Sussex county to 48 inches in the western portion of War-
ren county. The summer rainfall occurs mostly in the form of lo-

yi

cal showers and thunderstorms, which are as a rule of brief dura-
tion. The local character of these storms cause a wide variation in
the amounts of rainfall in adjoining areas. On the other hand the
precipitation of Winter, Spring and Autumn is more general and
fairly uniform amounts occur throughout the section. The heaviest
snowfalls usually occur in January and February. The annual
snowfall averages about 45 inches for the district as a whole.

Extremes in temperature are noticed in this section and the
march of the seasons is very pronounced. Day temperatures rang-
ing from 90° to 95° occur in the Summer but the nights as a rule
are refreshingly cool. In exposed localities the temperature is like-
ly to fall as low as 20° below zero during the prevalence of cold
spells in the Winter. The first killing frosts usually occur during
the latter part of September or the first of October. The average
date of the last destructive frost in Spring is variable, the range
being from May 2 to May 14 in the different localities. The latest
dates for killing frosts on record are May 29 and 30.

THE RED SANDSTONE PLAINS.

The average annual precipitation over many parts of Bergen,
Passaic and Union counties is from 50 to 53 inches. A very fair
average for the district as a whole is 48 inches. The Summer rain-
fall while likely to be local in its character is generally more evenly
distributed geographically than is the case in the more mountain-
ous sections of north and west. Although a large part of the winter
precipitation occurs in the form of snow, the average snowfall is
considerably less than in the extreme northern counties, the range
being from 35 inches in the southern end of the district, to 55 inches
over the northern part of Bergen county. High day temperatures
are frequent in Summer and in fact in late Spring and early Au-
tumn, the highest on record ranging from 102° to 109°. The cold-
est weather usually occurs in January. Over the greater portion of
the district the lowest temperatures on record range from 15° to
20° below zero. The season of killing frosts in Spring usually ends
about April 25 and the first killing frost of Autumn seldom forms
before October 10. The prevailing wind in Summer is southwest’
and in Winter northwest.

8

SoUTHERN INTERIOR AND SEACOAST.

The Atlantic ocean on the east and Delaware Bay on the south-
west exert a marked influence on the climate of southern New Jer-.
sey, the modifying effects being most pronounced for a distance of
from 5 to 10 miles inland from the coast line. High maximum tem-
peratures are of frequent occurrence in Summer, the highest usual-
ly being recorded in July. The highest record on hand for the
southern interior is 107°. Zero or lower temperatures are infre-
quent especially in the southern counties. Except at rare intervals
May and September are free from killing frosts and the season is
several weeks longer than that of the northern portions of the State.
The whole southern part of New Jersey has a remarkably uniform
annual mean temperature the range from Asbury Park to Cap2
May being only one and one-half degree. In the extreme southern
part, periods of excess heat are almost unknown although there
is nearly always a high percentage of humidity during the warm
months of the year. The average annual precipitation for this dis-
trict ranges from 50 inches in Mercer county to 41 inches in Cape
May county. As is the case elsewhere in the State, July and August
are the months of greatest rainfall, the Summer precipitation being
due to local thunderstorms with excessive falls during brief per-
iods at times. November is the driest month of the year although
January and April receive comparatively light precipitation over
numerous localities. Snow does not form any considerable per-
centage of the annual precipitation. Winter storms that begin as.
snow frequently end in rain. A winter without sufficient snow for
sleighing is not infrequent on the southern coast. The snowfall
ranges from 31 inches in the north to 20 inches in the extreme
southern portions.

TEE SOMS: OFINEW JERSEY:

The soils of New Jersey throughout the entire State are excep-
tionally varied in their texture, composition, water-holding power
and productiveness. There is a vast area of sandy and gravelly loams.
in Southern New Jersey. This area, even now prominent for its pro-
duction of market garden crops, fruit, small fruits, cranberries and
poultry is destined to become one of the most prosperous farming
sections of the Atlantic seaboard. Farther north the greensand
marl soils, widely known for their productiveness, form a wedge-

9

shaped area stretching from the Delaware River to Raritan Bay.
Still farther north are located the Triasoic red shale soils, for the
most part heavy silt loams, rich in plantfood and capable, when at
their best, of producing enormous yields of hay, corn, grain and
miscellaneous forage crops. North of the red shale soils the so-
called “Highlands” of New Jersey present a very picturesque ter-
ritory of hills and valleys, of rich pastures, of extremely fertile
muck land underlaid by shell marls, and of gently sloping hillsides
constituting ideal sites for peach and apple orchards.

Because of its salubrious climate, the ready adaptability of its
soils to a wide range of cropping systems, and its nearness to the
best markets in America, New Jersey offers a peculiarly attractive
field for the home seeker. Land values are rising rapidly as is also,
the average production per acre. According to the reports of the
Secretary of the State Board of Agriculture, the value of field
crops and dairy products increased from $24,249,179 in 1900, to
$67,715,872 in 1911. This remarkable increase in the value of the
products is due not merely to the increased cost of agricultural
commodities, but to the more intensive methods of farming and the
resulting increased production per acre. It is certain that the pres-
ent decade will witness a still further increase in production, a
striking enhancement of land values, and the development of many
acres now lying idle in Southern and Northern New Jersey.

DISTRIBUTION “OF POPULATION AND MARKETING
FACILITIES:

New Jersey is growing fast in population. The 1910 census
shows an enumeration of 2,537,167. This is a gain of 34 per cent.
over the population of 1900. New York City with its four million
inhabitants is adjacent on the east. Philadelphia with nearly a
miilion and a half population is close to the western boundary of
the State. These two cities, especially New York, not only are con-
sumers of immense quantities of food products, but are the centers
of distribution to surrounding territories. Thus, New York sends
thousands of carloads of southern produce through New England
and boatloads of northern grown products to the southern ports.
New Jersey is located between these two markets and yet supplies
them with but a very small percentage of their supplies. The man-
ufacturing cities, the country home villages and the rapidly grow-
ing seashore resorts, furnish markets for the greater part of the
products grown in the State.

10

The transportation facilities in New Jersey are probably un-
equalled in any State of the Union. There are over two thousand
five hundred miles of railroad lines. This is the third largest mile-
age of any State. There are three thousand miles of improved
highways and this State has for years been noted for its excellent
roads. Canals and rivers offer cheap shipping facilities in many
parts.

The northern and southern parts are sparsely populated. In
the northwestern counties large farms with much rocky and wood-
ed land are the rule. In the southern counties the pine-barrens cedar
swamps and oak-scrub covered territories occupy much of the dis-
trict. It is now proposed to open up some of this country by build-
ing a State highway for a distance through the heart of the Pine
belt. Other forces are at work to get this non-productive land un-
der cultivation.

The 1910 census shows that the total land area in New Jersey
is 4,808,960 acres. Of this area, 2,573,857 acres are in farms. Only
1,803,336 acres are, however, classed as improved lands. There are
all told 33,487 farms with an average size of 77 acres. This farm
land including unimproved land, has an average value of $48.23 per
acre, being a gain of 46% over the value in 1900. In many of the
more progressive agricultural districts improved farm lands are
valued at $200 per acre.

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AGRIG€ULTURAL INDUSTRIES.
GRAIN AND FORAGE Crops.

Wheat, rye and oats are grown chiefly in the heavy soils of the
middle and northern sections of the state.

It has been found much more profitable to raise oats and Canada
field peas as a mixture, and the areas devoted to this mixture are
being greatly increased in all sections. Oats and Canada field peas
are sown at the rate of one and one-half bushels of each per acre
in very early spring, and the crop is used in anyone of three differ-
ent ways: (1) As green forage for dairy cows. (2) It is cut
when the peas are in blossom and cured for hay. (3) It is cut when
the grain is ripe and threshed, and the grain is ground while still
mixed and used as a feed for hogs, poultry, dairy cows, sheep and
horses.

Wheat and rye are uniformly sown in the Fall, and to avoid danger
from the Hessian Fly the sowing is usually done in early October.
It is customary in the usual rotation of crops to sow timothy seed
with the grain in the Fall, and then sow clover in the same field the
following Spring. After the grain is cut the clover and timothy oc-
cupy the ground for a year or two, giving good yields of hay. The
wheat and rye are both used as money crops, and in many cases
are sold in the straw to threshing and baling companies. Under
this plan, both the straw and grain are sold from the farm and the
fertility thus taken must be returned by the purchase of manures
or fertilizers.

A better plan, followed by many farmers, is to use the straw for
feed and litter on the farm, and thus return its fertilizer ingredients
to the fields in the manure.

Over 200,000 acres are planted annually to wheat, oats and rye
for grain and straw while another 16,000 acres are planted for cut-
ting green.

11

12

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As dairying is a prominent farm industry in New Jersey the pro-
duction of forage crops is of great importance. The grasses, both
native and introduced, are grown in great abundance and with ex-
treme ease in those sections where heavy soils are found.

Kentucky blue grass stands out as the most important and com-
mon pasture grass in all parts of the state. The abundant annual
rainfall causes blue grass to grow as well as in any sections of the
Eastern states. It is the earliest grass in Spring and remains green
throughout most of the summer, and until fall of snow in December.
The long and almost continuous pasture season, due to the growth of
both the tame and wild grasses, has helped much in maintaining
the profits from dairy herds. Farmers in the state have learned to
expect a brief period of poor pasturage for a few warm days in July
or August. The thoughtful farmer plans some green forage crop,
such as early flint corn, or sweet corn, to feed to his dairy herd
during this brief period.

Timothy is the standard hay crop of the State. Over one hun-
dred thousand acres are raised annually of this grass. It is grown
on the heavy soils with much profit. On light soils, however, the
yield is too low. It is often seeded with clover and so produces a
heavy crop of mixed hay the first year and clear timothy the suc-
ceeding years. When raised alone this hay brings the highest price
in local markets and is often baled and shipped to the larger cities.

Clover is being raised more and more as the farmers realize the
benefit to the soil from this leguminous plant. Nearly all of the
grain, forage and vegetable crops thrive well on land where a
clover sod has been plowed under. Red clover is frequently sown
with grass seed in the northern portions of the State. Alsike clover
is favored by farmers throughout the central part, while Crimson
clover is often sown in the southern counties. White clover does
best when sown with Kentucky blue grass for permanent pastures
on the limestone soils of Northern Jersey.

Alfalfa is now grown in every county of New Jersey excepting
Hudson county. It can be grown successfully on all farm soils
where the land is well drained. It is considered one of the most
valuable forage crops in the State for three reasons:

First, it produces one of the best dairy and stock feeds because
of its high protein content and its heavy yields.

13

Second, it is grown as a money crop, as the eastern markets are
paying a price equal to that of good timothy hay per ton.

Third, it is not a robber crop as many of the grains and grasses
prove to be, but returns nitrogen, the most valuable of all fertiliz-
ing elements, to the soil, wherever it is grown.

The yield usually doubles that of ordinary hay and makes a val-
uable addition to the farm rotation. As compared with other feeds
alfalfa is three or four times as rich as timothy and is equal to
wheat bran. In the production of pork it has been found nearly
equal to digester tankage. These facts have been strong arguments
and have caused many dairy farmers to endeavor to grow alfalfa.
It is a crop which needs special conditions to secure a stand but
when once a field has been permanently established on the farm
then succeeding sowings should be quite successful.

Corn is king of all food products in New Jersey as well as
throughout the Nation. There are nearly three hundred thousand
acres planted with this crop every year in New Jersey. It is raised
during recent years very largely for ensilage, but the yield in har-
vested ears is about ten million bushels a year. Large white and
yellow dent varieties are used entirely where the season is long
enough to mature the grain. In some of the northern counties dent
varieties are used for silage purposes because of their heavy stalk
and leaf growth. The smaller flint kinds are used in these locali-
ties considerably on account of their ripening earlier. The best
yields of corn in the State are secured where seed selection has
been practiced for a number of years. In this manner a strain of
corn is secured which is best suited to the soil, the climate and all
local conditions.

14
HORTICULTURE.

New Jersey is preeminently a horticultural state where all of the
common vegetables, fruits and flowers of the temperate zone are
grown upon an intensive basis. Although forty-fifth in size among
the states of the Union, New Jersey holds a position close to the
top in the amount and quality of the various horticultural crops
produced, and where yield and money returns are figured upon the
acre basis per state, New Jersey demonstrates how extensively and
intensively her lands are being made to produce.

With extensive trucking areas, cranberry bogs, peach, pear and
apple orchards, plantations of raspberries, blackberries, dewberries,
currants, gooseberries, grapes and strawberries and with numeous
greenhouse ranges and nursery and seed farm establishments New
Jersey well fulfills the name of “THE GARDEN STATE.”

Of the four general groups of horticultural products vegetables,
fruits, flowers and nursery stock the first three are the more exten-
sively grown.

VEGETABLES:

The amount and quality of the vegetables of this State are well
known in the great Eastern markets. The United States Census.
for 1900 shows New Jersey to be second among the states of the
Union in the value of vegetable crops other than potatoes, sweet
potatoes, onions, cassava and chicory.

Few people, outside the state, realize the immense quantities of
tomatoes, asparagus, beans, melons, peppers, egg plant and other
vegetables which are annually being produced in New Jersey. But
one only needs stand at the ferries between Camden and Philadel-
phia for an evening in Summer, and see the continuous stream of
great wagons and trucks, loaded with produce, to realize what a
great industry it is.

According to the United States Census for 1900, New Jersey
ranked third in the number of acres of green beans; second in the
number of acres of tomatoes; first in the total acreage devoted to
egg plants and first in the number of acres devoted to asparagus.

The term “JERSEY” upon any package of vegetables, means.
“high quality” to many consumers in the Cities of Philadelphia and
New York and the producers are assured of the top market prices.

Intensive trucking areas are found near Jersey City and Newark
in the vicinity of New York, and general trucking areas upon an

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15

extensive scale occur over a great part of the southern half of the
state with more intensive centers of the industry in Gloucester,
Salem, Cumberland, Camden, Burlington and Monmouth counties.

The soils of the southern half of the state are admirably adapted
to the culture of vegetable crops. Large areas consist of light,
sandy loams which warm up quickly in Spring, are easily worked
and quick to respond to good management. LEarliness is often an
important essential in securing vegetables for market, and the
trucking soils of New Jersey are of the best type for success in this
direction.

Swedesboro is the center of the great tomato and sweet potato
section of Gloucester county, and for its size is probably the heav-
iest shipping station for vegetables in the United States. Fifty to
sixty carloads of tomatoes is a common daily shipment at the height
of the season, and during July, 1912, more than 400,000 crates were
shipped by rail to distant points, while large quantities were sold
in Philadelphia and other nearby markets. One day’s shipment of
tomatoes, in 1910, consisted of 36,000 crates and 25,000 baskets.

Mullica Hill, Woodstown, Mt. Holly, Freehold, Matawan and
Keyport are other prominent shipping points, while quantities of
vegetables are grown about Moorestown and Burlington and hauled
directly to market.

Asparagus is also a crop for which the state is famous, and Mon-
mouth county is the center of the industry, although the vegetable
is produced upon all the trucking areas. The State ranked above all
others in the Union in the number of acres devoted to the crop, ac-
cording to the Census of 1900, and Monmouth county was the lead-
ing county in the United States in the acreage of asparagus.

Large quantities of this vegetable are now canned within the state
in addition to the great bulk of the crop which is marketed in a fresh
state.

Peppers are now grown in large quantities by Italian farmers in
Cumberland county about Newfield and Vineland, and Gloucester
county is equally prominent in the production of this vegetable.
Several truck growers have installed irrigation plants, one of the
most successful being that of Mr. Seabrook, Bridgeton, New Jersey.

Many other similar plants will probably be installed in the near
future and with them will come still more intensive trucking.

16
WEEE, POTATOES:

The potato crop is rapidly becoming the most important field crop
of the state, and has made a marked advance in recent years.

In 1879 there were 41,609 acres devoted to potatoes; in 1889, the
acreage had increased slightly to 46,711 acres; in 1899, it had in-
creased to 52,896 acres, while in 1910 it reached a total of 72,991
acres. From 1879 to 1899, a period of twenty years, the acreage
of potatoes increased a little more than 11,000 but from 1899 to
1909, a period of ten years, the potato acreage increased 20,000
acres. This demonstrates the wonderful development of the indus-
try in recent years.

Monmouth county has been the banner potato county of the state
and produced 1,893,523 bushels in 1909. Salem county was second,
with 1,303,088 bushels, with Gloucester and Burlington counties
following in order.

Freehold is the center of the industry in Monmouth county, and
is now the headquarters of the Monmouth County Farmers’ Ex-
change. In Southern New Jersey, the potato center is about Salem,
Woodstown and Elmer. These three stations have each shipped
more than 600 carloads during the season of 1912.

The quality of the potatoes grown in New Jersey is recognized
upon the market and New Jersey stock upon the Chicago, Cleve-
land and Baltimore markets often outsold that from other points
the past season.

Irish Cobbler and Green Mountain are the two varieties principal-
ly grown, with some American Giant produced in Monmouth
county.

The crop is planted as early as weather conditions permit in early
Spring, and the crop dug and marketed about as soon as it is ma-
ture. Late potatoes are very little grown, except for seed purposes,
and then the early varieties are planted for a second crop.

The potato crop is receiving intelligent management in the po-
tato districts of the state, and although the industry has developed
amazingly in recent years, it seems to be a stable and steady ad-
vance.

SWEE PODATORS:

Sweet and white potatoes are commonly considered as general
farm crops and are separately considered in Census reports.
In total production of sweet potatoes and yams New Jersey falls

Shipping ToMatoes Along the Delaware River.

(Courtesy of American Agriculturist.)

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17

below such states as North Carolina, Georgia and Virginia which
are very much greater in extent, and where these vegetables are
grown very generally. Only the southern half of New Jersey is
adapted to sweet potato production, and yet in 1909, the yield was
3,186,499 bushels.

When the production, by counties, of the United States, is con-
sidered Gloucester county, New Jersey, is second in the list, with
Salem county fourth and Burlington county fifth among the coun-
ties of the United States.

New Jersey produces practically no yams but the so called “dry
sweets” which are much preferred in the northern markets.

“Jersey Sweets” are known the country over for high quality,
and some sections of the State, notably, Vineland, have established
a reputation for sweet potatoes grown in a certain district. High
quality and strict grading have resulted in such a standing.

BRUITS.

New Jersey has held a prominent position in the production of
fruit since early colonial days, and, although, the introduction of
the San Jose scale previous to 1900 was a severe check to the in-
dustry, it now promises to develop rapidly.

All of the standard temperate fruits, such as the peach, pear,
apple, cherry, quince, grape and the small fruits, can be successfully
grown in most parts of New Jersey, and the facilities for marketing
them excell those of any other state.

From the rolling and hilly areas of Sussex, Warren and Hunter-
don counties to the flat sandy areas of Gloucester and Cumberland
counties there is a great variation in soil and climatic conditions.
There is commonly from ten days to two weeks difference in the
ripening period, of various fruits, between these points, which
works to the advantage of the fruit growers, for competition be-
tween the various districts is practically eliminated.

PEACHES.

New Jersey is better known as a peach state than as an apple
state and because soil and climatic conditions are unusually favor-
able to the peach.

This fruit flourished in the state from its earliest introduction,
and southern New Jersey became a prominent peach section be-
fore the industry spread south to Delaware and Maryland. The

18

industry probably reached its height in the state in 1900, or just
before the San Jose scale caused great destruction.

The value of the crop in Hunterdon county alone in that year
being estimated at $1,000,000. The United States Census of 1909
for the year 1899 shows that New Jersey produced more peaches *
that season than any other state except California and Texas.

Winter temperatures are seldom severe enough to destroy the
fruit buds in the dormant season, and Spring frosts seldom cause
much damage to the blooms so that the state never has an entire
failure of the crop.

Hunterdon county was the most prominent peach section of the
state in 1900, but at the present time, Burlington, Gloucester, Mon-
mouth, Atlantic and Camden counties are showing a more rapid
development of the industry.

Centers of peach production are found about Moorestown, Marl-
ton, Hammonton, Glassboro, Lebanon and Burlington with many
smaller centers scattered about the state.

The winter of 1911-1912 was a most severe one but orchards
above 600 feet elevation in Northern New Jersey produced good
crops, while in Southern New Jersey little damage was done even at
150 feet elevation.

Peaches can be grown successfully upon all of the sandy soils of
central and Southern New Jersey, with the exception of the very
light poor sands. In central and Northern New Jersey all of the
well drained soils are adapted to peaches, but elevated sites should
be chosen to avoid winter injury.

Large quantities of peaches are grown within hauling distances
of Philadelphia and are delivered upon the market a few hours
after being picked. Good transportation facilities to both Philadel-
phia and New York can be found at many points in the state, and
the freight rate per Georgia carrier does not exceed fifteen (15)
cents per crate in most instances. New Jersey peach growers are
favored by soil and climatic conditions and have a great advantage
over growers in such districts as Georgia in transportation rates.

The sixteen quart Jersey or Delaware basket is still the com-
mon commercial package where the fruit is hauled to the market.
The Georgia carrier has become the standard shipping package,
however, in the Southern part of the state and its use is rapidly
becoming general.

The following varieties are considered to be the best commercial
sorts: Carman, Hiley, Champion, Belle of Georgia, Elberta, Fox

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Seedling and Iron Mountain. Greensboro, Waddell, Miss Lola,
Frances and Edgemont make up a secondary list that is profitable
under some conditions, and in certain seasons.

PEARS,

Pear growing was formerly a very important part of the fruit
industry of the state, but the appearance of the scale and_ the
blights resulted in the destruction of many orchards of Bartletts,
and the industry has never reached its former prominence. In 1900,
New Jersey ranked fifth among the states of the Union in the num-
ber of pear trees of bearing age, and she ranked seventh in 191)
with 732,000 trees. Large orchards of Kieffer pears are still found
in the state and, at least, one grower has 265 acres of pears.

The blight is especially severe upon the very light soils which
suffer from drouth, and strong loam soils should be selected for
the culture of this fruit. In some localities the pear is doing well
and is quite free from blight, and it is in such places that the high-
er quality varieties should be planted. Seckel is most resistant, of
the higher quality varieties, to the blight and produces well. Bart-
lett, Kieffer and Seckel are the most prominent commercial varie-
ties grown at the present time, with some Duchess, LeConte, Law-
rence, Clairgeau and others.

APPLES.

This state does not hold as high rank among the other states in
the amount of apples produced as it does in the production of
peaches and pears. Nevertheless, a large quantity of this fruit
is grown and the quality is high. Several fruit growers in the
state have more than 200 acres of apples under cultivation, and
most of these are increasing their orchards.

Elevated, rolling lands are often recommended for apples and
excellent sites of this type occur in Northern New Jersey. Very
successful orchards, however, are to be found upon the rather flat
sandy loams of the state, and with the exception of Cape May
county and the eastern portions of Atlantic, Burlington and Ocean
counties the greater part of the state is adapted to apple culture.
The medium to strong loam soils are to be preferred to the light
sandy loam soils for the production of apples.

Central and Northern New Jersey was formerly very prominent
in apple production, but the bulk of the crop is now produced in

20

Burlington, Monmouth and Gloucester counties, with centers of
production about Moorestown, Glassboro and Red Bank.

Many early Summer and Fall varieties of apples are grown com-
mercially in New Jersey. The demand for such varieties has been
very good in recent years, and growers are still planting a large
proportion of such sorts.

Such a variety as the Baldwin can be grown successfully in
Northern New Jersey, but becomes a Fall apple in the Southern
counties of the state. While Winesap, Grimes and Rome find more
ideal conditions for development in the central and _ southern
counties.

The following varieties are considered to be of special commer-
cial value, depending somewhat upon the locality. Red Astrachan,
Yellow Transparent, Williams, Starr, Gravenstein, Maiden Blush,
Wealthy, McIntosh, Stayman-Winesap, Rome and Paragon.

The Jonathan, Grimes-Golden, Fall Pippin, Winesap, English
Codlin and Baldwin are varieties of high quality that succeed well
in general.

Varieties such as Northern Spy, Rhode Island Greening and
Roxbury Russet can be grown in New Jersey, but are too far South
of their best limit especially in Southern New Jersey.

CHERRIES, PEUNMS AND OUINCES:

Sour cherries are one of the profitable fruits of the state and
considerable quantities are produced. Early Richmond and Mont-
morency are the two varieties most commonly planted.

Sweet cheeries are not being planted to any extent commercially
as other fruits are regarded as more profitable. The large size
of the old sweet cherry trees, in various parts of the state, indicate,
however, that one can grow this fruit successfully if he so desires.

Plums were formally grown quite generally throughout the state,
but in recent years peaches, apples, pears and small fruits have
largely taken their place, and are considered to be more profitable.

Quinces are successful wherever the apple does its best. Like
the pear it is more subject to blight upon the dry, light soils and
should only be planted upon the medium to strong loams.

GRAPES.

Favorable conditions for grape growing occur in nearly all parts
of the state, but the industry at present is centered largely in Bur-

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lington, Cumberland and Atlantic counties. The Vineland Grape
Juice Company has a vineyard of 100 acres at Vineland, and the
industry about there is developing. Other extensive vineyards are
to be found about Moorestown, Gibbsboro and Egg Harbor City.

The Italian farmers throughout Southern New Jersey are plant-
ing small vineyards and the industry is developing.

The Concord is more generally grown than any other single var-
iety, but Ives Seedling is frequently planted for the manufacture of
grape juice. Niagara, Moore’s Diamond, Campbell’s Early Dela-
ware and others are also grown to a ereater or less degree.

The industry about Egg Harbor City is practically confined to
the culture of wine grapes.

SMALL FRUITS.

The production of small fruits is an important part of the fruit
business of the state and blackberries, dewberries, raspberries, cur-
rants, gooseberries and strawberries are extensively grown.

According to the United States Census for 1900, New Jersey cul-
tivates more blackberries and dewberries than any other state.

Atlantic county is the leading county of the state in the produc-
tion of raspberries, dewberries and blackberries with Hammonton
as a center, but Camden, Monmouth, Cumberland and Burlington
counties produce these fruits in abundance. Gooseberries have
been quite profitable in recent years and larger plantings are being
made. Strawberries are produced in quantities from Essex to

May counties, with Cumberland county leading in total pro-
duction at the 1900 Census. Moorestown is now a prominent cen-
ter, however, and the crop about this one point has been as large
as 500 carloads in a single season.

The strawberry is the first fruit to ripen and large numbers of
Italian pickers go from Philadelphia the latter part of May to all
parts of Southern New Jersey to assist in gathering the strawberry
crop. Cherries, raspberries, blackberries and dewberries follow the
strawberries and keep these people engaged until the peach, grape
and cranberry crops close the season.

CRANBERRY PRODUCTION.

Over one-third of the entire cranberry crop harvested in the
United States comes from New Jersey. There are over ten thou-
sand acres of cranberries yielding from 100,000 barrels to 250,090

22

barrels annually. Most of this acreage has been cleared and
drained and set out to selected varieties, there are however many
more acres of swamp land which only wait for capital and energy
to transform them into profitable plantations. Such land can be.
bought for from five dollars upward per acre. It costs from three
hundred to six hundred dollars per acre to fit this land and set it.
out according to Mr. A. J. Rider, a veteran grower of Hammon-
ton. The plantation should bear some the third year and yield a
paying crop the fifth year. After a cranberry bog is once estab-
lished about the only expense is in keeping it clear from brush and
weeds. They are long lived plants and some of the most profitable
plantations in the state are thirty years old or more. The average
yield is thirty barrels per acre, but some growers secure over forty.
There are nearly five hundred cranberry plantations at the present
time in the state. The planting of cranberries has been extensive
during the past few years and the fruit is of such a perishable na-
ture that some years at the height of the harvest a glut of the mar-
ket occurs. This is discouraging to the growers and a very strong
distributing organization has been formed which includes most of
the cranberry growers in the state. It is probable that with the
extension of the work by this organization and by the planting of
later, better keeping varieties of berries this phase of the industry
will be overcome. Most of the present cranberry plantings are lo-
cated in Burlington and Ocean counties. There are acres of un-
developed land suitable for cranberry production in Cumberland
and Cape May counties. In the earlier period of cranberry cul-
ture the wild native berry was cultivated entirely. By selection
and improvement better varieties have been secured which are now
almost entirely planted. The Early Black is an early medium sized
dark red berry. It is prolific but is not a good keeper. The Beil
is a large light red berry for mid-season and the Howe is a popular
bright red berry of good size and of excellent keeping qualities. The
native Jersey is still planted by some because of its late ripening.
The average annual value of the cranberry crop of New Jersey is
around a million dollars.

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23
FEORICUETERE.

New Jersey has long held a prominent place in the commercial
production of cut flowers and potted plants. The United States
Census for the year 1909 shows that the state ranks fourth in the
value of florists’ products, and is only exceeded by the great states
of New York, Pennsylvania and Illinois.

The greater number of the greenhouse establishments are located
in Morris, Essex and Hudson counties within a short distance of
the New York markets. New Jersey does not receive the prom-
inence deserved along floricultural lines. The immense greenhouse
plant of Henry A. Dreer is located at Riverton, New Jersey, where
~ thousands of palms, ferns and other greenhouse plants are pro-
duced annually, but the fact that the plants are grown in New Jer-
sey, although sold from the Philadelphia office, is not generally
known. Peter Henderson & Company also conduct large green-
houses in Jersey City although the main office is in New York City.

Large quantities of carnations, roses and chrysanthemums are
annually produced in the state, but New Jersey is especially noted
for the production of orchids. At the last two National Flower
Shows more than 75 per cent. of all the orchids exhibited were dis-
played by New Jersey exhibitors.

The quality and amount of potted stock produced in the state is
also especially notable.

The winning of many prizes for various collections of green-
house plants at the recent International Flower Show, held in Lon-
don by William A. Manda of South Orange speaks volumes for
the skill of a New Jersey florist.

New Jersey also occupies a prominent place in the distribution
of new varieties of greenhouse plants and cut flowers, and numbers
among her growers men who are prominent throughout America
and abroad.

SEED -FARMS.

Large quantities of vegetable and flower seeds are annually pro-
duced in New Jersey for the general trade, and there are a number
of prominent seed houses which have special farms devoted to such
work.

New Jersey holds a prominent position in the production of the
country’s supply of egg plant seed. Tomato, asparagus and other

24

vegetable and flower seeds are also produced very successfully, and
the industry is just beginning to develop.

NURSERY: PRODUCTS:

The nursery business in New Jersey can be divided as follows:

Nurseries growing peach trees only; those growing miscellaneous
fruit and other stock; those growing shade and ornamental stock;
strawberry growers and dealers. The entire number is slightly in
excess of one hundred, ninety of which actually grow stock. These
nurseries have a total acreage of over 2,500 acres, the largest con-
taining 400 acres and the smallest being one-fourth of an acre.

Last season, these nurseries handled over 15,000,000 pieces of
stock, having a valuation of over $2,000,000. The fruit stock aver-
ages about 2,200,000 trees, while the shade and ornamental stock
runs into 5,000,000. This does not include privet which is grow on
38 nurseries, carrying altogether over 5,000,000 plants.

The herbaceous stock is almost beyond reasonable estimate. In
the inspected nurseries, it is listed as 3,000,000; most of it, however,
is grown on places not ranked as nurseries from our point of view.

The regular nurseries have over 1,500,000 feet under glass, but
this does not include the large rose houses in Essex, Morris and
Hudson counties, nor the immense florists’ establishments, whose
valuations far exceed the nursery business.

In addition, the nurseries import each year an average of 11,000
cases of stock, containing such plants as evergreens, box wood,
fruit trees, ornamental stock, roses, rhododendrons, bay trees, or-
chids, palms and other greenhouse stock, which is of course, in-
spected as necessary. All the nurseries are in first class condition
with respect to freedom from insect pests and diseases. Most of
the peach stock grown in New Jersey is sold locally, while a large
percentage of the shade and ornamental stock goes into interstate
commerce.

FORESTRY.

In New Jersey few farms are without shade trees and a woodlot.
Forest is native throughout and trees need to be planted only where
it is desirable to change the man-made conditions. Whether planted
or of natural origin any forest in the State thrives better and grows
more rapidly than one in the North or West where the growing sea-
son is shorter or the climate otherwise less favorable.

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Lumber, poles, railroad ties, posts and cordwood are always in
demand at the highest prices received in the country. Fitted always
for the poorer soils, easy to grow, easy to harvest, easy to sell, tim-
ber is one of the surest farm crops. The chief drawback to the
practice of forestry, fire, is in New Jersey reduced to a minimum
through the activities of a strong forest fire service. There are
‘ands on many of the farms in the northern section of the State
where because of the rough and stony character the planting of
quick growing trees for poles and ties offers a sure, if delayed,
profit. The difference in cash returns during a period of fifty years
between a well managed wood lot and one where no method is em-
ployed, is surprising to those not familiar to the habits of trees and
their response to favorable growing conditions.

The Forest Commission will help the owner of any woodland in
the State to manage it to the best advantage. This aid includes the
direction of improvement fellings, the utilization of timber, fire pro-
tection, and, where necessary, tree planting. Inquiries by mail are
invited. In important cases a competent forester will be detailed to
study the problem on the ground and advise the owner. Such
service is entirely free to communities and public institutions, in-
dividuals are asked to pay the forester’s expenses only; his salary
is paid by the State.

THE -POULERY wii OU SiR:

The past decade has witnessed an immense increase in the poultry
industry in all its phases in New Jersey. With the development and
dissemination of scientific methods of management, it has come to be
more of a specialized industry as exemplified by the thousands of
large flocks scattered over the State which bring to the owners
satisfactory returns on the money invested. In 1900 there were in
the State nearly two million fowl, over thirty-two thousand tur-
keys, and about fifty thousand ducks and geese, the combined value
of these birds being $1,300,000. In 1910 the number of fowl had
increased to over two million five hundred thousand, ducks during
that same time increasing slightly in number, while turkey raising
had become nearly abandoned. The value of all poultry during the
intervening decade has increased to approximately $2,275,000 which
is an increase of 75 per cent. This is a gain in value far exceeding
the gain in numbers which means that the quality of the individual
has shown a marked improvement. In 1900 the value of poultry

26

raised in the State was $2,265,816, while in 1910 it had risen to $3,-

847,029, which is an increase of over 65 per cent. During the same

period the number of eggs produced had risen from 11,942,550

dozen to 15,000,000 dozen. The average price realized for the

same in 1900 being seventeen cents while ten years later it had
risen to twenty-three cents which is the highest average yearly price

received by any state in the Union.

The Single Comb White Leghorn is the predominating breed due
largely to the white-shelled egg which is preferred by the New York
market. They are kept for the production of market eggs, the idea
being to practice a method of management which will produce a
maximum quantity in the winter during the season of high prices.
New Jersey has the honor of possessing the largest White Leghorn
farm in the world, it being located at Brown’s Mills, Burlington
county, in the pine belt. On this farm approximately 18,000 birds
are kept in units of five hundred under almost ideal conditions.
There are two important intensive egg producing sections in the
State, namely, Hunterdon county, the district centering around
Flemington, and again in Cumberland county in the vicinity of
Vineland. The Flemington district is an old center of production;
the 1900 census giving that district over 230,000 head of fowl. The
Vineland section on the other hand has developed to its present ex-
tent in the past ten years. The 1900 census gave the whole of
Cumberland county only 119,000 birds, while the 1910 census shows
183,950.

New Jersey is famous for her broilers, the term ‘Philadelphia
Milk Fed” being a trade » 0 have experienced
the pleasure of tasting them. Hammonton is the home of the
specialized broiler industry of the United States where it started
with a boom over twenty-seven years ago, due largely to the un-
precedented successes which had attended the efforts of a few poul-
try specialists in that vicinity. As with all such phenomenal devel-
opments the boom was over done and at present the great mass of
Jersey broilers are produced as a side line to egg production or gen-
eral farming throughout the southern part of the State. The soft
roaster and capon industry is firmly established in the central and
southern portion where they are produced in connection with gen-
eral farming.

The poultry raisers of New Jersey are favored in having the best
markets in the land directly at their doors, New York being the
largest and one of the best egg markets in America, while Philade!-

av

phia on the other side of the state is one of the best markets for
live and dressed poultry. During the summer season the resorts
along the coast consume an immense amount of the best quality of
poultry products for which an attractive price is paid.

The poultrymen of the State are well organized, probably more
so than in any other state in the Union. There being twenty-one
associations organized primarily for educational and exhibition pur-
poses with a total active membership of about five thousand poul-
trymen. Most of these associations hold monthly meetings for
educational purposes at which time a regular program is carried
through. Many of them hold annual poultry shows of high quality,
while many are buying and selling co-operatively. The State Branch
of the American Poultry Association is a live organization con-
stantly attempting to protect and promote the immense interests
involved.

The State College and Experiment Station are well equipped and
organized for educational and experimental work along poultry
lines. A four-year course with the option of poultry husbandry
as a specialized study is offered, leading to the degree of B.S. Short
winter courses covering a period of three months are also very
popular. The Experiment Station is conducting educational work
through monthly reading course circulars and in addition to the ex-
periments carried on at the Station Plant are conducting co-opera-
tive experiments on many poultry farms in the State.

All things considered, there is a bright and prosperous future for
the poultry industry in New Jersey, both to the poultryman already
located within her borders as well as to the prospective egg farmer
searching for a suitable situation.

NEW JERSEY DAIRY ANIMALS.

The homes of some of the greatest producing families of Holstein
and Guernsey cows are located in New Jersey. This undoubtedly
accounts for the high average value of the New Jersey cow.

According to the report of the United States Department of
Agriculture of 1911, the average value of dairy cows in this State
exceeds that of any other State in the Union. The New Jersey
average is given as $53.50 per cow, while the average in the United
States is $45.42; thus it will be seen that the value is $7.90 more
per cow, or 17.3 per cent. greater than the average value.

28

The number of pure bred herds in the State has rapidly increased
during the past few years, and at the present time it is estimated
that there are 5,500 pure bred dairy cows in the State. There is no
state in the Union where a greater percentage of the dairy cows in
the state are pure bred. In proportion to the number of cows, New
Jersey stands first in the amount of advanced registry work done.
This plainly demonstrates that the pure bred breeders of the State
realize the importance of superior animals.

During the past winter as many as seventeen men have been
working at one time supervising advanced registry records.

WORLD’S CHAMPION COW.

Recently three world’s records have been broken by Holstein
cows owned in the State. The world’s record butterfat production
for seven and thirty days was broken by Valdessa Scott 2nd, No.
72311 with the following production:

Official record: 7 days, 695 lbs. milk, 41.87 lbs.butter fat.

Thirty days, 2,934 Ibs. milk, 165% lbs. butterfat.

Junior three-year-old, Finderne Pietertje Johanna, No. 121082:

Seven days, 637.9 lbs. milk, 28.16 lbs. butterfat.

Thirty days, 2701.7 Ibs. milk, 113.26 lbs. butterfat.

Junior two-year-old, Finderne Pontiac Netherland, No. 133504:

Seven days, 576.5 Ibs. milk, 22.61 Ibs. butterfat.

Thirty days, 2329.4 Ibs. milk, 88.58 Ibs. butterfat.

The world’s record Guernsey cow, Dairymaid of Pinehurst, with
the production of 14652.4 Ibs. milk and 860.26 lbs. butterfat in one
year, was bred in New Jersey. Of 133 bulls that have been ad-
mitted to the Guernsey advanced registry, 33 or .248 per cent. of
the total number are owned or have been bred in New Jersey. Un-
doubtedly there are other advanced registry bulls that are owned or
have been bred in New Jersey that we have no record of. These
facts are of no little importance to the dairyman considering a good
place to locate a dairy farm. A herd of some of the best pure bred
animals in the world can be purchased without going out of the
State.

CERTIFIED AND MODIFIED MILK PRODUCTION;

Several of the largest dairies in the country, producing certified
and modified milk, are located within the State, and the prices re-
ceived for the milk produced by these plants, ranges from fifteen

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to twenty cents per quart. Certified milk is an ideal milk, and 4
certain class of consumers in the cities are willing to pay a good
price for milk they know to be pure and clean. The production of
certified milk is a profitable business, and many dairies are arrang-
ing their plants preparing for its production.

GENERAL.

To the average dairyman the opportunities are also attractive.
New Jersey has 168 people for every cow in the State. When we
consider that one cow is required to produce the amount of dairy
products consumed by 18 people, it is clearly understood that there
is a great opportunity for the industry to grow. This does not in-
clude the great markets offered by the cities of New York and Phila-
delphia and the markets of the State’s summer resorts.

In conclusion, it is safe to say that no state can offer a greater
number of advantages to the dairyman who desires to locate in a
- region where conditions are favorable to conducting a profitable
dairy business.

HORSE BREEDING.

Of the many agricultural industries in New Jersey inviting un-
rivaled opportunities to the farmer for success, profit and content-
ment, few indeed offer a greater welcome than that greeting the
breeder of pure bred live stock, or the farmer interested in the grow-
ing and marketing of live stock products.

Land areas well adapted for the production of live stock are
available at reasonable figures throughout the State. The level
pasture lands of South Jersey grow luxuriantly all grass, forage and
grain crops necessary for economical feeding of farm animals, while
the cheaper and rougher areas available in North and Middle Jer-
sey are unexcelled when one considers the adaptability of the valley
low lands for crop production, and the special features of the
rougher areas as regards shade, water and hardy natural grasses
for pasture purposes.

New Jersey is the only state in the Union that has made pro-
vision to offer pure bred stallions of the coach and draft breeds to
the farmers for breeding purposes. Community Breeders’ Asso-
ciations are organized in every county or district where there is a
demand for one of the imported breeding sires, made known by a
petition supported by the progressive breeders of a community,

30

asking that state aid be offered to the patrons in their earnest en-
deavors to produce more useful and marketable horses. In twelve
counties of the State such associations have been recognized, and
the commonwealth now offers for public service an English Hack-_
ney, a Yorkshire Coach, four Clydesdales and six Percheron stal-
lions at a uniform service fee of $10 to insure the mares in foal.
Their services are being liberally patronized by progressive breed-
ers owning brood mares suitable for raising foals, and the move is
both popular and far reaching in its accomplishments.

There is an unusual demand at local sale stables as well as public
market centers such as Philadelphia and New York for New Jersey
grown draft and work horses of useful types, and one has but to
attend such public sales to appreciate the preference that prevails
for Eastern acclimated and New Jersey bred draft horses possess-
ing weight with quality and presenting an attractive and pleasing
conformation. Well grown and sound native drafters will bring
from $50 to $125 more under the hammer than unacclimated West-
ern horses of equal individual merit and soundness that are shipped
in green and sold at the public squares. From experience the farm-
ers and truckers know the difference in utility value between a na-
tive horse and an unacclimated Western chunk, and is eager and
willing to pay the difference quoted, providing he is assured that the
animal is the product of the New Jersey breeder.

Despite the clamor that was made several years ago that the
draft horse, the truck horse as well as the road horse would soon
be eliminated from public service, due to the extensive use of farm
and motor tractors, there is still an unsupplied and growing demand
throughout the Eastern districts for the short-legged, deep-bodied
quality chunk whose usefulness and special adaptability for all work
puts a premium on his services. It is conceded that the West pro-
duces the greatest number of animals, but it must be admitted that
the greatest demand at the highest prices, and the final disposal of
the good ones is made at the Eastern market centers. There is
profit in such an enterprise from every view point, and the New Jer-
sey farmer has the ground floor to work on in taking advantage of
such opportunities.

Not only does such a welcome greet the breeder of draft and
coach horses in this State, but one has only to refer to the American
Trotting Registry Association Records or note the comments in the
press devoted to light and heavy harness horses to see the interest
and prominent part that is being displayed by New Jersey breeders

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31

and trainers in the production of light horse types. South Jersey
in particular is noted for its light horse industry, and many of the
noteworthy, hot-blooded individuals that are now battling against
beauty, speed and endurance records on the turf, and in the park-
ways, trace directly to such noted sires as Bingen, Todd, Chimes or
Bellman, who claim New Jersey as their breeding ground. Noted
descendants of these famous sires are now in service in the State,
and are playing an important part in the making of light horse his-
tory and achievement.

In addition to the advanced step taken by the commonwealth of
New Jersey in offering breeding sires for service, another move has
been made that is exerting a great influence for good in horse breed-
ing operations. It is the enactment of a law that disqualifies from
service mongrel or unsound stallions that possess neither breeding
nor individuality sufficiently potent to perpetuate desirable qualities
in their offspring. Its workings have succeeded in reducing the
number of unsound stallions presented for examination before a
designated Board from 22 per cent. in 1909 to 8.4 per cent. in 1911,
while the agitation for pure bred and sound sires has resulted in
much greater care on the part of stallion owners in the selection,
breeding and management of regularly licensed sires whose useful-
ness has been demonstrated by their past performances in the stud.
The percentage of increase, based upon the total number of pure
bred stallions in service, has been greater in New Jersey during the
past three years than reported from any other state where stallion
registration laws have been enacted, and are in force. The truckers
and market gardeners in South Jersey do practically all of their
marketing in Philadelphia by wagon, and demand horses of the
highest order, and are willing to pay prices that will yield profit to
the producer. The breeders of this State are determined that New
Jersey shall be a producr of such utility horses rather than a mere
purchaser of such animals that are raised in the West under less
favorable conditions than exist in our own little state. The oppor-
tunities, therefore, for horse breeding that exist in New Jersey are
unexcelled. The credit rightly belongs to this State for the produc-
tion and perpetuation of the greatest speed horses in the world is
second only to the determination on the part of the breeders of
draft horses to place this industry on an even greater utility basis.
The Champion Clydesdales of three countries are now owned in
New Jersey, and every indication points to even greater opportun-
ities and accomplishments in the near future.

ou
SHEEP AND SWINE.

The growing of pork and mutton products is not a side line, but
one of the real profitable occupations of a great many farmers in
this State. The potato growers and truck farmers in South Jersey
have demonstrated that of all animals the pig is the most econom-
ical medium for converting seemingly waste products into market-
able commodities, and are marketing their small potatoes and fruit
culls through the porker. The increased acreage devoted to the
growing of alfalfa is still another boom to swine husbandry, as it
has been determined at the Experiment Station that alfalfa is a
much more desirable source of protein for swine than digester
tankage, which is the most economical source of this element on
the market. Furthermore, the alfalfa is a home-grown product
With potent serum available for preventing outbreaks of hog
cholera, the greatest drawback to swine production is removed, and
the rent paying rooters and mortgage lifters are sure money makers
for the farmer.

The hot house lamb is still another Jersey specialty, and in North-
ern New Jersey furnishes a ready income to sheep farmers during
the winter months. The leading hotels in Philadelphia and New
York pay a premium for Spring lamb during early Winter and
through the Holiday season. There is a brisk demand throughout
the year for mutton and lamb products. The high rolling land fur-
nishes excellent pastures, free from parasites and other pests prev-
alent in the meadow and pasture districts of other sections where
low or level land is utilized for forage purposes. As a means of
increasing fertility, destroying weeds and utilizing coarse and rough
fodders, there is no animal superior to the sheep. Considering the
money invested, and the inexpensive labor required to properly
provide for and handle a flock of sheep, the industry is both
profitable and practical. The live stock farmers of New Jersey
have many reasons for being prosperous.

BEE KEEPING:

As a side line with fruit raising or general farming, bee keeping
makes an interesting and profitable pursuit. The comparatively
mild climate of New Jersey reduces the risk of Winter loss as the
bees winter very well on the ordinary summer stands with but little
if any, protection.

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ly Tm

by a oe
ee.

33

There are over ten thousand colonies of bees kept on the farms
in the State. Where the colonies have access to alsike clover fields
the yield runs up to seventy-five or a hundred pounds of honey per
year. This honey commands the highest market price. Bees will
do fairly well on the ordinary farm with no special crops planted
for their benefit, but where several colonies are kept it is found
profitable to sow small fields of clover, buckwheat, etc. In the
operation of hot-houses for vegetable growing it is found necessary
to keep some bees in order to insure pollination of the flowers and
a satisfactory set of fruits.

FISH AND OYSTER INDUSTRIES;

The Fisheries of New Jersey are protected, governed and
aided by a Fish and Game Commisison. The Commission is on 2
self-sustaining basis, securing its support from licenses and fines.
A special appropriation has recently been made by the Legisla-
ture for the erection and maintenance of a fish hatchery at
Hackettstown, Warren county. For years the Board has stocked
the streams and lakes of the State with trout, black bass, white
and yellow perch, crappie, pickerel, catfish and bait fish. The
northern parts of the State furnish ideal streams for trout, and
in some brooks they are abundant. The shad fisheries of the
Delaware river constitute a very important industry.

It is estimated that the oysters and clams produced in the
State yield an annual income of something like four million dol-
lars. There are probably a hundred thousand acres where oys-
ters grow naturally, within the State boundaries. This area is
constantly diminishing through exploitation without proper con-
serving care. Over thirty thousand acres are now leaséd for
planting and growing purposes. The raising of seed oysters by
means of shell planting, upon leased ground, has only just be-
gun. Previously these seed could be purchased from the Chese-
peake Bay and elsewhere. Laws are being enacted prohibiting
the exporting of these small bi-valves and, no doubt, the grow-
ing of these seed oysters will rapidly increase from now on. Near-
ly all of the product is sold in the shell. The greater part of the
oysters harvested are “floated.” This requires the transferring
of the oysters from their growing place to the mouth of a stream.
The movement of the fresh water has a very beneficial effect on
the appearance of the flesh and renders the product marketable at

34

a higher price. Steps have been taken by the Board of Health, to
the effect. that “floating” be done only in uncontaminated water.
The principal oyster center is at Bivalve and Maurice River on
the Delaware Bay. More than three-fourths of the production-
comes from this vicinity. There is a special Bureau of Shell
Fisheries which have control of the Oyster Industry in New Jer-
sey. The State Experiment Station is also carrying on studies
and investigations of the breeding habits, etc., of oysters.

THE CANNING INDUSTRY.

Owing to the great quantities of fruits and vegetables produced
in favorable localities and to the extremely perishable nature of
these products, canning factories have been erected and do flour-
ishing business several months in the year. There are over forty
such factories in the Central and Southern parts of New Jersey.
These factories give employment to over five thousand people, a
large percentage of which are women. The selling value of the
canned goods produced in the State during the year of 1909 was
considerably over two milllion dollars. Tomatoes are the prin-
cipal vegetable and pears the principal fruit. Peas, beans and
corn are also canned in large quantities.

The preserving of unfermented grape-juice is quite an industry
in some localities, perhaps the Vineland district is the center of this
business.

[DI RUBIA eeSy

One of the most important factors in the development of farming
interests in this State has been the use of commercial fertilizers.
This fact has been thoroughly demonstrated and the constantly in-
creasing tonnage used is due to the results obtained. There are no
available statistics that will show the amount of fertilizers used at
the present time, but it is estimated from the information at hand
that during the present year at least 150,000 tons will be used. On
account of this large tonnage, and various other conditions, there
is a very strong competition in the trade and as a result the fertiliz-
ers can be purchased at a cost which allows but a small margin of
profit to the manufacturer when high grade materials are used in
preparing the mixtures. The average selling price of the various
grades of mixed goods is about $28 per ton, and if our estimate of

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PF Se PT aes

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35

the total tonnage sold is fairly accurate, the fertilizer bills for the
present year will amount to over $4,000,000.

The records of the last official inspection show that the fertilizer
needs of the farmer are carefully looked after by the manufacturers.
Over one hundred manufacturers are delivering their products in
this State, and five hundred and thirty different brands are sold
here. The essential elements, nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash,
are furnished in the commercial brands in almost every conceivable
proportion and, in addition, if a consumer desires a mixture in
which the elements are furnished in even a slightly different pro-
portion, there is apparently no trouble to have it prepared as desired.

Notwithstanding the claims made for special brands, the large
sum of money spent for fertilizers can be charged to the cost of
the nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash contained in the mixtures,
and the returns are due to the actual amounts of these elements
which the crops, such as hay, grain, potatoés, market crops and
fruits, are able to obtain from the fertilizers applied.

Thousands of carloads and many boatloads of stable manure are
annually purchased from New York and Philadelphia. This is
used for vegetable growing particularly, but also for fruit and gen-
eral farm crops. The use of green manures—plowing under grow-
ing crops—is considered very profitable on the lighter soils of the
State. Clover, vetch, rye and mixtures of these are used consid-
erably for this purpose.

During years gone by the catching of King Crabs along the Dela-
ware Bay shores of Cumberland and Cape May counties assumed
considerable proportions. It is even now carried on to some extent
and many farms secure their fertility from this source. The crabs
are caught in “pounds” built out in the shallow water, are thrown
out at low water and make excellent fertilizer, being high in nitro-
gen content.

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AGRICULTURAL, EDUCA TION:

Agriculture as an art has undergone important changes within
a short time. Farm practice has become modified by the use of
agricultural machinery, the introduction of new crops, the employ-
ment of insecticides and fungicides, and the wide application of
commercial fertilizers. The old rule of thumb is no longer adequate
for coping with present day problems of farm management, and
with the far-reaching transformation in market conditions and re-
quirements. Labor problems on the farm are vastly different from
those of a generation ago. The refrigerated car and cold storage
plant have placed the great cities of the United States within reach
of outlying regions. Central America, the Pacific Coast States, the
West Indies, the South and the North supplement or compete with
the products of the home markets. In a word, then, the new in-
ventions and discoveries, the improved means of communication,
and the wide diffusion of knowledge are forcing the farmer, as they
have forced the man in the city, to secure a firmer grasp on the
principles underlying the performance of his daily tasks. Slowly,
but surely, agriculture as a trade is passing and agriculture as a
profession is coming to take its place.

But important as have been the changes in agriculture as an art,
they are overshadowed by the changes that have occurred in agri-
culture as a science. Geology, Chemistry, Physics, Botany, Zoology
and Bacteriology have given this new science a broad vision. The
research institutes in the Old World and the New, with their thous-
azds of trained investigators are accumulating data that will help
to reveal to us the secrets of soil-fertility and of plant and animal
development. Thanks to these investigations agriculture is even
enriched by new creations in plant-life, new methods of tillage
and cropping, and innumerable products unknown a generation
ago.

The rapid expansion of agriculture both as an industry and as a
science is calling for the services of many men. Trained farm
managers are in great demand. The establishment of agricultural

36

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37

courses in our rural schools is creating a need for teachers properly
equipped to teach agricultural subjects. Commercial organizations,
such as railroads, fertilizer and lime companies, commission mer-
chants, real estate firms, etc., are providing remunerative positions
for agricultural college graduates. The colleges and universities,
the experiment stations and the United States Department of Agri-
culture are offering attractive work at attractive salaries to young
men capable of investigating agricultural problems. At present,
the supply of trained men is wholly inadequate, notwithstanding the
astonishing increase in the number of men now graduating from
agricultural courses at the state colleges and universities.

The four year course in agriculture at Rutgers College is believed
to be a well-balanced course in the science of agriculture. In the
framing of this course it was recognized that the farm manager,
like the teacher and the investigator, must be a broadly trained man.
He should possess some familiarity with modern languages, history,
political and social science and the natural sciences if he is to be
successful as a farmer, and a living force in his community. As is
shown by the following outline, the agricultural course at Rutgers
College attempts to produce not merely farmers or technical special-
ists, but educated men.

A portion of the elective work in agricultural science is taught
in the buildings located on the main campus. The subjects taught
here include chemistry, physics, geology, biology, botany, entomol-
ogy and bacteriology. The usual laboratory equipment is pro-
vided, the students expecting to devote themselves to research
work are especially encouraged to acquire proficiency in labora-
tory technique. Every facility is offered for reading and study in
the college library whose collection of scientific books and per-
iodicals is among the best in the East.

Another portion of the elective work is taught at the College
Farm. The latter comprises an area of about two hundred and
sixty acres, and is equipped for investigation and teaching work in
soil fertility, agronomy, horticulture, dairy and animal husbandry,
farm mechanics, and poultry husbandry. Recent appropriations by
the Legislature provide for additional buildings and equipment in
poultry husbandry, floriculture, dairy husbandry and agronomy.
Thanks to this equipment the students can be given a good training
in applied, as well as in the theoretical agriculture. The practical
instruction at the College is supplemented whenever the students
desire it by actual experience during the summer vacation on farms

38

in the State. Positions on farms, at moderate salaries, can be se-
cured for most of the students in the agricultural course.

SHORT GOURSES IN AGRICULTURE:

The Short Courses in Agriculture were established by an act of
the Legislature in 1907. Their popularity and usefulness have been
attested to by the rapid increase in the number of students attend-
ing these courses. The first class, that of 1907-8, contained twenty-
three students. The following classes have steadily grown larger
from year to year until the last class, that of 1911-1912, contained
one hundred and twenty-eight members.

The short courses are planned to give needed assistance to those
who desire to become better farmers, more skillful stockmen, dairy-
men, fruit growers or market gardeners. Those who do not wish
to become the slave of some profession in a city, or those who do
not wish to tie themselves down to a confining business life, will
here find an opportunity to start intelligently in an independent
calling. Those in city occupations wishing to shake off the bands
which tie them to a daily monotonous routine where their profits
are used in buying commutation tickets or in various forms of ex-
pensive city living—those will find here such courses as they need
to lead them to a world of free endeavor where they can lift up their
eyes to the hills” The isolation, drudgery and hermit life of farmers
are rapidly becoming things of the past, and farmers are now men
among men.

The instruction in everything is practical, with the special view
of being immediately useful. The students are taught by practical
demonstration how to manage soils; to use fertilizers; to judge farm
stock; select varieties of farm crops; propagate plants; to bud,
graft, plant and prune orchards; to handle and test imlk and cream;
graft, plant and prune orchards; to handle and test milk and
cream; and in general to more intelligently conduct farming
operations

Equipment.—The College Farm is well equipped with good build-
ings and apparatus for the most modern instruction in agriculture.
The main building is provided with laboratories, class rooms, library
and shop. The greenhouses and stock-judging pavilion are well-
planned for use by winter classes. The stables are stocked with the
best type of animals for study by students.

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Ny ey
oleh OR a
A A le

39

Expenses.—Tuition is free to residents of New Jersey; non-resi-
dents pay a tuition fee of $25. There will be an entrance fee for all
of $5 to cover incidental expenses in laboratory work, use of ap-
paratus and instruments, and breakage. Practically the only ex-
pense of the course will be the cost of living in New Brunswick and
the cost of travel to and from the city. Comfortable rooms, with
table board, can be obtained within ten to fifteen minutes’ walk of
the main agricultural building for from $5 to $5.50 per week. The
cost of books need not be more than $5, but it would be well, if
possible to allow a larger sum for them, as many not required
would be useful for students, and should be a part of their home
libraries. The total expense of the course may, therefore, range
from $60 to $100, and should not exceed an average of $80 for
each student. The requied entrance fee must be paid to the
treasurer of the College on the opening day.

Application for Admission—There are no entrance examinations
- for admission to these courses. The students should, however, have
a good common school education, in order to make the best use of
the instruction given. All the courses will be open to persons of
sixteen years of age and upwards.

SHORT COURSES OFFERED.

I. Course in General Agriculture and Dairy Farming.—This in-
cludes the following sub-divisions: Soils. Manures, Fertilizers.
Forage and Field Crops. Feeds and Feeding. Types and Breeds
of Farm Animals. Care and Management of Stock. Poultry. Bees.
Milk Handling, Bottling and Testing. Farm Buildings and equip-
ment with shop and machinery practice. Bacteriology. Control of
Insects and Plant Diseases. Farm Management.

II. Course in Fruit Growing and Market Gardening.—This in-
cludes such subjects as: Manures and Fertilizers. Soils. Insects
and Plant Diseases. Spraying. Propagation of Plants. Planting
and Pruning. Packing, Storing and Marketing. Small Fruits.
Vegetable Growing. Greenhouse Methods.

III. Course in Poultry Husbandry.—This includes sub-divisions
as follows: Types and Breeds. Principles of Breeding. Prepara-
tion and Marketing of Products. Scoring. Construction of Poul-
try Buildings. Sanitation. Parasites. Insects. Diseases. Incu-

40

bation and Brooding. Feeding. Management of Poultry Farms.
Crops. Special Poultry Practices. Turkeys, Ducks, Geese, Pigeons,
etc:

IV. A course in Domestic Science has recently been organized
for young women.

For further information regarding the agricultural courses, ad-
dress Irving S. Upson, Registrar.

The New Jersey State Agricultural Experiment Station is also
located at New Brunswick. During the past two years decided
steps have been taken to enlarge the scope of the Station’s endeav-
ors and make it more vital to the agricultural people of the State.
The work of the Experiment Station is along four quite distinct
lines; experimental, investigational, educational and what may be
called police work. On the college farm consisting of some 200
acres of tillable land, experiments of many sorts are carried out.
Fertilizing experiments, breeding experiments, crop rotation and
many other subjects are receiving attention. The investigations in
soil bacteriology and soil chemistry by this Station have received
marked attention by scientists in this country as well as in the
countries of Europe. The peach industry which a few years ago
was threatened with extinction has now through the work of the
Horticultural Department been placed upon a profitable basis once
more. Poultry feeding and housing problems have been largely
solved for the benefit of the farmers in the State. The production
of home-grown feeds for the dairy is a line of work which is act-
ually showing the dairy farmers how to save a large percentage of
their feed cost.

The members of the Station Staff are called upon for advice in
all parts of the State and some of them are in attendance at most
of the agricultural gatherings throughout the State. Lectures and
demonstrations are given on the different subjects which are of the
most interest to the people in each locality. An Extension Depart-
ment has recently been organized and with this department a closer
connection can be maintained with the practical problems which
the farmers are unable to successfully cope with. By the aid of
this department the results from the work carried on at the Station
and the scientific methods of modern agriculture will be shown to
the farmer right on his own land. Much of the work of the Station

41

bee inspection as well as other branches of police work are carried
on by members of the Station Staff.

The New Jersey State Board of Agriculture has been in existence
forty years. Under its auspices Farmers’ Institutes were intro-
duced, and have been conducted for a number of years. Regular
annual meetings of the Board are held at the State House in the
winter. Auxiliary to the State Board, County Boards of Agricul-
ture are organized in twenty counties, these report annually to the
State Board the work done by their respective Boards, for the ad-
vancement of agriculture in their respective fields.

The State Board through its system of Farmers’ Institutes and
County Boards has done much for the improvement of agricul-
ture throughout the State. Pleasant and intimate relations have
was connected with the Agricultural College and Experiment Sta-
tion is under the Executive Committee of the State Board, as are
also the work of the Plant Pathologist and Bee Inspector. The
President and Secretary of the State Board are by law members of
the Commission on Tuberculosis in Animals, the President being
required to appoint five others, who with himself and the Secretary
constitute the Commission. This Commission is charged with the
work of eradicating tuberculosis from the dairies of the state as they
may be requested by the owners or by the State Board of Health.
It is required also to prevent the importation of tubercular dairy
animals into the state. Besides the Secretary there is one Chief In-
spector and five District Inspectors in charge of the work.

The State has a Live Stock Commission with power to enforce
the laws regarding the registering of stallions for service, etc. The
New Jersey Horticultural Society has a large membership.

Field meetings of much interest are held during the Summer on
fruit and truck farms in various localities. One or more Winter
“meetings are held in some central town. Poultry raisers are organ-
ized in nearly every county and in many villages and cities. Ex-
hibitions are held during the Winter months in several large cities,
while nearly all of the Fall fairs have poultry shows in connection
with them. The cranberry growers are united in an association
which has materially reduced the cost of distribution. In several
towns there are farmers’ organizations for purposes of co-opera-
tive buying and selling. The Monmouth County Farmers’ Exchange

42

is one of the largest organizations of this kind in the country. There
are some fifteen hundred members and the business amounts to a
million and half dollars or more annually.

CORN GROWING CLUBS.

New Jersey has taken a forward step in the introduction of
school and home gardening and corn club work among the school
pupils and other young people of the State. Nearly all of the
County Superintendents have aroused an interest in the work in
their own counties. The work has been started in several instances
by the’ County)Y. M. CG; Aj Secretaries.

At the present time we find the educational work along these
lines being carried on under the auspices of several organizations;
namely, the schools, the County Y. M. C. A., the local women’s
clubs, and other local bodies. Large numbers of pupils and others
have taken part in the contests during the season of 1912. These
took part in the fall garden exhibits, and are participating in the
Winter corn shows.

The boys’ corn contests are chiefly limited to their own counties,
or cover even smaller districts.

State contests are being planned and will come next.

The interest taken in these contests is surprising and even won-
derful. It is certain that similar clubs for girls will be organized
soon. The State Department of Public Instruction is sending out
literature along several lines which will tend to increase the devel-
opment and work of boys’ and girls’ clubs of various kinds. Indeed
this is a good form for the beginning of instruction in agriculture in
the public schools of the State.

This club work will aid in an increased production of corn in New
Jersey—both the total yield and the acre yield will be increased.
Local interest is aroused in the work of the schools.

The possible yield of the soil in any locality is brought out by
the enormous yields of the best growers.

A boy raising an unusual amount per acre respects himself and
the neighbors respect him more than ever, and he becomes a bet-
ter person both morally and mentally. No one in any right calling
should be satisfied with less than the best.

New Jersey is one of the best states for swine, and corn is needed
for their feed and finish.

43

More corn should be grown because we need more home-grown
feed on the farm instead of purchasing so much.

The Grange is very popular among the farmers of New Jersey.
There are over seventeen thousand members belonging to one hun-
dred and thirty-five subordinate Granges. These Granges hold meet-
ings every week or two at which the members discuss questions of
interest to themselves and their communities. The subordinate
Granges are also combined into County or Pomona Granges. The
Pomona Granges hold quarterly meetings around the county at the
several subordinate Grange Halls. The State Grange is composed
of members of the subordinate and Pomona Granges, and it holds
a meeting once a year. The present Master of the State Grange
has held this office since 1900 and is an influential and zealous de-
fender of the farmers’ rights. He has been a member of the State
Senate for several years and holds positions of influence there.

Through the efforts of the Grange and other agricultural organ-
izations the needs of agricultural education has been impressed
upon the members of the State Legislature. During the 1911 and
12 session over three hundred thousand dollars was appropriated
for experimental and educational work in agriculture.

SUMMARY.

Some of the advantages offered by agriculture in New Jersey are
easily recognized by the casual observer. The truth of the situation
is forcefully presented by a tour of the farming districts of the
State. The reasons for the very apparent prosperity among the
farmers and the opportunities in North and South Jersey are un-
derstood, when one realizes that the combination of Cheap Lands,
Fertile Soils, Excellent Transportation and the Best Markets in the
World which are found in New Jersey are met with in few, if any,
other localities in the United States.

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