Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1843-11-03
From the Richmond Southern Planter.
Farmers Clubs.
Oxford, Sept. 90,

Farmers Clubs.
We are much pleased 10 find that the
benefits Of association begin 10 be ap
preclatsd by the agricultural commun'
ty. Annual fairs and exhibitions are
we'll enough in their way, but they are
loo few and far between to be produc-
tive of any very important results. 1t
is to the continued and repeated neigh
borhood associations, which, under the
name OF farmers clubs are beginning
10 be so popular, that we are to look for
those benefits Of agriculture that all
olhor arts and sciences have derived
from the union and association OF their
members.
One Of flhese clubs has been gotten up
in this vicinity, and single attendance
was sufficient to satisfy US that these
meetings are admirably calculated to
minister not less to the soclSbluy than
tho improvement Of a nsighborhood -
The forenoon is devoted 10 social inter
course, and it is not unli the cloth is
removed, and the phyScal man is fully
provided for, that the spiritual being Is
considered to be sufficiently sublmated
to take into consideration the profound
truths Of agriculture. Then it is, that
some q0eSions, selected eta previous
meeting, is made the topic Of conversa.
ton, and opportunity is afforded 10 eve
ry member to avail himself of the expe.
rence Of his friend and neighbor. 1t is
our lot 10 6II the honorable post Of Sc
cretary Of This Club, and from our notes
we shall probably, from time 10 time,
ma he few extracts for the benefit Of
our readers. For instance al the first
meeting the question for discussion was,
"What is the best mode Of cultiUating
Indian COrHY
This question was handled very ably
by some Of the oldest and most success
fol corn growers in the county. Al.
though it was universally agreed that
much depended upon soil and season,
yet great diversity Of opinion prevail
ed, upon almost every point that arose,
between men living side by aide, either
Of whom would have been considered by
his neighbor good authority upon any
question connected with the making Of
corn. Particularly upon the question
of The proper distance for planting, did
our company essentially differ. One
gentleman, whose head would have been
gray, if it had net been bald, and man
too Of very profound observation, de
clared, that one year with another, six
feet by three, would yiSld more ia our
climate and soil than any lesser distance,
This doctrine which would hopelessly
condemn US 10 q short crop, we are hap.
py to say found very few supporters -
Five Iset and eighteen inches was the
distance that seemed TO be most general
ly preferred, the prevailing opinion was,
that nearer than that, in ordinary sea-
sons, the corn would fire. and the crop
would be shortened. We were pleased
TO hear one gentleman declare that ex
perience and observation had perfectly
satisfied him Of the truth OF The doctrine
of Mr. Sans, OF South Carolina, 10 which
we CO Il the attention Of our readers in
the last volume OF the Planter. The
amount OF this doctrine is briefly this
that tho natural tendency OF The roots ol
corn is downwards, and that such will
be their invariable direction in a deep,
rich, mellow soil but that when the
earth is scratched only 10 the depth OF a
few inches, and he hard pan underneath
is left undlslurbed, then II is that The
roots of The corn begin TO wander in a
horizontal direction, and that their
Ienglh will very much depend upon the
Instance within which thOy can find their
proper supply of food. The inevitable
and valuable conclusion from this posi-
ton ia, that as the soil is deepened and
enriched, that we may plant closer and
closer, until We obtain a crop that per-
haps has never been dreamed OF in A.
msriran husbsndry. Firing, say the
advocates Of This doctrine, is neither
more nor less than dying for want o.
nourishment. Corn, like cattle, mus
have something to live upon, and lfyouI
land is poor, and the season unfaVorabls
| you must ba careful hat you allow sui
6cisnI latitude Of range 10 both tho one