Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1860-02-24
Farmers Club,


Capt John Moore in the Chair. Subject
The Philosophy of Farming.
The chairman on taking his seat made
the following remarks:
=. Ladies and Gentlemen Il am pleased
to meet with you on this occasion to try
and assist in promoting the interests of Agri-
culture but it is with some reluctance that
| accept the Office, feeling as | do my inabil-
ity to perform the duties assigned me as they
should be- lam, however, the last to remain
inactive when there is so much to be done.
There arc defects in our system of farming
which We ought to correct. We ought to
thoroughly investigate its principles that we
may make a correct application of them.
Except, perhaps, agricultural papers, con-
slider farmers clubs the best means to accom-
plish this end. >
Other remarks were made by the chair but
we have not space for them.
Mr.. J l.. Hovey made some very interest
ing remarks concerning manures, Of which
| shall I've able to give only a condensed out
line. Mr. Hovcy stated that manurcs as a
general thing were SUBJECT to too much
waste. Our manure heaps suffer more than
we are aware Of from drcnching rains, and
the liquids are allowed to escape.
lie remarked that the urine of stock was
e,mal in value to the solid excrcments and
much pains ought to he taken to save 1t,
He believed the day not far distant when
the farmers even Of this town would provide
barn cellars or sheds at least to protect their
manure heaps from the drenching rains, and
swamp muck or rather ASSIGNMENTS to take
care of the urine To dig and haul this
muck in winter he believed expclicnt from
the fact that the operation of the frost pull
!. verified it after which it could b. dried and
handled to better advantage. lie advoca-
ted the practice Of making compost heaps of
sea- weed aud muck together with ashes &c.
lie planted some potatoes last year in a thor
oughly drained swamp, with no other dress
ing than half pint of ashes in each hill to
correct the acid aud = better potatoes said
he no man ever held on his fork, than
grew in that muck -
Mr.. W. l.. Gurtill, remarked that rlow-
Ing was an important branch Of hushandry.
lie believed that many OF the farmers in this
vicinity WIRE not studying the right kind Of
economy when they u.ci the small two Ok
plow for :. breaking up" he believed they
should use the heavy green sward pillow with
four sersa f9ofers on the chain, and pl2w
the slice completely orer.
lie believed ia pl1wins in the fall except
in sandy loan or loos", grayelly land, f1r
this he said wa. injured rather than benefit
cd by exposure to storms and frosts Of
winter. He also stated that sward land
which il is tltg-rrd TO have rottca by the fol-
lowing spring should be plowed the last Of
August 10 give time for the warm weather to
produce the decomposition If thc sd. Soils
of clayey nature are particularly benefited
by fall blowing, for the action Of tr9sts and
air tend 10 slakc the clods Of clay.
f. VI. Soule considered drainage the first
step towards agricultural improvement, aud
gave his views at some length on the subject.
After which Abel Hoyey Esq spoke with re-
gard to value Of crops, when the meeting adj
burned to meet again the 18th inst
Go. f. GurrILL, Sec.