The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-04-03

American 1uSllLule fdEu1erS CluD was
held this afternoon, Mr.. N. c. Ely,
Chairman, and J. W. Chambers, Secre-
tary.
The following communications were
read:
WHEN TO SOW CLOVER.
I'D. Alderman, of Union City, Michi-
gan, inquired of the Club if it would
do to SOW clover about the middle OF
June with buckwheat. and get good
catch. He said he had field he wish
ed to seed. The land was too wet to
get in proper conditions early enough
for oats. Would it do any better with
Hungarian grass?
s, L. Todd replied, that somehow all
the farmers had got the idea in their
heads that there is no sowing grass or
clover seed without some kind ofgrain.
Such. also, was his opinion; but years
of experience had taught him different.
Grass is even better, sown by itself, but
the ground must be we'll prepared,
ploWed, cross. plowed, narrowed and
brushed till it is smooth as a garden
bed, The mode of preparing seed bed
is more important than the time for
sowing. The best time, perhaps, to get
clover into wheat or rye, especially in
wheat, is early in the Spring, when the
surface is soft, on the frost coming out
OF the ground.
BUSTING TREES WITH PLASTER OF PARIS.
Mr.. Horace B. Hitchcock, of Hills
dale, Michigan, wrote to inform the
club that he keeps the curculio from
spelling the choice fruit by busting the
trees, when damp from dew, with plas-
ter OF Paris.
THE VALUE OF COAL ASHES.
An interesting discussion then took
place on the subject of the following
queries from w. A. Young. of Cumber-
land county, Pa. lie said: wish to
plant potatoes on a piece of new land;
it is stiff blue grass sod and very
heavy soil Qimestone,) Would coal
ashes be of any benefit to tighten it2
How many one-horse loads to the acre?
Will composition of hen-droppings.
coal ashes, and plaster make good top
dressing for cOrn2 About what pro-
portion of plaster should be used? Mr..
Young added that he had derived a
great benefit from reading the report of
the proceedings of the club, and desired
these questions answered as n special
favor to farmers.
Mr.. S. Il. Todd recommended the ap-
plIcation of 900 one. horse loads of coal
ashes to the acre, meaning that coal
ashes have so little value as manure.
Mr.. a. S. Fuller differed with him.
He had found anthracite coal ashes
worth from three to four dollars ton.
lie liked their effect on sandy soil.
Mr.. T.. Il. Quinn said he used coal
ashes at the rate OF thirty loads to the
acre, but he would rather loose up
heavy clay by Fall blowing than with
ashes. The proposed compost for
corn in the hill-hen-drOppinG with
plaster. is excellent; but he suggested
the addition of muck, or dry garden
loan. Zen manure, thrown near the
seed is stimulating, and its effect will
be excluded if earth is we'll mixed with
1t. He did not think much would be
gained by mixing coal ashes with 1t.
Muck is much better.
Mr.. Bruen said he had used the com
post nine years, on the same land, and
thought last year than the first. Coal
ashes have mechanical effect If
nothing else; they open and Tighten the
soil. admitting air and sunlight.
Mr. j. b. Lyman said he expert
nented with coal ashes last year, and
the result was not tlattcring. They
give IL lush growth of top, no body to
II root, and no grain. He tried them on
onions, beets and tomatoes. In May
and June they grow bravely, but as
soon AZ the Summer heat came on that
part of the garden. they showed no
bigger than butter nuts, and the beets
were pulled up and eaten as greens,
the roots having ceased TO grow.
Tomato vines grew rank, but fruited
badly.eHis COnclusiOntwns that anthra'
chite Coal ashes may give Spring start
to grass, but they are worth nothing al
the last Of the season when roots get
their size and grain is developed III
corn.
DIR. Feuchtwanger said there was con-
siderable silica in coal ash, and it is in
Il fine state easily soluble in water. This
accounts for lis effect in Spring. But
though the form or outline of plants
may DO built up from silica, their value
for food must come from pOtassa, phos-
phorus and lime. Silicic acid is not
properly speaking, an element in true
manure, because most soils contain an
abundance OF 1t.
THE POULTRY EXHIBITION.
The committee appointed to report on
the recent Poultry Exhibition at the
Empire Rink made an interesting re-
port, giving some facts and reaching
some conclusions in the poultry bust
ness that may be of value to the com
improved blood and fancy combs OF
gay feathers in chickens make de-
cided and uniform difference in the
value of poultry, yet there is no doubt
that breeding to II special end or point
has accomplished for poultry nearly
as much Hs it has in neat cat
tie. The chief marks of excellence
in chicken arc three-tO be g
good layer at all seasons
to yield tender and well favored
flesh: and TO fatten rapidly. There is
no breed that excels all others in each
of these points. Such IL combination OF
merits is not to be expected. In chOos-
ing among the breeds of fowls one can
get at least two good qualities combin-
ed:
LIST. In the White LeghOrn he will
find Il regular and constant egg pro
Queer and the flesh quite good; but a
bad mother they-wiIl not set.
I'd. In the Dorkipg he will get fine
delicate flesh, n full development Of
breast, hardness and self help, the
ability to pick up living where any
hen can Iive-but they are not great
layers. especially in cold weather.
Sd. In the Chinese fowls, especially
the Brahmas, light and dark, he finds q
big-boned chicken, a rapid grower, Il
large and Indifferent feeder that bears
confinement well and gives more
sumed than any other.
4th. III the French breeds. LIE Fleone
and Houdan, we have fowls that lay
| we'll at all times of the year and whose
flesh is excellent, but they ares not
inclined to set, and make poor mothers
Wo recommend to all who keep poul-
try to improve the common bRrn-yard
chicken by the the introduction Of