Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1870-03-04
Farmers Column.


At a regular meeting of the Cedar
Valley Farmers Club, held on Sat
urday, Feb. Goth, 1870; Vice-Presi'
dent John Tennison in the chair.
Minutes of previous meeting reat
and approved.
The following persons were admit
led rs members:
Mr.. John Carroll, c. W. Girton, e
Reynolds, +. L. Jewell, w. Felmly,
An Essay was read by Mr.. r.
Speer, on Fruit Raising, and one by
Mr.. Tenuison, on Wheat and Corn
Raising.
The subject of Raising Wheat and
Enriching Soil, was then taken up
and discussed:
Mr.. Parker, who was appointed to
lead the discussion, being, absent,
Mr.. Spear make few remarks on
the subject, followed by Mr.. Carroll,
who thinks that the most farmers
SOW to much seed. He thinks IL
bushels of wheat sown by hand,
enough for one acre.
Mr.. Anderson thought that a
smaller quantity of wheat is required
If sown by seeder, for the reason
that it sows more even than by the
hand process.
Mr.. Girton thinks the quantity of
seed should be governed by size of
the berry; less being required if the
berry is small, than if il is larger
Prefers to sow with the seeder, but
cross harrows after it.
Mr.. Morgan said he has tried har-
rowing after the seeder, but does not
like it as he thinks the harrow I'M
covers the seed.
Mr.. Tennison said If the seed Is
perfectly clean, one bushel and a
peck is enough for an acre if well put
in. He tried soms gypsum last year,
but thinks it will not pay.
Mr.. Morgan tried gypsum last sea-
son, but has not heard from it yet.
The discussion on Enriching Soil
was then taken up; Messrs. Spear,
Girton, Anderson, Loatwall and
Tennison participating:
Mr.. Loatwcll said that his ideas OF
good flaming consisted in taking large
crops from the soil and at the same
time leaving it better than you found
It. He thought that unless the sup
ply returned to the soil, be i'm fair
proportion to the demand made upon
it, the most fertile soil will become
exhausted. The manule heap is the
bank from which the farmer must
draw his working capital. All ma
nures should be placed al sufiicea'
depth in the soil to keep them moist
but more especially manures contain
ing volatile elements, in order tina
when the soil becomes warm and thu
manure assumes the gaseous form i
can rise to the surface and be diffuset
through the soil lying over them
For corn, he believed that portion
of the manure should be plowed il
with the soil, also portion of it, j
well composted, should be put in thu
hill or narrowed i'm with a heavy
drag before planting. All volatile
elements applied to the soil should b.
covered Immediately, that as mucl
as possible of their elements may b,
absorbed by the soil. This subjec
is imperfectly understood. Tha
theories may give us indications il
this direction, but they will need t.
lie corrected by much experimental
research before they can guide us +
any certain results.
Mr.. Spear objected to burrying t.
deeply as the manure will leach ant
the best of it go down instead o
comming up to assist in the growth
of the plant. He said every farme
should own copy of Agriculture
Chemistry, and make himself con
versant OH the subject, that he ma.
understand what each plant wants t
assist ii in its growth.
Mr.. Anderson thought that ma
nure will not leach down more thar
four or six inches when in tn
ground,
Mr.. Girton said, according TO wha
he had heard, a man must go to col
lege to learn to be a farmer.
Mr.. Spear said that he thought ]
would be good thing to attend Ag
Yicultural Colleges, but if q farme
would procure copy Of Agriculture
Chemistry and study that he woul,
be better prepared to raise good crops
1t was decided that the subject fo
discussion for the next meeting he
Raising Large or Small Fruits. Mr.
w. III. Philpot to prepare all Essay
and Mr.. Robert Spear to lead in dis
cussion. Also, that the subject fol
discussion for the meeting, Marcel
18th, should be: Raising Stock.
Adjourned.
The next regular meeting will b,
held at Council Hall, Saturday
March 9Th, 1870, at o'clock P. NJ.
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