The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1871-08-05
EOCAL MATTERS.

GuNpowpER AGRICULTURAL CLUB.-We have
heretofore noticed the Gunpowder Agricultural
Club in our columns, and its obliging and eff
cient secretary has favored US with commune
cations concerning its proceedings.
Until Saturday afternoon last we had not en-
loved the pleasure of attending one of its meet
ings. On that evening, at the kind solicita-
ton of a member. we accompanied him to the
meeting of the Club at the residence of Nelson
Miles, Esq, in the vicinity OF Sparks switch.
The meeting throu ghout was full of interest.
This Club consists of fifteen members. At the
meetings they appoint foreman or chairman
who presides over their deliberations and leads
the way ia the inspection of the farm work,
the crops, the stock, &C, of the member at
whose house they meet. They ask questions
and seek information Of the owner of the prem
ises and crops inspected, upon any point upon
which he who seeks the information may not
be informed.
We have rarely seen more delightful farm
in many respects than that of Mr.. Miles. He
has excellent peaches, pears, watermelons,
plums, damsons, Strawberries, blackberries and
other things in their line that are grown upon
garden and truck farms. He is an excellent
farmer, everything about his premises showing
great care and attention. He has the finest
young hedge that we have seen in this section
of country, and is demonstrating the problem
that small farm pays better than large one.
When the hour for supper arrived the mem
bers were invited to a repast that reflected
great credit upon our hostess, and to which
each guest did ample justice.
By this time it became too late to make fur
Their Investigations, and the Club organized I'M
der a luxuriant shade in the yard, and began
the discussion of the question selected at the
former meeting, viz: "What is the best means
of exterminating elders, briars, Canada this
ties, dock, plantain, Carolina pink, wild carrot,
ST. Johns weed and all'other flth?7 The fore
man called upon each member by name to re-
late his experience and give all the informa
ton he could upon the subject-one that we
naturally think would be almost destitute of
interest. But when the first speaker was
through with his story we were convinced that
we had been very agreeably disappointed, and
before the discussion was half through we felt
that we were being entertained by masters Of
the subject under consideration. Each men,
Der showed such familiarity with every spe-
cies of weed and filth common to that locality
and the best modes of discriminating them as
to render the discussion entertaining and in
structure to any one. The discussion contin-
ued until late in the evening and until every
member had exhausted his knowledge Of the
subject A great many questions were asked
which brought out information that would 9TH
erwise have been lost.
When this part of the programme was fin
ished we were again invited to the table to
partake of delicious fruit and confectionery, of
which all gave abundant evidence OF their due
appreciation.
A question for discussion at the next meet
ing was then selected, viz: "What are the best
methods of selecting seed wheat, what the best
time for seeding, what the best means of put
ting it in, whether white wheat will stand the
Winter as well as red, and whether it will do
to sow it as early or as late?"
The Club has offered premium of five dol
lars to the member who gets the greatest yield
of corn from an acre. A committee was ap-
pointed to examine and measure the ground of
those who are eontending for the prize-six,
we believe. This done the Club adjoured.
The Club is composed of gentlemen of infor-
nation, enterprise and an inquiring turn of
mind, and this association practically gives
each the knowledgethat the entire fifteen have.
They are all in good circumstances and when
each speaks he speaks the language of practi-
cal experience-it is not q simple theory
Without this Club they have all been success
ful farmers. With it they will have culture,
taste and a broader knowledge to adorn their
rich acres and decorate their beautiful home
steads We wish them abundant success, and
tender them our columns whenever they will
favor us with their proceedings.