The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-03-31
MAURY COUNTY FARMERS
CLUB.

The Farmers Club OF Maufy COun.
ty held its regular meeting on Satur-
day, March %, at the Courthouse, ut
Columbia
As it commenced raining early in
the morning. the weather doubtless
had some effect in diminishing the
number of p,cmbsrs in attendance
but notwithstanding this fact, the pro-
ceedings were of an interesting char
acter, and the regular discussion was
animated and entertaining
AS the President was absent, j. L.
Williams, Esq, was called to the
chair and presided oyer the delibera-
lions of the meeting.
Mr.. Joseph III. Dew, the Secretary,
read the minutes of the preceding
meeting, which were approved.
The regular question for discussion
was "The relative value of grasses
for hay, and the best machinery for
cutting the same" but in consequence
of the fact that it was rather late to
discuss the grass question, the subject
was changed to one more appropriate
to the season.
The Secretary made brief report
in regard to procuringa more suita-
bic hall, but as the representation of
members was not as large as usual, it
was suggested that this report be de-
ferred until full meeting.
REGULAR CUssION-CULTIyATIo OF
CORN.
Col. ID. F. Wade said AT the
meeting preceding this l should
have liked very much to have heard
the opinions of gentlemen of exper-
fence in relation, to the best manner
of sowing small grain and grasses.
The time for that has now passed, and
| think that, i'm future, it would be
we'll for the club to appoint commit
tee to select such subjects as are best
suited TO the season of the year they
are TO be discussed.
Capt. l.. w. Black-I agree with
you /; for if at the last meeting, we had
discussed the question of sowing our
small grain, we could have profited
by the discussion Immediately, and
one man would have an opportunity
of profiting by the experience of 9TH
ers. Therefore, if we discuss any
question to-day, l suggest that it be
something that will be applicable be-
tween this and the next meeting.
Col. Wade-We are just entering
upon the corn season, and / suggest
that we discuss corn and its cultiva-
ton.
On motion of Col. Wade and Capt.
Black,
CORN AND ITS CULTIVATION,
was made the subject for discussion
at the present meeting.
Capt. Black-I would like to hear
from Mr.. Estes, whether it is best to
drill corn or check it?
Mr.. ID. j. Estes-I have been in
the habit of drilling my corn. have
plowed my land deep, with two hors-
es, and have dropped the corn about
eighteen or twenty inches apart, one
grain in a place. l find that l can
make more corn that way than by
checking it. have commenced this
week.
Col. Wade-Do you prefer white
or yellow corn?
Mr.. Estes-I prefer white corn. |
have been told by some persons,
though, that the yellow corn is the
earliest.
Col. Wade-how about the number
of plowings?
Mr.. Estes-I generally plow my
corn four or five times.
Capt. Black-What do you use the
first time?
Mr.. Esies-I use a small bull-ton-
que pillow, and put that in tolerably
deep. | follow then with the turn
ing pillow and bar to it. Then, after
that, | use largo bull-tongue plow.
Mr.. Dew-Do you use double shov-
els?
Mr.. Estes-Yes sir | used one last
year and | was very well pleased
with it, and used five-tooth har-
row, an expansion harrow, that l
found great help to me.
QuestiOn-IIave sou ever sowcd
corn.
Mr.. Estes-I never have.
Question-Do the moles trouble
you much?
Mr.. Estes-NOt great deal. In
planting drill corn it would be better
to use bull-tongue pillow. l would
lay off the burrows with the bull ton
que pillow. prefer a shallow COW
ering. straighten with the turning
plow, and follow with the bull tom
que plow.
Capt. Black-What is your opinion
as TO the rotation of other crops with
corn?
Mr.. Estes-Wheat is very good
thing to follow with corn.
Question-What distance do you
give?
Mr.. Estes-Four feet and half, and
then drop one grain i'm a hill, having
the hills from eighteen to twenty
inches apart. Think my corn will
bear better where it has one stalk in
place.
Capt. Black-That corresponds with
my liminted experience last year. /
tried planting one grain in a place
about twenty inches apart, except l
did not run out the water burrows. |
drilled my corn, but l dropped one
1 gram OhNC III CNCiN tNCHsN iuSHtS,
and then | went over it and replant-
! ed. The result was that almost ev.
cry stalk would have two ears, though
all had-at least one good ear, and
had only one grain in a place. have
! tried planting with two grains in a
hill, and | have tried checking. and l
and am satisfied that we get more
fodder with the drilled corn, one
grain in hill, and more corn to the
acre.
Mr.. Williams-Do you think it re-
quires as little labor TO cultivate with
drills as with checks?
Capt. Black think YOU can cult
/ vate the checked corn with less labor
because you do not have to hoe il and
/ you cultivate more acres.
Mr.. Williams-1f the hands pillow
the corn well it does not need much
hocing, does it?
Capt Black-I have claimed that il
a man will pillow it right, he can al
most cultivate the drill corn entirely
with the plow, if pains be taken in
planting, and / always tried to have
my hands stop and uncover what corn
! they covered up, and not TO try and
see how much land they could pillow
in day, but how well they could
pillow the corn. 1t is generally be-
/ lievcd that crop of corn can be tend
cd with less labor when it is checked,
1 brf / don't fhiul If will mako en- r,ucb