The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1873-11-28
Deer Creek Farmers Club.

The Deer Creek Farmers Club met at the
residence of John Moores, ESQ.,, on Saturday,
the 22d inst. Nearly all the members were
present. After the customary inspection of
the premises, which were found in adm irable
order, the President called to order, and the
regular business of the Club was commenced
The minutes of the previous meeting were
read and approved, after which the question
for the evening, namely, Fertilizers the best
to use, how to USE and where to obtain Them"
was fully and freely discussed.
Mr.. Moores said that he used bone dust :;
that he would buy only from dealers whom
he knew to he reliable, and that he preferred
to have it in as fine condition as possible
lie said that he thought farmers had better
buy bone dust for cash, even if they had to
pay heavy interest for the money. He be-
lieved the more you put on the land, the bet
ter it paid.
Some diversity of opinion existed as to the
kind of bone dust that gave the best results
The members generally believed that the
pounded bone was the purcst, inasmuch as
in it foreign substances could more easily be
detected than in fine bone dust
Mr. Barnes, Mr.. Gorrel and others thought
the coarse bone preferable; that it contained
enough fine bone for the first crop, while the
larger particles acted rs constant feeders TO
succeeding crops.
In regard to the best manner to use furti-
lizcrs, Mr.. Ball said that an experience of
twenty-five years convinced him that the
best results were obtained from top-drcssing
grass lands with fertilizers of any kind seve-
raj years before blowing for q crop.
The experience of members in the use of
lime was also given the prevailing opinion
being that it should be applied in the finest
possible state. Mr. Ball thought that not
more than % or 30 bushels per acre should
be applied at one time.
Mr. s. M. Lee believed that the land could
only assimilate certain quantity each year,
and all in excess of that would be waste
MI Nelson took substantially the same
view as Mr. Lee. He thought the reason
lime failed to show any good results, after a
certain quantity had been applied was be-
cause it had exhausted all those substances in
the soil for which it had an affinity and to
make the superfluous lime active, something
besides should be applied. He thought that
before applying any fertilizer, farmers should
ascertain what the soil required for the crop
to be raised, and apply that fertilizer that
could best supply the want.
Pending the bone dust question dinner
was announced, the table groaning with
Highland" profusion. No diversity of opin.
iVh Shho'SV ~ iSSdit w thS CASCuCllCC vi VIC
viands, and after vigorous attack, each guest
was constrained to cry Hold, enoughp
After dinner the benefits of plaster were
discussed The President and Mr.. Willis
thought that when sprinkled upon the leaves
of plant, or in proximity to it, it absorbed a
quantity of the free ammonia always existing
in the air, arising from barn yards, &c, and
this ammonia, that would otherwise have
been lost, quickened vegetable growth.
Mr.. Munnikhuysen mentioned the fact of
some damson trees that blossomed but never
bore fruit, upon the blossoms of which plas.
ter had been sprinkled, the result being full
crop of perfect fruit.
The conclusion arrived at being that bone
dust was the best fertilizer to use, commit
tee was appointed to obtain samples from re-
liable dealers, and ascertain at what price
they would furnish to the Club from 80 to
100 tons.
The premium chrome, offered TO the men,
bor who raised the most corn on seven acres,
was unanimously awarded to Mr. John
Barnes, whose crop was nearly twenty bar
rels to the acre.
The Club then adjourned to meet on Sat-
urday, December 9th, on the premises of Mr.
II. John Rogers