Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-02-08
KENT COUNTY FARMERS.
Meeting Of the Farmers Club at Dover
Opinion OF the Members.

The Dover Delaparsdn has the following
report OF meeting Of the Farmers Club
OF Kent county;
On Saturday evening, January 25th,
about Z O'Clock, p. m, a number Of mem
beers Of the Farmers Club Of Kent county,
dropped Into their room, and, without any
formally deliberate manner, commenced
conversation on various topics, most of
which Is given below.
Mr.. Comegys was of opinion that blue
marsh-mud, mixed with lime, would prove
valuable fertilizer. II was mentioned
that James l.. Heverin said he could make
rs valuable fertilizer as could be bought
at s22 per ton.
An Instance was given of very fine corn
raised last wear that was planted the 18th
OF July. This person planted very late
every year aud Invariably had good corn.
Another instance was given of Chas.
Emory's corn, planted the 18th day Of
July, and II was a success.
The subject Of rolling wheat came up.
Mr.. Denrey thought that where there was
much freezing and thawing during the
winter, rolling was injurious. Mr.. Eccles
thought that rolling wheat IN the spring
was advantageous. Agreed to by the
members present.
The subject Of ploughing fallow came
up. II was Said by Messrs. Denney and
Comegys that land should he ploughed
early and then rolled that otherwise, the
sod not being racked, the roots of the
wheat sought often in vain for moisture.
Mr.. Denney thought wheat should be
sown not earlier than the last Of Septem.
Der or the first week in October. Mr..
| Comegys differed, and gave instances III
support Of his view. MIR. Denney gave
bis experience in favor OF his view, and
| said that difference Of three days sowing
made all tue difference in his crop; thai
the earliest sown was nearly all eaten NJ
by the fly. Mr.. Comegys gave the result
Of z. Postles' experience in sowing befori
and after a rain that that sown in a dry
time was eaten up by the ay that that
| sOwn lust after rain escaped. Mr.
Denney corroborated that by an experience
of his own.
Mr.. Comegys gave the result of the oh
servatioDs Of scientist that there ID M
more bad weather at the seasons of tn
vernal aud autumnal equinoxes than a
any other time.
MessTs. Comegys ard Dsnney agree,
that plow-brOken gt0und was better thai
that broken by a spade, and that II shOul'
never be broken except at such times whei
ii will crumbe.
MIR. Comegys reverted to the subject o
breaking fallow, saying that land shout
be narrowed as II is ploughed. in order l.
thoroughly pulyerize 1t. Mr.. Denney sal
that IL the land was In proper coalition 4
be ploughed that II would thorough
crumble, and that narrowing il the
would tear the clover roots out, whic
should be left to rot. Mr.. Comegys di
not mean to harrow so deeply. but that
should be lightly narrowed, aud spoke q
the excellence Of the Thomas harrow, an
gave description of il, saving Its teei
operated on the ground like pushing
rake, aud that Instead of pulling up th
clods il pulverzed them, or turned ther
under, where they would pulverize. TIL
advantages Of this harrow were dilate
upon to quite an extent. Mr.. COmegN
gave the result Of an experiment upon h
marsh. The ordinary harrow would NJ
operate upon the mat Of roots upon Il
marsh, but would tear up great masses
II. He therefore had constructed an II
strument for his purpose, of which
gave description, which operated vel
suct essfully. he remarked that Villa
5 Seward and Pleasonton Hamm had each
Thomas harrow.
Mr.. Eccles said he wanted no bett
chance for a wheat crop than turnir
G down clover sod in June and keeping
G clean. 1t needed no fertilizer. Mr.. Denn
e said that clover sod was very good {
l. wheat, but he preferred to put a stock iie
in wheat and SOW clover. Mr.. Comege
y thought there was no advantage in plo'
s ing deep for wheat. Mr.. Denney ditiere
although admitting that he had seen Il
e wheat by merely narrowing stock groun
y Mr.. Comegys hoped to hear the Cl
s. discuss the propriety Of letting out
roads on contract for series of years,
&c lieu Of the present system. His view wot
le be to have a road repaired at one time
then hire man to walk the road onci
70 week and check the tendency to get out
T, order at the ontset.
ID Mr.. Richardson gave Ills views of far
ing, deprecatlng the large sums eXpend
y for fertilizers, and thinking grazing mu
better.