The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1874-06-06
LOCAL MATTERS.

GUNPowDER AGRICULTURAL CLuB.-0n Satur-
day last we attended the regular meeting of the
Gunpowder Agricultural Club, at the residence
of Mr.. Alfred j. Gent, near Shawan. The meet
ing came to order by calling Mr.. John D. Mat
thews to the chair. The first business at every
meeting is the reading of the minutes of the last
previous meeting of the Club at the same place.
As Mr. Gent has become member within the
last year this was the first meeting held at his
place, consequently there were no proceedings
to be read. The next order of business was the
inspection of the premises, farming, stock, crops,
implements, &c. Mr.. Gent lives in capacious,
substantial stone house, pie and appropriate
surroundings, situated high enough to catch all
the breezes and commanding extended and in
teresIing views in every direction.
We were shown small patch of corn near
the barn that had been planted about ten days.
1t was up and looked healthy. The ground
was light and in good condition. The corn
was drilled along the row much too thick for
full growth, which was so intended in order
that there should be enough on the ground
after all thinning should be done. Mr.. Gent is
considering the propriety of putting this piece
of corn in competition for the prize offered by
the Club to all those who will raise thirty bar
reLs to the acre. In addition to the prize offered
by the Club John D. Matthews ooligates him
self 10 give S25 to each member winning the
prize. There are several members already in
the competing list though they have until mex t
meeting to decide whether they will or not.
Mr. Gent then showed us through his barn,
which is 60x42 feet, substantially built, with
stabling beneath for Thirty cows in stalls with
a passage in the middle. In these stalls we
saw twenty-eight cows that look healthy and
sleek. The stables were clearly, we'll drained
and so arranged that they warm in winter
and cool in summer. There is pump of water
in the middle of the passage way. Mr.. Gent is
engaged in the milk business and sends his
TO Pol fran No. liz
by N. c. R. R. Beyond the barn we saw thirty
acres of the best clover we have seen this sea
son. Its regularity was marvellous.
We were next taken to the dairy. This is a
stone building with an elevated trough, brick
and cement sides and marble floor. The trough
ntains eight inches of water and has a capacity
for one hundred and eighty gallons of milk
Adjoining the dairy is a wash-house OF about
the same dimensions. From this point we were
conducted to point where Adam H. Krout Of
Towsontown, had just completed the erection
of one of Spoons patent farm gates, where he
exhibited its operations and explained its util-
ity to the members of the Club. We believe
he sold number of rights for the patent.
From this point we returned to the house.
The proceedings of the last meeting, at the res
idence of John D. Matthews, were read, which
gave much interesting information on the best
manner of selecting seed corn, wheat, oats, po-
tatoes, &c. The proceedings stated that Mr..
same size and construction as one he had of
frame. Mr.. Matthews was requested to note
and report to the Club what difference it made
In keeping ice
At this juncture of the proceedings we were
invited to supper, where was spread before us
a repast every way inviting, convincing us that
our hostess is entirely mistress of the culinary
art. Each member convinced the others that
he fully appreciated the abundance. variety
and palatableness of the entertainment.
This ended, the programme for the evening
was continued by the reading of selected arti
cles from agricultural papers. Joshua M. Cor
such read an interesting article from the Amer
lean Farmer on the subject of Management of
Manure" chiefly devoted to the Importance of
saving liquid manure, which is almost alto
gether neglected with American farmers and
rigidly regarded by European farmers as the
vital point in saving manure. Thos. Gorsuch
then read from the same paper valuable arti-
Gle upon saving manure in the barn yard. An
interesting article from the Country Gentleman,
upon Cline as Manure" was read by A. c.
Scott. Edwin Scott had selected article
from the same paper upon "The Luxuries and
Profits of Farming" which, upon invitation of
Mr.. Scott, was read by B. Mclean Hardesty.-
1t was full of interesting thought, showing that
farmers enjoy many Injuries that are valued by
them as such and which city gentlemen cannot
enjoy without the outlay of large sums of
money. The luxuries of fresh fruit, vegetables,
cream and butter, carriages and horses and
others that the ordinary farmer does not prize
because he has never been deprived of them
and which cost him nothing-as he looks at
them-would cost city gentlemen several thous-
and dollars per annum.
The Club resolved to meet at one o'clock at
Joseph Bosley's, on 9th inst, to view the fer
tiizer field, containing eight acres and ten per-
ches of wheat which is divided into eight lots,
having as many different kinds of fertilizers
applied by way of experiment. D. Gorsuch
furnished night manure for one lot; Thos. H.
Matthews, Chicago manure; VIM. Whitelock,
Vegetator phosphate; Jos. T. Bosley, Edmund
son phosphate; Maryland Company, fertilizer; ;
Geo. Dugdale, fertilizer Mclean & Love, fer
tiizer; Peter Zell & Sons fertilizer.
From there they go to 7. T. Gorsuch's for the
regular meeting. The subject for discussion is,
ais it profitable to raise sheep in our locality p"
"What are the best breeds ?" "What is the best
way to take care of them?"
We were again invited to the refreshment
room where was spread bountiful entertain
ment Of ice cream, strawberries and cake which
did full credit to our generous host and hostess
and to which each member and guest did am
pie justice.
There were present as guests Thos. M. Scott,
Lewis Scott, Alfred Matthews, Jacob NJ. Pearce,
Lewis Griffith and James wainwright
>0>
1ITH DISTRICT 1TEMs.--A correspondent writes ::
"During the storm of Monday, 25th ult., whilst
Mr.. Richard Vincent, of this district, and two
of his men were in the green house an apple
tree some thirty feet from them was struck by