The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1874-04-18
LOCAL MATTERS.

GuSPowDER AGRICULTURAL CLUB MEETING
The Secretary of the Club has kindly furnished
us with the following:
The proceedings OF recent meeting of the
Gunpowder Agricultural Club contain some
points which may be of general interest and
which, with your permission, are herewith pre-
scented to your readers
SOWING GRASS SEEDS BY HORSEPOWER.
Mr.. Underhill of Baltimore agent for the
Bcktord Huffman grain drill, exhibited a
patent horse rake, with seed -sower attachment.
1t seemed to distribute the seed with accuracy
and regularity, the teeth playing at the same
time and acting as light harrow. 1t is be-
yond doubt more reliable and certain distrib.
utor than the hand method. and is also less
laborious. AS rake proper the machine saves
the EN- ployment of full hand inasmuch as a
slight pressure of the foot puts a self-discharge
gearing into action so that any boy who can
manage horse can with ease operate the ma
chine.
LINE sPRtADER.
Edward H. Matthews, who has been using
the Thornburg McGinnis lime spreader, a
new machine OF great promise but brief history,
stated that he was much pleased with its work
1t is a decided improvement on the time honor
ed shovel plan. The lime should be in a fine,
dry, perfectly air-slacked condition for success
full spreading. When in this state the spreader
performs TO perfection, sending down the lime
as evenly and regularly as snow falling on
calm dav. He had, however, spread unslacked
dry lime with entire success. Dryness is essen
tial-damp or wet lime clogs the distributing
aperture. He found the machine hard on the
wheel horses on rough plowed ground, though
on narrowed it did better. The hopper screen
should be made of heavier wire, nor are the
cogs of the feed board fine enough for satisfac-
tory or precise adjustment. "a member stated
that in the latest make this objection had been
remoVedO
COMMITTEES.
The machinery committee gave notice that Il
trial of corn drills is arranged for the next
meeting (at j. D. Matthews, April 25th, inst.,)
including the Blcktord & Huffman grain drill
which lays claim to excellence likewise in this
line.
Prize corn acre committee announced regula-
tions for the government of the contest the ap
proaching season. Prize $50. Yield must ex
coed twenty five barrels.
John D. Matthews offered an additional prize
of S25 to each member to the number of Fl We
who shall secure yield exceeding thirty
barrels.
LIBERAL OFFER FROM A MANUFACTURER OF PER
TILIZER.
The Secretary read letter from the widely
known manufacturers Of the "Vegetator," w.
Whitelock Il Co., of Baltimore, proposing COM
petitive test of commercial marures, of which
the following extract contains the gist:
THAT your society shall at an early day APP
point committee, who, with the consent of the
respective manufacturers, shall quietly secure
in open market one ton of each kind of concen-
trated manures, the bill for the same to be paid
by the manufacturers of the article. After the
manures shall have been analysed by a compe-
tent chemist they are to be carefully weighed
to ascertain the loss and equal portion of
each kind shall be distributed among not less
than five members of your Club to apply the
same side by side on various crops, and the re-
suit shall be published in the columns of the
A 1nericaa Farmer
"We attach to our proposal the two condi-
tions that at least six manufacturers shall agree
to these terms, and that the manures shall be
secured in such manner as one may be en-
abled to prepare a special article for the occa-
sion"
This communication was referred to the Com
mittee on Fertilizers, with instructions to report
at the next meeting