The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1875-05-21
Deer Greek Farmers, Club.

The regular monthly meeting Of the Deer
Creek Farmers Club took place at the resi-
dence of Mr.. Henry S. Gorrell, on Saturday,
May 18th. The following gentlemen were pres.
ent: Messrs. Moores, President; Hays, Secre-
tary; Gorrell Willis, s. NJ. Lee, Parker Gl0s-
gov, James Lee, Ball, William d. Lee, Mum
nikhuysen, Glasgow, Lochary, Ridout, Webster,
Silver, Archer, Reeve, Allen, Wilson and sever
al invited guests.
An inspection Of the premises was made By
the members, who expressed satisfaction at the
commodious and we'll arranged buildings for
the accommodation of stock. Mr. Gorrcll uses
mules as farm stock, in preference to horses :;
and under his management they have lost their
well earned name for stubbornness, those he
has having by gentle usage become perfectly
quiet and docile. Upon reaching his large plat
form scales for weighing cattle, &C., the sug-
gestion was made that the club should be
weighed, when it transpired that there was
present about legal ton of live Hartford coun-
ty bone and sincw-the heaviest member trip
ping the beam at 220.
The regular proceedings were opened by the
Secretary reading culogy on the "Mue," by
one of the members in which the particular
hobby of each member was pleasantly
alluded to, although very little was said upon
the subject of mules.
The question for discussion was: Does it pay
to feed grain to cattle, if you can make $50 per
head without?
Mr.. Gorrell being call upon, said he did not
think he would feed grain to cattle, if he could
realize $50 per head advance without it. 1t
pays better, in his estimation, to winter them
on straw and fodder and fatten them on grass
More can be made in that way than by feeding
them TO be sold in January.
Mr. James Lee supported the affirmative side
of the question. He does not sell any corn, but
feeds it all to cattle in the stable If he raised
500 barrels would still do so if he had stable
room for them. Inc manure from cattle fed in
the stable is the best.
s,I .l,,,,l
or not TO feed corn to cattle. Had usually got
ten an average of $50 advance per head on cal
tie wintered on rough straw and fodder. Last
year had sold his corn for 90 cents bushrl.
Would it have paid better TO have fed il TO his
cattle?
Mr.. Parker thought it would pay TO feed
grain if it was ground.
Mr.. Munnikhuysen's opinion was that it
would pay. Would like to feed all he could
raise.
Mr.. Willis said he had had but little expert.
encc, but thought feeding cattle on grain would
pay, Judging from his observation Of some cat
tie iattened by Mr.. Barnes.
Mr.. Hays was rather in favor of feeding some
grain. He does not like to see cattle looking
badly in winter.
Mr.. Archer argued that our farms could moi
be brought TO high state of productiveness
without stable manure; and the only way to
obtain 1t was by feeding cattle. Last year his
cattle weighed |, 900 lbs. when he bought them
in the fall previous, and when they went away
on the LIST of July, they averaged ,4G5 lbs each.
Had bought corn, paying $3.50 per barrel for
it, His cattle did not eat half as much rough
feed during the winter. Besides the gain in
weight, he realized IA cents per pound over
the price the cattle cost him.
Mr.. Silver believed in feeding cattle. Last
year was his first trial. He fed one bushel of
corn per month to each steer. 1t made them
shed their coats sooner and weigh heavier. In
his Judgment the moro you put into them the
more you can get out of them.
Mr. Webster thought much depended upon
the kind of cattle bought. To good, clean cat
tie he would not feed over pint of meal day.
If he could keep steer in good condition with
out grain, he would not feed it. Does not lay
so much stress upon the value of the manure
as Mr.. Archer does. His cattle average him
from S2S to $50 head without feeding them
grain.
Mr.. Ridout had no experience with cattle, but
thought something depended upon the ncreas-
ed value of the manure from cattle fed on grain
Would like TO hear the matter discussed.
Mr.. Lochary has fed so little grain to his cat
tie that he was not able to make comparison
from his own experience. He thought, how.
ever, that when man intended TO feed his corn
crop to his cattle he ought to know how to buy
and sell and the corn should only be fed to
good cattle, His cattle had gained when win
tered on hay and straw, without any grain.
Mr.. Reeve thought great deal depended upon
circumstances. IL man could make q good
thing with his cattle without grain, he could do
better by feeding them grain; but it depended
upon the skill and judgment of the person HIM
self He favored feeding grain.
Mr. s. M. Lee favored feeding grain. Would
feed so as to get them off in June or July. Two
items were to be considered namely getting
them off your pasture and the increased value
of their manure Regular care and attention
make great deal of difference in the profits.
Mr.. Ball believes it pays to feed grain, suffl-
clent, at least, to make them feel good. Had