Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1876-01-21
Annual Meeting of Farmers Clubs.

Was large, there being nearly one huhureu
farmers present Joseph 7. Moore, master Of
the Stale Grange, Patrons Of Husbandry,
being among the number. The officers o! the
convention were Henry c. Hallowell, Presi-
dert; Chas Albert, Daniel w. Gather, WAL
ter NJ Talbot, Dr. Francis Thomas and Louis
H. Duvall, vice-presidents, and Granville
Farquhar and Charles Il. Kirk, secretaries.
Mr.. Hallowell, in calling the convention to
order, made II brief address, in which he spoke
OF the present year as one of peculiar interest,
being he centennial of agriculture. lie made
reference TO the agricultural tools of the day
and those one hundred years ago. when the
sickle, cradle, reaper or pillow as we know them
now, were unknown The object of the con-
venlion was, he said, 10 keep the ball rolling
and preparing for the future. lie desired
that all present should take part in the pro-
ceedings He was OF the opinion that those
who talk the least know the most, but he
would not say that those who know the least
talk the most, as others had remarked. The
real reason TO- these meetings was to yield up
their surplus of knowledge 50 that Others
would be benefited
The committee on the laundry, appointed
last year, Messrs B. Rush Roberts aud Col. L.
| p Thomas, reported that owing to the ex-
pense attending the establishing laundry
they decided it not hest 10 do so at present.
The committee on dairies reported that the
excess was 10 the yield last year, but the de-
crease was in the prices.
Mr.. VIM II Farquhar, the secretary Of the
| Farmers Club, which was organized thirty
two years ago, reported that the average al
| tendance at the meet ings of the club last year
was very good that the average age of the
members was 81, and the average weight 100
pounds. Among the results they found that
the average rental value per acre of land in
this county was So per anuum. They recon-
mend a repeal of the law giving bounty for
hawk heads. In relation TO the question as
TO The best means Of getting rid OF visits from
neighhors cbickens he said that while some
recommended moral suasion, Others powder
and shot, he thought the best thing to get rid
of the nuisance was TO read the Beecher trial
to their owners.
Mr. james s. Hallowell stated that he had
met with remarkable success in feeding boiled
pumpkins TO his pigs. Other members cor
roboratcd this, and recommended il for gener-
al use in feeding
Mr.. E P. Thomas, secretary of the Enter
| prise Club, - made an interesting report. lie
said that the club had found that load Of
good manure was worth -four dollars on a
farm. The year had been one of great pros
perity to he cl1b.
Mr. Charles F. Kirk, secretary of the Mont
| gomery Club, read report from the club,
strongly indorsing the organization ola dairy
man 5 association. In reply 10 Il question,
eff raising peaches paid ~ he answered.
ayes, peaches pay, if you have only one good
bear in four years"
DR.. Thomas. in answer TO a question, stated
that he had recently planted a number Of To-
Gust trees for posts, which had been sent him
from Loudonn county, Va, bat locust trees
which grow in the soil of his section will moi
last ms long as if they had been grown in good
soil. He said he had losust posts that
had been in use fer twenty years.
Mr. Il }. Hall spoke of some locust posts
that bad grown near Rockville that have been
in use for over forty years.
Other members stated that they had recent
" planted from one hundred to four hundred
each, aud that they were growing very finely.
The general opinion seemed to be that locusts
grown in this county were as good as those
grown elsewhere.
Mr.. B. d Palmer said that he planted some
locust posts about twelve years since (a-yel-
low locust, however, and that they had al
ready rotted off
The discussion of the set questions then be-
gan. The first question in order was Should
old orchards be cultivated ~
Messrs. b. r Roberts, Slahler, Brooke,
Bowie, Palmer and Dr. Mngruder engaged in
ed TO be mat II orchards are cultivated IL must
be continued every year, but that after trees
are ten or twelve years old hogs are The best
cultivators. Many OF the speakers stated thai
they tonnd that lime was very good TO Keep
orchards IN condition. Mr. Roberts inciden-
tally remarked that ashes placed about the
base OF trees If applied yearly will keep away
bore:s, and that it was necessary to Keep al
grass away from the roofs AS a general ihlng,
| = N fnt.g ~ Mt
vote taken Mt the close Of the discussion
showed however, that all were opposed to
cultivating orchards.
The next question; is it profitable to
crush the cob with corn for food 2 was then
something 10 say upon the subject. among
them number who had for years fed on cob
meal and own crnshers The experience Of
most all was that the cob did not do my harm,
and in ell probability did some good. Nc
conclusion was reached upon the question
The next question: rWill it pay to cut
fodder in a cutting box for feeding?" was
very generally discussed and decided in the
affirmative
The remaining questions 'sDoes 1t paw 10
raise colts ~ GLOW can we increase the guam
inv of homemade natures ~ and "Buving
clover hav and mill feed at the same price. in
what proportions should they be ted ~ gave
rise to a very interesting debate but no de.
cided vote was reached.
1t was voted that il was deemed advisable
TO use oil-cake in feeding in miIch cows and
in fattening cattle and sheep.
Owing to the laleness o. the hour the oues-
ton rs to ''What change, if any. should be
introduced in the management of the Aorl-
cultural College TO make il of more benefit to
the farmers of the State?n This question
awakened Il most animated discussion, the al