The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1877-06-01
Deer Creek Farmers, Club.


were present Messrs. Webster PRESIDENT Bay
less (Secretary,) Glasgow, Moores, Rogers.
Archer, Gorrell, Janney, Silver, Munnikhuysen,
Lochary, w. ID. Lee, James Lee, Willis, Allen
and Hays-Actiye members; aud Messrs. Fin.
ney Galbreath, George Wilson, Hosea Barnes,
John Barnes, R. B. Mccoy, Dr. James NJ
Magraw, Edward Hall, George II. Gorrell.
George j. Finney, VIM. II. Dallam, Ohio s. Lee,
VIM. F. Hays, s. NJ. Lee and F. w. Baker
Honorary members and visitors.
The Committee of Inspection, consisting of
Messrs. Silver, Jas. Lee and Lochary, made II very
favorable report concerning the condition and
management of the farm. The clover and oats
they regarded as particularly iine-the latter as
good as Hartford county can produce. The
cattle were thriving and healthy, and among
seine fine calves was one sired by Messrs Archer
and Lees Short Horn bull which shows through
out the distinctive marks of this breed of
cattle. Some half Essex and Berkshire pips
also attracted the attention of the committee
and received especial communication. The com,
nittec thought mistake had been made in not
spreading the straw from Mr.. Gasgow's large
crop of wheat, but ii was explained that the
reason the straw was not spread was that the
held Is intended to be moved this season. AL.
together the committee thought the farm showed
neatness, thrift and good judgment on the part
OF its proprietor:
Mr.. Moores remarked that the committee had
omitted very interesting item in relation to
the place. The house where the club was as
sembled was the oldest one in Hartford county
having been built at least 200 years 1t was
erected originally as Roman Catholic mission
church, and being the residence of priests. IL
gave the present name to the fordng over Deer
Creek. near by, namely, "Priestford" The
house is one-story in height, situated on lofty
hill, and commands view of the picturesque
and highly improved country, for miles around
The walls, which are two feet in thickness. were
built partly of stone and partly of brick, not a
particle of lime or sand having been used, but
IN ht,il nat al hnt III
cemented together with mud. Lime and sand
were not used here for building purposes until
100 years after this house was built Notwith.
standing its great age, not a crack is to be seen
in the walls which look as though they might
weather the storms for hundred wears to come
1t is a tradition of the ncighborhood that one of
the old residents, priest, was buried under the
front porch, but Mr. Glasgow stated that he had
been Informed that the remains were subse
quently taken up and re-interrcd at the Hickory
An old grave yard still exists on the place.
The subject discussed was as follows: Should
any more timber land be cleared for FARMING
purposes in this section?
Mr.. Glasgow remarked that he would not like
to clear up any more woodland, while that
already cleared would bear more Improvement
IL has been held that the summit of good farm.
ing is reached when land can be made to fatten
one bullock to the acre. He would like to 90
beyond this, and make our lands good enough 10
fatten two bullocks per acre, rather than clear
more land. If there was no woodland on farm
it would pay TO plant chestnut and locust, If
farmer had very little land under cultivation if
might pay to clear woodland, not otherwise
Major Dallam agreed with Mr.. Glasgow bnt
in addition to fattening two steers to the acre
he would like to see his land produce 20 barrels of
corn TO the acre. Besides it is wel-establisbed
fact that the rainfall of region is greatly de-
pendent upon the forests, and he though it dan
gerous to clear away too much of the woodland
Mr.. Rogers expressed his agreement with the
views Of Messrs. Glasgow and Dallam. Very
little woodland, he thought, would under any
circumstances pay for clearing. The most of
that now uncleared is rough and stony, The
smooth land having been first cleared. The
trouble with farmers is that they want too much
land. 1t is better TO improve what they have.
Mr.. D.. NJ. Lee said that the ACCESSIBILITY of
clearing land would depend upon the character
of the land, timber, &c. If it is necessary To
have the influence offorcsts to secure rainfall we
had better not clear off too much of the woods
1t is argued strongly that clearing off woods
diminishes rainfall or brings it in showers, but
he looked upon 1t as matter of convenience
and profit in this region. Much of our land
when cleared will bring good crops of grass
without fertilizers. If the land is rough and
unfit for cultivation, let it grow in timber.
Mr.. Allen stated that he had recently cleared
II acres, which brought him $1,000 gross, from
the sale of oak bark, wheelwright stuff, &c
Unless 1t is necessary to retain the woods TO
further rainfall, lie would say clear il. The
point is, however, debateablc one He argued
that forests had not the effect ascribed to them
and said that if the evaporation from them pro-
duced rain, why is there not constant fall of
rain upon the ocean, where evaporation is mn.
ceasng? Scotland is q treless region. but does
not suffer from droughts.
Mr. Janney did not think we have here TOO mucb
woods for the protection of streams and to nrr
vent hoods. IL Is held by scientists that forests
have marked effect upon rainfall In Apiers
the French government has planted forest, and
the rainfall is three times as great as Formerly
In Germany the destruction Of forests has made
some portions of the country barren. A bounty
is offered in our own Western States for Mani.
ing trees. He thought, nevertheless, that if n
man has too much woodland, he might save
taxes by clearing and cultivating it, as the tax
upon wood land is not in proportion to that up.
on cleared land.
Mr.. John Barnes said few farms in this
county will admit Of cutting away much more
timber. certain amount Of timber is necessa.
ny on every farm. There is sufficient cleared
land already, as general thing When that ia
improved as it might be, more land might be
cleared.
Mr.. o. s. Lee was in favor of forests from tbe
fact that he pays S4a cord for oak wood and has
no shade around his house. In buying farm
ninety-ninc men out of every hundred first ask
to see timber. He argued that it does not paw
to clear W Woodland, when the cost of clearing and
cultivation is considered
land cleared, and had better 90 10 work and i'm.
prove what we have. He thought some of his
friends who had little or no woodland, reminded
him of the fable of the fox who had his tail chi
off, and wanted his brother foxes to 90 and do
likewise. He admitted that coal is cIeaper 10
burn, when timber is needed for other PURPOSES,
Mr. Hall said his notion was that it is better
to make two spears of grass grow where one
grew before, and until we get our land to pro.
duce all 1t will, we ought to let the trees stand.
He did not believe that planting trees assisted
the rainfall and said that in California they have
been growing trees ever since 1852, and now
that country is suffering from severe drought.
Mr.. Galbreath said there was within five miles
of the place where the club was assembled clear
ed land which had better be turned back to
forest, for any good 1t is. 1t is wearing out hu
manity to cultivate it. Enough and too much
rough land Is already cleared. He believed that
woodland affects the fall of RAIN as the ground in
the woods will hold water longer and there is
more evaporation from the woods than from
cleared land Thought timber should be cut when
ripe, and allowed to grow again,
Mr.. Gorrell.-Where we have land suitable 10
work after clearing, 1t should be cleared. par
ticu'ary If we need timber. If we cut down
the trees and take little time land will clear
itself; A man had better go to bed than to un-
dertake to grub woodland. You can set the land
in grass without blowing, and your cattle will
clear it for you.
Mr.. Bayless said he would rather clear up land
where it can be cultivated, as it will pay more
from cultivation than in timber
Mr.. Archer would not advise any one who
wanted few acres to get woodland and clear II |
oil, but If man had farm and wanted more |
land to cultivate he ought to clear up woodland |
His theory is not to make two blades of grass |
grow where one grew, but to make one grow |
where none grew before. His farm of 1870 acres !
has upon it a few acres of wood, but he does not |
want any more woodland, when he can buy coal |
at S3 ton. When man can clear up land and |
improve it, it is better than to buy cleared land |
at sxorbitant prices
Mr.. Hosea Barnes was of the opinion that we |
have too much cleared land already. What we
already have could be made TO produce double, |
II all the land in the county were his, he would |
cut no woods down, but would rather have tim.
bered wood land instead of old fields. Would
rather bring up the won-out land than to clear