The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1877-02-02

Publishers.
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Dear Creek larmer' Club.
This club met last Saturday, at the residence
Of s. Martin Bayless. Present Messrs. Ball
president Silver, (Secretary,) Baylcss, Loeb
airy, Barnes, James Lee, Rogers, Moores. Mum
nikhuysen, Glasgow, Willis, Archer, Webster
and Allen, of the active members, and Messrs
s. W. Raymond, II F. Hanna, Benjamin Silver
Thomas Webster, A. T. Patterson, VIM. Easter
Albert Silver, VIM. Silver, George and Robert
Hopkins, visitors.
had consulted counsel, and found there was n
local law in the code which provided that
tlamps could be arrested, and Sent to the Aims
house and put TO hard labor Tor three months
The committee on The inspection of the farm
and buildings, consisting Of Messrs Glasgow,
Jas. Lee and Munnikhuysen, reported that they
found everything in good order. The barn-yard
large and dry, and they were especially pleased
with the appearance of pair of fine large oxen,
which had been futtened on straw alone.
The question discussed was, Do cereals or
root crops deteriOrate from successive cultva-
ton on the same land 2"
Mr., Benz. Silycr's experience was that both
the land and the crop delerioratrd He instan
ced the old White Mercer potato, which when
first introduced and for a few years, produced
abundant crops Of exceedingly fine potatoes
After cultivaling them number of years they
deeriorated both in quantity and in quality,
until finally they were not worth planning. lie
was satisfied, also, hat wheat dcteriOrutcd.-
Many years ago the White Blue Stem wheat was
very popular, but like the Mercer potato, il
deteriurn ed until he lost money by planting it,.
He acknowledged that lie had grown potat' es
in Iii garden year after year, and saw no differ
ence in the yield, bu this he attributed to the
large amount of manure used, by which the
ground was kept supplied with such elements
rs the potato required.
Mr. Ball read an article on Wheat, which as
serted thai lhis~cereal was developed by cult
walton from species of grass. Mr. Ball argued
that if wheat could, by good cultivation, be
produced from This grass il might also, under
bad cultivation 20 back TO it,
Mr. Albert Silver believed both cereal and
root crops deteroratcd under the condition
named
Mr.. Faster also thought they detcriorated
materially. The remedy is change of seed from
one farm 20 another
Mr. Willis said his experience was that root
crops will deleriOrate and run out. BY supply
ing the soil with such elements as The potato
requires, you may prevent them from running
out. fUu can only keep up the vitality of
plants by hybridization, or crossing. The same
rule holds good in plant as in animal life
Corn was kept from deterioration by the pollen
from one field being carried To another
Mr.. Archer agreed with Mr.. Willis that if YOU
restore the clements 10 the soil which root
crops, &C., take away, they wilnot deteriorate.
the soil successive cultivation on the same land
would not cause hem 10 deterorate. He men
tl"ned the hard flint corn, which, lie said, had
been planted on his fathers farm with success
for many years.
Mr. Lochary said he had sowed the same Red
Mediterranean Wheat for six years, and raised
more to the acre the sixth year than in any pre-
vious year. Has been planting the same corn
for eight years ana can not perceive that 1t is
deteriorating.
ed to deteriorate might be because the ground
was growil e poorer.
Mr.. Webster said he believed potatoes dctcro-
rated. He remembered the Mercer, when You
could raise 300 bushels to the acre, and now
by the same cultivation and same manure you
can not raise so bushels to the acre. He had
tried getting seed from his neghbors, but the
result was the same. He believed seeds detcro-
rated from cultivation on the same soil, but if
farmer carefully selected the earliest and best
mutured ears of corn, &c, he might keep up
the quality of the grain He has known corn
raised OH the same place for many years and i;
did not deteriorute.
Mr.. Ball said he had twice known fields sown
with wheat and when it grew ninety-ninc hun
dredths of the growth was cheat he did not
say, however, that wheat turns TO cheat.
Mr.. Allen said he had known a twenty-acrc
field sowed with wheat, and nothing came up
but cheat He did not believe however, seeds
deteriorated. 1t would he said, be an imputa-
ton upon Divine providence, and if the theory
were true, mankind would starve to death. lie
instanced the delta of the Nile, where wheat
was raised 5000 years ago and still large crops
are raised there. The fertility is kept up and
the crops are as large as when man first farmed
there His garden had been producing the same
kinds of vegetables for 100 years and was as
productive to-day as ever. He thought seeds
might deterorate by not keeping up the ierti-
lily of the soil.
Mr.. VIM. Silver agreed with Messrs. Benjamin
Silver and Webster
Mr.. Moores said he did not think seeds deterio-
rated, but by good cultivation would improve.
On his fail Rcd Mediterranean wheat had been
sown for thirty Years and il was steadily i'm
proving. When first introduced il was second
or third grade wheat but was now cassed as
amber wheat, and brought the highest price
The same variety Of oats had been suwed on his
place for 40 years, and the next to the last crop
Of 1t the best he ever raised, being so bushe
TO the acre. He had seen field III Virginia on
which wheat had been raised THU teen years in
succession, and The 18th crop was tue best
No manure had been applied, and the seed had
never been changed. He thoughl farmers ought
always 10 be sure of sowing good seed. He
thought potatoes mi CHI deteriurate on the same
ground, although he had planted the same varie-
~ on the same ground six years in succession,
and the first and last crops were the best.
Mr.. Munlhkhuysen thought both the ground
and the seed dcleriurated. Farmers should
change their seed. He had pi &C of wheat
around his buildings. where turkey and chick
ems used and cheat came up instead of WHEAT
He believed cheat came from wheat. Corn de-
teriorates less than any other plant we have, be-
cause we have greater advantage in selecting
seed. He changes his seed wheat every three or
four years aud his corn also every few years.
Mr. Raymond's experience is that corn de.
teriorates very rapidly. Some years ago he
bought some very fine seed corn and planted
il year in and year out. AT first it had a very
small cob, but the cob enlarged nearly onchalf.
1t is best to change every few years.
MI. Patterson thought deterioration would
take place, and it is better TO change seed and
change ii on different soil
Mr. Rogers thought that where we have a
variety of corn or wheat adapted to the climate
We should stick TO it. He had his doubts about
the deterioration OF seeds where we are careful
in selecting seed
Mr. Glasgow's habit is TO change his seed OF
all kinds every few years. The last time he had
sowed red chaff wheat punches of sedge CANT
up all over the field, here there was nout
before. Ii was suggested that sedge was natura
70 the land
Adjourned to meet at the residence of Mr.
John Moores, February 24th. The question APP
pointed for discussion is: "Does the prof
on sheep and hogs pay for the increased fencing
required?"