The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1877-04-27

ton county, Va, he had never known pound
of commercial fertilizers to be used. The only
fertilizer used is plaster, which is found in the
county. The land contains limestone, that is
constantly decomposng, and keeping up the
fertility. Blue grass comes up spontaneously,
forming thick sod Other grasses will grow
but blue grass will take them all except orchard
grass. Cattle are grazed almost entirely They
can generally be wintered in the woods without
additional feed.
Mr.. s. NJ. Lee said if he started upon thin
piece Of land he would use some stimulating
fertilizer and light dressing of lime. After
cultvating the ground, if he succeeded in get
ting set of clover, would pasture about one
half off, then apply gypsum and pillow the clover
down the second year. Then sow in wheat and
clover. In the meantime would feed all that he
raised and return all manurcs to the soil by
spreading on the surface. When he first COM
menced farming the custom was general of
blowing all manurus down. When farmers
commenced to apply them to the surface they
got along Faster. Has seen few farms brought
TO high state of cultivation without feeding
cattle.
Mr.. Ridout said there was no trouble in this
section about getting grass, for cattle make
land rich, and he had noticed that grass seed
will always sprout and take quicker and better
on rich spots. AS to the best way TO begin he
thought you must apply fertilizers or winter
feed cattle. The nearer the SUI face YOU have
the manure the better.
Mr.. Barnes raises hay by using bone and ma
nure, the latter is the best. BY not pasturipg
can cut the same piece of land for six, eight and
sometimes ten years. The tenth year crop is
not so heavy, but better grass.
Mr.. Rogers thought on nearly every farm
some portions are better adapted to grazing
than anything else. Old sod 1t was his cxpe.
rence, will tatten more rapidly than new sod.
That portion of the land kept up alone would
have to be done by top dressing. Has always
used bone and the manure made on the place.
Some bone will act very promptly. The best
results he ever had was from Listers bone
The least from half a ton per acre of green bone,
hauled right from the mill. No one could ever
tell the difference between that and where he
only put 800 lbs. per acre.
Mr.. Willis said the best success he ever had
was by sowing timothy with wheat on the Goth
OF September and top dressing with barn-yard
manure. Had % bushels of whoa: to the acre
and the finest stand of timothy he ever saw -
lie believed it is good plan to top dress with
straw. Agrees with Mr. Lee that if you get a
good growth of clover and pillow it in you will
get land rich. Would use phosphate or bone
10 give the clover start; pasture ii some and
pillow it under. Would do that two or three
times.
Mr.. Lochary don't believe much in grazing
but keeps all the stock he can winter. Likes
to get as many kinds of grass as he can. The
older the sod the better Likes also a variety
of manures. No matter how rich ground is,
bone will DO it] good. In boning about an old
J :.
the ground left out was rich All the bone he
ever applied paid. Ii lasts for years.
Mr.. MUnnkhuyscn said the best way was to
commence with all the cattle that could be fed
on the land. Would use barn-yard manure as
well as all the fertilizers he could buy. His eX.
pcriencc was that it should he put on the surface.
Has never seen any difference whether the ma
nurc be put on frozen or on soft ground. Has
used fine manure on wheat but it would have
paid better to have waited and spread ii on grass.
tn,f
to brush. Does not burn that. 1t is a waste
Mr.. Moores, in reply to the question said if
the ground was in corn would SOW it in wheat
in the fall. The next year would SOW it again
i'll wheat and timothy seed using from 500 to
600 lbs. of bone each crop. In the spring would
give it light seeding of clover, say one bushel
to eight or ten acres. Would cut the first crop
of grass, when the weeds are in full bloom,
leaving it upon the ground, if not too heavy
| thereby destroying the rascaly weeds. The
| next year would top-dress with barn-yard ma
nure or straw, and if he did not have enough for
the purpose would make and use q compost of
salt, plaster, bonedust and rich earth, weltng it
with liquid from the barn-yard. He thought
too much importance was attached to green
grass sod. He had seen plenty that would not
fatten cattle. You could not cut enough on an
acre with a pair of shears to fill salt sack
| You must have he grass.
Mr. JAS. Lee would begin by wnter-feeding
cattle and not let them go on grass Would
buy rough feed and apply on the grass all the
| manure made on the farm. Thought no fertilizer
| equal to clover and plaster
Mr. Glasgow said he tried to take as much
| pains with one crop as another. Last year he
| plowcd under heavy clover sod for wheat, and
| believed his large crop was due to that as much
as anything else. Used on it salt, plaster, bone
dust and scrapings from the hen house. The
| clover was pastured until the time we usually
NOW clover; the stock was then turned Off
1t was plowed the last of July and sowed the
middle of September.
Mr. Wilis.-What is the best time to sow
timothy?
Mr. Moores,-Sow any time in September and
you will never fail.
Mr. Hays-ls it too late now to sow clover?
Mr.. Munnikhuysen said he knew an instance
where clover was sown on wheat just ready to
head, and he had never seen better stand of
clover.
In reply 10 another question by Mr.. Hays,
Mr.. S. NJ. Lee said bushcl of clover seed to the
acre was heavy sowing.
The regular discussion was resumed, and Mr.
Webster said he did not agree with the rest of
the members in regard to applying manures to
the surface without grass. He believed that from
all fine manures you had better result from SOW
ing on wheat after it is up and narrowing it in
Don't see how there can be as much loss us when
placed on sod. IIeapplies all the rough manure
on grass, but all fine manure on corn after the
first narrowing lie allows the manure to &C.
cumuate in the barn-yard, keeping it dry, and
turning it over to keep from heating. Another
great advantage in top dressing wheat is that it
protects grass seed from being thrown out in the
spring.
The following preamble and resolution were
adopted:
Whereas, it has pleased Almighty God to re-
move from our midst one of our most esteemed
and honored members, Godfrey Walters, after
life of long and patient suffering, leaving behind
him bright Christian example
ReSolOed, That by his death the Deer Creek
Farmers Club have lost the influence of no Or
binary mind but one filled with useful and prac-
tical knowledge; the poor have lost generous
benefactor, and the community at large one who,
while his health endured, was a pattern of
punctuality and faithfulness in every appointed
duty of life
ReSolVed, That while we deeply deplore his
loss, and mingle our tears of sympathy with
those Of his distressed relatives, we bow in
humble submission to the Father of all good,
who in His Infinite wisdom has seen proper TO
remove him from the scene of his sutferings on
earth to the eternal rest and joy of heaven.
ReSOlved, That a copy of this memorial of our
deceased friend and fellow member be transmit.
ted to his bereaved family, and be recorded
among the archives of our Club, in order that
the brightness Of his example may be rcmen-
bered by those who are to succeed us.
Adjourned to meet at Mr.. Geo r. Glasgow's,
on the Goth of May The subject for discussion
will be-Should any more timber land be clear
ed for farming purposes in this section?