The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1878-05-17
For the -Agis Dc Intellgencer.
A Visit to the Experimental Farm, of
Chester County, Pa,

Having had the pleasure of meeting the Farm
ers' CLUB OF Chester county, Pa, at the Expert
mental Farm, of Eastern Pennsylvania,
| thought 1t might be interesting to the farmers
of Hartford county to know of the proceedings
OF this club and the manner in which the Expert.
mental Farm Is managed.
Bymy little trip in Pennsylvania, am enabled
to conf are the beauty of Chester county with
that of Hartford; and while can say much for
the beautiful country through which passed,
still l returned home filled with admiration for
the surprising grandeur Of our own fertile coun.
ty:,,
The Experimental Farm consists of one hun
dred acres; is situated In Chester county, Pa,
and is managed by John /. Carter.
The State contributes to the support of this
farm, besides the proceeds received from the
farm, 1000.
Mr. Cart, seems to have everything we'll ar
ranged. Being by him kindly received, was
first invited to look at very fine selection of
ornamental trees, most forest trees. There were
in all some fifty different kinds, illustrating very
well how with little care and attention every
farmer could have his home surrounded by beau
tiful trees.
We next noticed an ice pond, which had lately
been built, and which was to be stocked with
fish. From thence we visited field of wheat,
which was laid of in sections of one-eghth of an
acre each. We noticed in one of these divisions
a kind of wheat sowed in rows, the rows being
two feet apart; the wheat sowed in them and
then covered. This piece had been worked once
see no difference. MIR. Carter said he thought
In the earlier part of the season it looked the
best.
We next visited the Grapery and Orchard
There were about 100 kinds of grapes and some
90 kinds of strawberries. Learned from neigh
Dor of the farm that last year there was sold
from 1t pears to the amount of $400, and tons of
grapes. 1t is Mr.. C's plan to keep the orchard
In cultivation, not to let it drift into permanent
grass or pasture. He crops it well, sows to
clover, lets it lay over two years, then plows
again; and thus constantly Keeps it in cultiva.
ton. Wealso noticed several kinds of oats and
barley.
1t is quite a difficult job to keep all of these
experiments separate. Every kind of wheat
must be cut, hauled, threshed and weighed
separately, and notes taken of all. Mr.. c. keeps
little very stock, few hogs and ten Jersey cows.
The season being little later with them than
with US, we found them blowing for corn.
MIR. q. thinks the experiments go to show that
it is best to sow the fertilizer on top of the
ground and pillow in; would not pillow over four
inches deep; is opposed to deep blowing, and for
corn would pillow sod ground as late as possible.
Arecord of all experiments are kept and handed
over to the Agricultural College.
At Is P. NJ. the Farmers Club was called to
order by the President, N. j. Sharpless. Mr.
Wood, who was appointed to discuss the ques-
tion:
sis it beneficial to pasture wheat?" said when
the plant IS of proper growth, he would not pas
ture, but when it is luxuriant, he would pas
ture, as he thinks the eating off would tend to
strengthen the stalk.
Mr.. VIM. Thome said he had some experience,
and thinks it is not In accordance with nature to
pasture wheat; that the trampling of stock is
more injurious than the benefit. If the
ground is very rich, he would SOW sparingly, in
order that the straw might have a chance to
strengthen. If sowed thick it would grow spin.
ding,
Mr.. Gawthrope would advise farmers to SOW
wheat of stiff straw, and let it go.
In reply to question as to which is the best
kind of corn for farmer to plant on corn
ground, Milton Conard said there was a differ.
ence in the eariness of season of corn. The
Large Gourd corn would require longer time
to mature. Would not plant an early corn, as
he thought the advantage in being early would
not pay in the lack or shortness of crops.
Mr.. Thome said he thought there was but little
difference in the kind Of corn, if the ground was
good. Does not like the eight-rowed corn for
this county, Chester county, Would rather
risk the common red cob corn. You must get
corn adapted to the latitude, as he wants a corn
which will require the entire teason to ripen.
A. Sharpess here read an essay on the sub.
ject: Does Superstition clog the wheels of
Sciencc|
He argued that the child at its mothers knee,
was amused by tales of fiction and of wtchcraft,
instead of stories of TRUTH and soon the child
has learned to believe in ghosts, hobgoblins and
other imaginary evils which never existed =
Thus it is that seed of superstition is sown, and
that the cause of great hindrance to the good
of the land originates After the reading of
the essay the meeting adjourned to field to try
some plows.
The Adamant pillow, sold by the N. Y. Pillow
Co., turned furrow 12inches wide and IA inches
deep, draft 425 pounds; the Advance Chilled,
Nos 10 and 20, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, turned
a furrow - inches wide and inches Deep draft
425 pounds; the Syracuse, N. Y, No 2, turned
furrow IL inches wide and inches Deep draft
1926 pounds; the Atwood, .. R., No. 8, turned
furrow IL inches wide 5 inches deep, draft 400
pounds; the Tyler & Conklin, No. s, left-hand,
turned furrow 13inches wide and inches deep,
draft 375 pounds.
There was on trial and exhibition two.horse
culivator, manufactured and sold by j. q. Bird,
Rising Sun, Cecil county, Md. The cultivator
worked six teeth, four of them stationary, two
being capable of being shifted SO as to avoid talk
ing up hill that might be out of place. Also
noticed Moving Machine, "The Champion I'm.
proved" on exhibition.
1t is customary for the ladies to meet at the
farm on club days and discuss their own affairs
The club adjourned to meet in May and spend
the day together. DEER CREEK.