The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-09-12
Meeting Of the EarMers' .7ssOefatton.
Reported for the True Northernsr.

Meeting Of the Farmess' .assOcfatten.
Reported for the True Northernsr.
The Farmers Association OF Antwerp and
Paw Paw met on the 4th inst, at the residence
OF President Bale for their second regular
meeting. About twenty-five OF the members
were present, the hurrying season OF the year
keeping several busy At home making prepare
tioos for the fall seeding.
Before making tour OF the farm, Mr.. Bale
made statement OF his method OF farming
aud what were his leading products lie showed
the plat OF his farm with five years rotation
laid our, including grain, pasture and meadow.
First sod for corn and wheat; corn stubble to
oats or rye, aud seed; wheat on sod and seed
de sometimes seeds In corn and summer fall
lows next year, turning under the clover. He
aims to seed with every crop except corn. His
stock ha ranks as follows as to profit: sheep,
cattle and hogs.
With this outline Of his plan before them
the members, under thegguidance OF Mr.. Bale,
began the inspection OF the fields. The first
under consideration was . field OF twenty
eight acres, from half OF which a crop OF oats
had been taken and from tho other half rye
and seeded when the crop was sown. The half
from which the oats were taken WAS badly killed
by the drouth, resulting in . thin stand OF
clover, but on the half where the rye grew
very respectable stand was left. Mr.. Bale re-
quested the advice OF the members as to the
better plan OF procedure, his rotation requir-
ing the field to be next used for meadow. The
majority Of tho members advising to harrow in
more clover at once ON the thin half and let
the balance remain as it was. One or two were
in favor OF sowing two pounds OF timothy seed
to the acre, and trusting to the action OF the
elements to work it in. This plan would not
disturb any clover plants that bad 4 feeble hold
OF life. Mr. Bale had thought Of allowing the
clover to grow until May and then turning 1t
under and plant to corn and seed IN the corn.
The next was field OF corn. This had bee
sown to clover the last OF July and left on the
ground without cultivating in,-the ground be-
ing freshly stirred before the clover was sown,
IT was now coming up finely. The members
attributed this to the fact that the seed lay I'M
covered, whereas had it been cultivated and
lay under ground it would have matted aud
never terminated, This field OF corn was very
free from weeds and had not seemed to have
suffered very badly from the drouth. The
| g. A L.
crop to be cut up Immediately or let it remain,
was discussed somewhat and the decision
reached that as many OF the ears wers yet
immature it better stand week, As the fodder
was not likely to dry any more In that time and
the corn would be heavier.
The next thing under discussion was the
stock and barns. The convenience Of the
barns for stablng and feeding stock was re-
marked and highly spoken Of by all. The cross
blood between the Ayrshire and Durham was
criticised somewhat, but Mr.. Bale showed some
good calves OF that cross, but has not tested It
long enough to determine the merits of cows
for milk or steers for fattening purposes.
The next topic for discussion was spread up
on long table in the dinDg-room. Although
Mr.. Bale knew the limit fixed by the commit
tee on table arrangements, he exceeded the
limits OF the rule in almost every PARTICULAR
He excused himself on the plea that the rule
was not adopted until the present meeting,
and was not in force until its adoption
The next meeting will be held ii the farm OF
Samuel Consalus, the first Thursday IN Deem
Der. The special topic for discussion will be
" Feeding, care and management Of stock In
winter" G.