Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-02-04
Reported for THE OXFORD DEMOCRAT.
Union Farmers Club.

The Club met at Grange Hall, South
Paris, Jan. 2Sd, 1879. The debate on
the question, What is the best method OF
rcnovatiog worn out farms9" was opened
by S. S. Smith, by saying that all our
farms were gradually detericrsting, and
unavoidably so. the raising Of crops from
the soil and selling them must necessarily
exhaust the fertility of the soil after a
time. He should treat the subject under
two heads, first, the cause, second, tho
remedy. The depicting process began by
raising and selling crops, but there are
other and not unavoidable causes OF the
deterioration of farms, and one very pro-
life one was the waste of manure by dogs
running about the streets with bones In
their mouths which ought TO be broken
up and made available as plant food, by
the waste of the drainage from the sink
spout, and from various sources which q
thinking man would stop and turn to good
account. Second, remedy, and first IN
taat direction he would recommend the
setting apart Of 4 portion of the farm Tor
forest growth. Many Of our farms have
been sadly injured by having the wood
stripped from them, and 20 return made
in any manner for the robbery. Turn
into pasture all land that cannot be thor
oughly cultivated; save all slops and
drainage by using them with muck ; keep
sheep, as they possess wonderful power
for renovsting worn out pastures. de
also recommended blowing In green crops,
OF which be thought clover to be best, and
next 70 it buckwheat. He believed the
frequent blowing and stirring Of land
added greatly to Its fertility; ne wou~d
therefore recommend summer following,
Mr. Smiths essay was a very able and
valuable enc, and from the notes we were
able to take at the time Of delivery We
can DO nothing IKE justice to u IN our re-
port.
Mr.. q. T. Hammond said that although
be believed fully in the idea that hay was
ne King of crops. yet We could not live
u.,on hay, therefore ne believed 1t to be
good policy TO raise such other crops a.
were required for food :or ourown families
Mr.. q. Thayer thought IN .Tenovating
worn out farms. two things were lndis-
pensable, brains and muscles. Mr.. Thayer
also recommended keeping sheep as a
good means Of keeping up the fertility Of
a farm.
Mr. Green said ne also believed IN
brains and muscle in renoyatlng worn cut
arms. but We want to DO it by paying
means. FIRST sit down and think what
YOU want to with a certain parcel you
want 10 recuperate, and what your -
sources are, and then 60 to work bad
execute.
NJ Holmes said he did not think he
could take al acre Of ground and raise q
crop every year aud keep it in heart /,
would recommend blowing IN green crops,
especially over
Col. SWEET thought our pastures were
becoming the most infey,i.e OF any por-
i;onoi our farms. Would not recommend
blowing but would cut down the bushes
aud briers and burn Jhem,sOw on grass seed
and harrow. Recommends sowing plas-
ter GA pastures, saw wonderful effects Of
il in Kenuebec County. Cautions people
agains, mixing lime in their manure at
any time. Related an instance Of mans
22tting ime in his hog yard, aud It not
only injured the manure, but nearly
spoiled the hogs They came out in sores
al over. and he said he lost seventy-fye
dollars by it.
Mr.. Persons said he had had some
experience in blowing in India wheat.
Had not been successful enough to con-
tiuue the practice. Did not think II
paid 10 use commercial fertilizers had
had tolerably good success in using Spar
hawk and Billiards. fertilizer sown broad
cast ; did not think it did as well in the
hill.
Several others spoke, Of which we
failed to take any notes. The attendance
was largar than usual, aud a very inter-
osting aad spirited discussion was kept up
TIL time for adjournment, and it was de-
cided to continue the same subject fQT the
next meeting, which will be holden at the
same place on Thursday, Feb. 9th, at one
o c.Ock P N.