The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1879-09-05
Deer Creek Farmers Club.

An interesting meeting of the Deer Creek Farm
ers CLUB was held ut the residence of Thomas A.
present Mossrs. X. H. Archer, President; VIM. +.
Hays, Secretary; Thomas A. Hays, Lochary Geo.
f. Silver Webster, Rogers, Barnes, Jas. Lee, VIM.
A. NJ Fulford and l}all-active members and
Mcssrs Franklin Whitaker, DIR. Jas. NJ Magraw,
Henry Fulforl, Chas. l.. Dallam, ID. Il. Wilson and
+. w. Baker, honorary members and guests.
According to custom committee was appointed
TO examine and note the condition of the farm and
Webster, Rogers and VIM: f.. Hays, reported
through Mr.. Webster, that Mr. Hays farm implc-
ments were in tlrst-class order and well housed
The stock of all kinds looked remarkably well, the
hogs being pure-bred Berkshires, of Mr.. FulfOrls
herd. The barn and stables were conveniently
arranged and Mr.. Hays deserved credit for the
great Improvement he has made in the place. If
Mr. Hays continued ms he had commenced, in Il few
years his would be the model farm of the county.
In short, the committee saw nothing that could
properly be criticised, unless IL was that Mr. Hays
had too much machinery. Mr.. Hays made IN cx-
PLANTATION IN relation to the farm implements ON
the place which convinced the members that he
had no more than were necessary ON so large
farm.
TOP DRESsING-uOw AND WHEN?
The topic for the evening 5 discussion was Top
Dressing"
Mr.. Hays read an interesting article on the sub
ject from the tOnnt,y GentieHtdn and advocated
top-dressing as the best method of applying
manure. He thought it an excellent plan to top
dress mown fields, where the ground is not strong
and does not wash. August is II good time in
which To- spread manure. If he should top-drcss
moving fields he would harrow to break the humps
and distribute the manure more evenly The
mnlching AFFORDED by top-dressing he regarded ms
of great advantage. If it is intended to break up
II sod for corn it would be better to top-drcss two
manure in winter, he would not do it where the
land is billy, but would risk ii on level land He
had spread straw with good results.
Mr.. A. NJ. Fulford heartily approved Of top
dressing, and regard it us superior to the applica-
tion of manure plowed in. because tits in better
position to I've reached by the roots than when
Another rpp iSt g N hp
fact that il acts mulch to the roots of grass or
wheat, by retaining moisture longer and also Ivy
retaining the air around the blades of grass or
wheat in II calm condition, and thus facilitating
the absorption of the fertiliZing principle. Had
top-tlrcssed pasture land and also wheat with
stable and barn yard manure with decided benefit.
The best set of clover except that he ever saw
was derived from broadcasting stable droppings
across the worst places in his wheat The escaped OF
ammonia could be prevented by sowing plaster.
Mr.. Wilson was In favor of top-dressing.
Mr.. Whitaker said his view of top-dressing or
farm was very hilly SOIL or moderately rolling or
level. His own farm was hilly and nc believed he
would lose more by top-dressing than by blowing
under.
Mr.. VIM. Webster was in favor of top-drcssing
atogether even on hill Sides unless you should APP
ply 1t in the winter when slcct is on the ground
1t may be applied on snow For several years he
had top-drcsscd corn after planting it. The corn
came up stronger better and he raised more. The
only drawback was the weeds, and nc did not he
lieve the wheat which followed the corn was any
better. He had also top-dresscd wheat after it
came up. Coarse manure should be put out in the
spring, but not on moving fields. In top-dressng
for corn. two years ahead Is better than one. AS
to the times and gcasons he thought II made very
little difference, except that it should not be put
on moving fields or on wheat SO thctly as to
smother it. There is great risk of losing manure
entirely by blowing 1t under.
Mr.. Jas. III. Ball thought the question contained
more scope for thought than many persons were
aware of. He believed great benefit was derived
from the opening of the soil by insect life, making
it porous and accessible to the air and water One
of the benefits of top-drcssng, he argued, was
from the protection it afforded to insects. by
mulchng the ground you get good set of grass,
sod is more porous than on bare field. The more
you mulch the ground the more openings will he
The best time to topdrcss is when the roots are in
an active growing condition, ready to take up the
manure. 1t should be applied two years ahead for
corn, IN regard to the loss from manure lying in
the barn yard during the winter, he thought that
was small III comparison to tho loss from lying out
all winter, exposed to the winds and storms
Mr. Thomas Lochary also believed in top-dress-
ing. As soon as the ground settles in the spring
his practice is to put all his horses and wagons to
work hauling out manure. Itshould be spread as
soon as possible before the grass starts. II should
be put on the poorest land There it will double
the crop. On land that will raise Ii Is barrels
of corn to the acre very little Improvement can be
seen. 1t is good plan to put out all you have in
the fall, before winter sets in.
Mr.. VIM. Munnikhuysen was decidedly In favor |
of top-dressing. He once spread manure in August.
The field has since been once in corn, twice in |
wheat, and this year was moved. The place where |
rest Of the field That manure had lain in the barn
yard and leached. There is less waste i'm top-dress-
Ing manure on grass than in using any other way
1t will also go farther IL put out in the spring or
He did not think there was as much |
waste in the field as in the barn yard.
Mr.. X. John Rogers said he top-dressed his land |
with all the Accommodations on his place. such as |
manure straw, &C. The time these are spread does |
not make so much difference, except that manure /
should never he applied frost. AS to top-dress-
Ing hill Sides Mr.. Rogers said that last winter he
spread stable manure literally on hill side and at
harvest the difference was scarcely perceptbe.-
There is greater benefit from applying 1t i'm the
spring but no benefit from allowing 1t to remain in
The barn yard.
Mr.. Geo. Il. Silver thought top-dressng the best
way to apply manure and the fall the right time to
10 apply IT.. He regarded top-dressing wheat with
straw, either before CRATER II comes up, great
Isip to it. He thought il would increase the yield
rom 2 to bushels per acre. His plan is TO put
coarse manure on Pdsfppp fields which he does not
intend TO Rlow. He prefers TO put manure on two
ears ahead for corn. He Woulfl not DO satisfied to
ct manure lay in the barn yard all summer, as he
wants the uso of it. by top-dpessing you can
hicken n sod and almost make one without seed.
Mr.. George Il. Glasgow preferred top-dressing
nd as early in the spring as the manure can be
often out, even before the frost is out of the
round. He hauls out from his stables through
he winter. 1t is an improvement to the manure
o SOW plaster with it. He would not let IL remain
n the yard until August.