The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1879-10-31
The Deer Greek Farmers Climb.

NTInCTS JTUD met AT Inc rCSi-
dencc OF Mr.. Hosea Barnes on Saturday, October
18th. Messrs. Thomas A. Hays, Rogers and Archer,
a committee accompanied by other members,
made Il tour of inspection over the farm. The
committee reported that while wheat generally
looks spindling, Mr.. Barnes stalk ground wheat
looks we'll No fertilizers had been used on it. but
in the spring of last year barn yard manure had
been put on sod ground for corn and the wheat
followed the corn. On another field where 800 or
600 lbs. of bone dust was used to the acre, the
wheat looks very strong. They noticed a pretty
meadow which could be improved by dtching :
also some straw ricks which would have helped
the grass very much If spread this fall. Mr..
Barnes corn appeared to he in good condition,
well cut, well shocked and tied as it should be
around the top. His stock were in good condition
but the committee thought he kent too many
horses for the farm. In reply to a question of a
member as to the profit in raising horses, Mr..
get rid of one-half or two-thrds of the colts he
has. The topic for discussion was
UNDERDRAINING.
Hosea Barnes said his drains were from 3 to 3%
feet deep, according to the fall, but would rather
have them four feetdeep. Makes them from IL to
IA inches at the bottom-as narrow as can be done
Small stones are placed in the bottom and if the
ground is soft plank fiat rails are first laid in
to keep the stone from sinking. If the ground is
solid this is not needed. Large stones are then
placed in by hand, the top layer being broken
with sledge to make them compact and keep the
straw is then placed on the stone and the earth
thrown in. Mr.. Barnes said he did not approve of
trunk drains, because they are SO liable to be stop
ped up by crawfish and other things working under
the ground, or filled up by the wash Had never
used tiles and does not like them. There was moth
ing equal to stone for dtching. If stone could not
be gotten he would prefer some kind of poles that
would last. Ditching is heavy expense. Pays
80 cents perch for cutting, filling in and compile
ting the ditch, he hauling the stone.
George Gilbert said he had made bitches both
with trunks and the way Mr.. Barnes made his
stones in the bottom and fills in with larger ones
getting them as close possible at the top If the
ground is dry and hard they can be tilted in from
George j. Finney said he had tried both stone
and chestnut rails. nusing the latter he lays two
aS%n apa the third t9B evty be-
years. Some of the rails when taken up were still
sound. When he makes bitches with stone he
shoots them in from a cart, levelling them Off by
hand. Straw is placed on the stones and dirt
thrown on. Some made that way years ago are
still good.
VIM. Munnikhuysen believed Mr.. Barnes plan
Of making drains without any gutter in them was
the right one. There is a swaInpy piece of ground
on his place where many years ago stone had been
dumped to make crossing. Now that part is per-
fectly dry and can be plowed and cultivated both
above and below the crossing.
and used tile onlyin carrying water from spring.
Never had any stone drains filled up. Examines
dne fd Ma no the 6 from ~ to feet
about inches square, and places flag stones over
the trunk, reserying the small stones for the top.
James Lee said he thought it the right way
to trunk bitches Some on his place done25 years
ago are in good condition yet 1t is better to ditch
low y lands It than to work poor high lands.
the trunk fills up water must find an outlet some
where. He had opened bitches that had been made
for 60 years. They were feet Deep but the water
was running inches below the surface bitches
made In 1913 with rails and poles are running now.
The deeper bitches are the better. Puts in small
mould and not fall in. If the mouth of a ditch
is stopped the water will break out somewhere
Thought tiles would drain land as well as stone,
but would use tile only where stone could not be
had. Any acre of meadow land can be nicely
drained for $780, and then will pay 20 per cent of
Geo. Il. Silver said he believed in ditching, and
t would use stone because it is plenty. Had seen
Tile used. II ne was going to ditch from what he
had heard, he would not trunk it.
John Moores said it paid very well to drain land
and agreed in the main with Mr.. Barnes, except
that from strong spring branch he would put in
trunk. Would dig bitches deep-not less than
81 feet the deeper they are the more land they
will drain, It is important also to examine the
mouths OF bitches twice year and keep them
open. They are apt to be stopped up by stock
tramping around them, He had no experience
work well. His neighbor, Mr.. Oldield, had sue
cessfully drained a very wet piece of ground with
tile. The great objection to trunk drains is that
Weasels, frogs, &c, are likely to get in and fill up
the trunk. Small stones keep them out. Mr..
Moores also stated that where there is not sufli-
cient fall for ditch he had successfully drained
land by digging wells ten or twelve feet deep and
filling them with stone. Besides that is a good
way to get rid of the stone. Mr.. Munnkhuysen
SAID ne mad also drained several pieces of land in
s. NJ. Bayless said that trunk ditch made on his
pldCc 10 years ago HaQ never nlGu up, and still
worked. Another had fallen in.
John Barnes said he had had great deal of
ditching done during the last 30 or 81 years. AT first
he trunked them; since, he has them dug deep, |
shoots in the stone and levels them Off. If the bot
tom is soft puts in rails. In ditch he could not
get fall enough, but having laid in some broad rails
1t Is now running freely. One inch fall to every 10
or u feet Is enough. The mouths of drains should
be kept open.
Geo. r. Glasgow said that all the ditching on his
place had been done with trunks, but being neg
lected they had fallen in If he had it to do again,
from what he had heard, he would adopt Mr. |
Barnes plan.
Il. John Rogers was inclined to Mr. Barnes no.
ton about filling drains in solid with stone Has
drains trunked, but not one that has not become
choked up. He differed with Mr.. Barnes about |
tile, from observing what his neighbor Mr. Oldfeld
had done with them In draining the worst piece of |
land he ever saw. The ditch Is cut with long
handled spade six inches wide. man need not
get In the ditch at all. The saving in digging
amounted to great deal.
Mr. Barnes argued that to produce the same
effect on wet piece of ground the tile would cost
he most money, because they must be placed so
hiekly to carry as much water as a stone drain
will.
Thomas A. Hays said he was decidedly in favor
If draining all wet and soggy land. The four i'm
lortant points are: First, do 1t thoroughly
second, make the bitches deep, at least feet
Third, make the mains four feet or more-from
o IL inches deeper than the laterals. Fourth,
lean the bitches often. Has ditched with stone,
lslng good.shaped stone and making trunk in
tones. Has also used tile, which works well.-
Water will soak through tile anywhere, and
lie of reasonable size can discharge the flow of
ditch likes to get Good fasr least font IN
r 20 feet. Tile needs no more care In placing than
tone does, and is much cheaper. It costs from
to II cents per foot, and as one good cart load
he tile are consequently the cheaper. If stone
ad to be picked and hauled long distance he {
,oud not use them except to rid the land Of them