Daily globe., 1879-01-29
FARMERS IN COUNCIL.

Il 1AhMEIIS LIN COUNClL.
Meeting Of Legislators and Others Last
Night--The Subject of Wheat Raising.
Flowing, &C.. Considered.
A meeting of farmer legislators was held in
representative hall, at the capitol building, last
evening, tho object being to exchange views as
to the best means of fostering the growth of
wheat, and promoting the interests of othe1
agricultural products.
The meeting was called to order at O. clock
by MIR. Jared Benson, who officiated as chair
man. Mr.. Benson said that he regretted the
absence of so many members from the meeting,
but hoped that the proceedings would not lack
interest on that account. The chair submitted
the question as to whether the organization as
formed at the last meeting should be perma.
nent.
Mr.. Harrington moved that the temporary or
ganization be made permanent.
MIR. w. M. Campbell declining to act as score
tary, Major T. M. Newson was chosen in his
stead.
A committee composed Of Messrs. Rogers.
Harrington Grazing, McClung and Hodges, was
appointed to select subject for tho next
meeting.
Mr.. McClung arose and stated that as Mr..
Hodges was present, the meeting would be
pleased to have an expression of his views.
Mr.. Hodges responded by saying that it was
ten ur fifteen years since he had first com.
menced to experiment with wheat after it had
reached the top of the ground. On one occa-
sion he had dragged a large strip of wheat
which must have been SIX or eight inches abo ve
the ground. The portion of the field narrowed
afterwards had the appearance of a well-beat-
en- highway and he was astonished as the sea-
son advanced, to note the thrifty appearance of
the wheat over which the harrow had been
dragged, and at the end of the season it was
the finest belt of wheat in the field. He had
subsequently tried the experiment on larger
SCALE and was at first laughed at by his neigh
hors, but it eventually turned out that the
ground cultivated had yielded the largest num-
Der of bushels to the acre Of any ground in the
surrounding country.
Mr.. Rogers wanted to know what style of
soil he had cultivated.
Mr.. Hodges explained that it was deep, rich,
black soil. He thought that perhaps soil of a
loose or sandy nature would not result in such
beneficial results.
Mr. Hawes said that where the soil was of a
clay loan, he thought rolling would have q
better effect than dragging. He had frequently
had occasion to roll soil, and always with the
most satisfactory results. In his opinion, roller
was an indispensable implement to every good
farmer. 1t sometimes occurred that roller
would not sufficiently break up the crust, when
a plank could be substituted with good eject.
The plank should not be used after the wheat
was up, but only as means of pulverizing the
soil before the grain started.
Mr. Rogers, of Dakota, said that he had fre-
quently seen grain rolled after it had obtained
a good start of four five inches, with the
very best Of results.
Mr.. L. B. Hodges said that he would make
the proposition that after the ground had been
well-wor]zed, if one dollars worth of addi-
tional narrowing was put on the same ground
/zCA 1r-11 ,1&:v okolN
would result in yielding at least two bushels
more of wheat to the acre.
Mr.. Drake said he would like 10 have IN ex-
preston of views regarding wire bindings.
Mr. Campbell spoke of the patent self-bind-
ing wire, and recommended 1t for its general
usefulness and admirable adaptability for the
purpose for which it was designed. The idea
of the wires injuring stock was sheer bosh.
The speaker had known a great many instances
where cattle had fattened directly from the
stack and the cattle had sustained no injury.
In few instances the cattle had swallowed the
wires, but had not been injured thereby.
Wire had been found in the paunch of some Of
the fnest cattle he had ever seen.
Mr.. Fairbank said that in portions of the
country where cheese factories abounded, the
farmers invariably had an abundance of money,
and in parts Of the country where the efforts of
farmers were exclusively directed to growing
grain they we're almost always in debt.
Mr.. Campbell said that he had once heard an
experienced farmer say that he always made it
a point in plowing to go little deeper each
year than the year before until the soil had
been turned completely over.
Farmers generally believed in early planting,
which the speaker could recommend favorably,
as he thought the advantages of early plantin g
were much greater than otherwise.
The speaker had made frequent experiments
and in some instances early plowing had re-
suited in a yield Of five or six bushels more OF
wheat to the acre. The soil should also be har
rowed and rolled as soon as possible after break
age The best results had been obtained from
the early sowing of grain.
Mr.. Harrington said that regarding the depth
of blowing his ex Experience had been that new
ing was something that must be regulated &C
CO.. ding to thA nature Of the soil.
Mr.. Hodges spoke of the necessity Of back
setting soil a. means of increas
ing it's productiveness. The speake
mentioned an instance of summer falling by
enormous yield of wheat on land that was pre-
viously considered as worthless. Back-settins
would invariably pay, particularly if the soc
had been broken little too early. In back
setting the plow should go down deep enough
to bring up everything that had become decom
posed.
sulky plow was better than double plow, fo1
the reason that it kept up uniform furrow.
The speakers practice was to SOW wheat about
the middle of April.
Capt. Blakeiy spoke Of the respective merit
of the gang and sulky plow. With four horses
| and gaug plow he could turn five acres Of
ground in a day. In the speakers opinion th'
proper depth to pillow was about five or si1
inches.
Mr.. Campbell said that his firm had first in
troduced gang plows, which at presen
being rapidly superseded by the sulky plow
as they were selling one hundred of the latte
+ to one of the former.
Mr.. Newson referred to his early experienc,
in Minnesota, paying Capt. Blakely graceful
| compliment for his instrumentality in frs
bringing him to the West. The speaker gave
humorous account Of his first experience a
farming. At first he had plowed and sown &C
| cording to the book. His beautiful COLDER
wheat was the admiration OF all his literar,
friends from the CITY. After breaking his owl
| and his wifes health. and impoverishing hi
hen house and larder he had taken the whea
to market, receiving forty cents per bushel-
wheat that had cost 81 per bushel to raise.
Capt Blakely urged special meeting to
slider the question of testing wheat.
| After some other remarks it was decided t
Consider wheat culture" at the next meeting
which is to be held next week, Wednesda
night.
Getting his Worzc In.
New York Times.
1t IBragg's speech was vigorous statemer
of the annoyance and distress to which homes
ly loyal members of the Democratic party hay
been subjected by Southern assaults on IL
Treasury. He declared that these assaults ha
been fatal obstacles to the progress Of tt
Democratic party, which could never win tt
confidence of the people while they continue,
acIO wa f~ fha
especially to the Democrats, and called out
passionate but not very successful, reply fro
Ellis, of Louisiana. But it has done more f
Democratic success in 1880 than anything tn
has happened or is likely to happen this sc
sion. 1t is in the power Of Northern Dem
Gratis, and of them only, to set at rest the pre-
ent strong suspicion which attaches to the
| marty of nlottiun al.uani zed raid