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

FARMERS in COUNCIL.
A 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, the object being to exchange views aa
to the best means of fostering the growth of
wheat, and promoting the interests of othe1
agricultural products.
Tho meeting was called to order at 8 o'clock
by Mr.. Jared Benson, who of6ciated 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.
Mr.. W. M. Campbell declining to act as secre-
tary, Major T. NJ. Newson was chosen in his
stead.
A committee composed Of Messrs. Rogers,
Farrington, Grazing, McClung and Hodges, was
appointed to select a subject for the 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 or 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 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 astoniyhed az the sea-
son advanced, to notethe thrifty appearance of
ho yuhi i,, tha harrn 1,oI
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
bors, 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.
MIR. Hodges explained that It was deep, rich.
black soil. He thought that perhaps soil of a
loose or sandy Eature would not result in such
beneficial results.
Mr.. Hawes said that where the soil was of a
clay loan, he thought rolling would have a
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
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.
MIR. Rogers, of Dakota. said that he had fre-
quently seen grain rolled after il had obtained
a good start Of four or five inches, with the
very best of results.
MIR. L. B. Hodges said that he would make
the proposition that after the ground had been
well-worked, if one dollars worth of addi-
tional narrowing was put on the same ground
(after it was considered we'll cultivated) it
would result in yielding at least two bushels
more of wheat to the acre.
Mr.. Drake said he would like to have an 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 great many instances
where cattle had fattened directly from the
stack and the cattle had sustained no injury.
In few instances tho cattle had swallowed the
wires, but had not been injured thereby.
Wire had been found in the paunch of some of
the finest 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 ths country where the efforts of
farmers were exclusively directed to growing
grain they were 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 a little deeper each
year than the year before until tho 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 planting g
were much greater than otherwise.
The speaker had made frequent experiments,
and in some instances early blowing had re-
nit ivoo vic 1sNff rSy h11ch cho1o
wheat to the acre. The soil should also be har-
royved and rolled 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 plowing, his experience had been that new
soil should not be plowed very deep, but plow-
ing was something that must be regulated &C
ding to the nature of the soil.
MIR. Hodges spoke of the necessity Of back
setting soil al means Of increas-
ing its productiveness. The speaker
mentioned an instance of summer falling by
enormous yield Of wheat on land that was pre-
viously considered as worthless. Back-setting
would invariably pay, particularly if the sod
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.
Senator Page, of Olmsted, said that the single
the reason that it kept up uniform furrow.
The speakers practice was to SOW wheat about
the middle of April.
Capt. Blakely spoke of the respective merits
of the gang and sulky plow. With four horses
and a gang plow he could turn five ACRES of
ground in day. In the speakers opinion, the
proper depth to plow was about Ave OF six
inches. '
Mr.. Campbell said that his firm had first in
troduced gang plows, which are at present
being rapidly superseded by the sulky plow,
as they were selling one hundred of the latter
to one of the former.
Mr. Newson referred to his early experience
in Minnesota, paying Capt. ,Blakely graceful
compliment for his instrunentality in first
bringing him to the West. The speaker gave a
humorous account of his first experience at
farming. At first he had plowed and sown ac-
cording to the book. His beautiful golden
wheat was the admiration of all his literary
and his wife's health. and impoverishing his
hen house and larder, he had taken the wheat
to market, receiving forty cents per bushel-
wheat that had cost 81 per bushel to raise.
Capt Blakely urged special meeting to c
slider the question of testing wheat
After some other remarks it was decided to
Consider wheat culture at the next meeting.
which is to be held next week, Wednesday
night.
Getting his York In.
New York Times.
1t IBragg's speech was vigorous statement
of the annoyance and distress to which honest.
ly loyal members of the Democratic party have
been subjected by Southern assaults on the
Treasury. He declared that these assaults had
been fatal obstacles to the progress of the
Democratic party, which could never win the
confidence Of the people while they continued.
The speech was surprise to the House, and
especially to the Democrats, and called out a
passionate but not very successful, reply from