Morning journal and courier., 1880-08-21
County Farmers Club.

Discussion Regarding CfoPs-Practtca1
 Remarks by President Webb.
 The New Haven County Farmers Club held meeting in Sheffield Hall yesterday af- ternoon. The meeting was called to order at 2:3O o'clock by President J. J. Webb. The president said he had hoped that there would be larger attendance, but presumed that the farmers were very busy just at this time, which accounted for their absence. He had desired that plans should be laid at this meet ing for the fall meetings of the club, and that there should also be 8 kind of experience" meeting regarding crops and the success or failure of members in raising them. AL though the number present was small, he thought they might discuss proftably these matters. Mr. Webb, in opening the discus sion, referred to the hay crop, which was af- fected by drouth. He said he cut forty acres, and it was hay when it was cut. It was said by many that new meadows did well and old meadows were a failure. This is an old cry. If old meadows did not do well, why not turn them out to pasture and not attempt to raise hay from them? Business men generally, merchants and manufac- turers try to invest their capital to the best advantage The capital of the farmer is his farm. and unless the farmer improves and keep up his farm his capital is going to waste. He cannot improve his farm without labor and manure, It does not show good management when farmers talk about new meadows doing well and old mea- dows being a failure. In bis own case, his land was light soil, and in dry seasons it suffers but when rain comes it recuperates L L. J,e- farms that failed to take the seed the pres sent year. On twelve acres he sowed about five bushels of grass seed, ploughing first, narrowing it thoroughly and then rolling it. Another question was, what is the best crop to seed down with. The next question that suggested itself was the potato crop. So far as he was concerned, his potatoes were a failure, which he ac- counted for partly by the drouth and partly by the bugs getting the start of him. He then referred to the corn crop, which he said in this vicinity was a success. He was satls- fled that the fodder of the corn paid him for raising it, and he had the corn as profit He did not believe man could buy corn as cheap as he could raise it if he kept cattle.
 How near, said MT. Webb, do the farmers come to supplying the New Haven market i? We know that thousands of dollars go to the West every year to buy farm produce. Now, if we raise corn for fodder, we can sell our hay where there is Q splendid market for it.
 Again, what portion of the farmers of this club raise their own bread? When this was a new country we raised our own wheat. In the Mohawk valley, formerly great wheat growing section, they have gone back to raising this cereal, and with success. He had also seen several very handsome fields of wheat in this country during the present summer, and from his observations it was worth experimenting on. Where good raise wheat. He referred particularly to a field of wheat raised by Mir. Alfonso John son, which he said was as handsome as any he had seen for long time.
 The subject of raising roots was then briefly considered. He thought every far mer had the time to devote to the cultivation of roots. He said that he had several times promised himself that he would not again at tempt to raise a root crop, but he had changed his mind and arrived at the conclu- sion that there was no use in his trying to get along with his stock without raising roots.
 Another matter which he hoped would be considered this winter was cutting fodder green and pitting or packing it, thereby pre- serving it for use in time of need. It could be packed in vaults and kept from the air This could be done as easily as cutting the fodder and curing it. From what he had read of this plan he was satisfied that 1t could be used successfully, and if this could be done 1t would fill gap when the grass crop fails.
 After questions by members of the club and answers by President Webb the club ad- journed until Friday afternoon. September 3d, at o'clock.