Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-12-26
VOLUME 40.
From the Mountaineer.
THE FARMERS INSTITUTE IN
BETHEL.
BETHEL, ME., Dec. s, 1892.


The Maine Board Of Agriculture met
at Pat,ee's Hall on Thursday. Dec. Eth.
at 10 m. A. w. Valentine, of the
Bethel Grange, was called to the chair,
Present, 5. 5. Smith, formerly member
Of the Oxford Co. Society; S. I. Hol-
brook, of Sasadehoc Co.; G. +. Ham,
mond, of Oxford Co.; Francis Barnes,
ESQ, of Houlton, and c. C.. Cobb, of
Poland
The first business was a lecture by
Hon. 4. A. Gilbert, Sec. Subject, "Ap-
plea ton of Manures." He spoke of the
Importance of practical experiments,
more care, and less theory. The sub
jec; itself is a complete philosophy of the
whole vegetable and animal kingdom.
Farmers should be willing to lay aside
their prejudices, and lay their minds op
en- TO the truth. A first principle on
which TO base our study of the subject,
IS that Of the climate. Nature con-
structs plant growth. Nature builds up
a corn plant, a stalk of wheat, or hill
Of potatoes out Of the material YOU furn-
;sh, to be worked out in the laboratory
Of nature. This IS done through the
agency Of the soil as a medium of action.
The materials are those elements to be
supplied by the farmer, phOsphoTic acid
and potash. The other elements are
supplied by nature. These three ele-
men,s must be placed within reach of
the plants, in a soluble form in water, be-
fore i, Is plant food. The extremeties of
roots take up this plant food, and II Is
transposed 10 all parts Of the vegetable
growth. This Is the only way in which
plant grows. fyou violate law OF
nature, YOU fail Of any full growth.
Nature admits Of no violation Of her laws.
This Is what Nature does. Now Cor the
farmers duty. Only portion Of our
manure is at first in a complete soluble
form. Liquid manures are always solu-
be. Hence decomposition Is necessary
in all animal and vegetable manures be-
fore it becomes food for plants. Oaly
portion OF our manures Is plant food.
The soluble part mus; be leached out
with water, so that water IS the agent
by which our plant food is conveyed to
the plant.
How Is this carried on Pat manure
on first, under the soil, and much of It's
soluble matter descends out Of reach Of
plants. Is manure applied to the sur
face best The rain applied to surface
manure teaches on: the soluble parts,
and the plant .eizes upon j: and apPro-
pirates it as food. Free ammonia Is yo-
LATHE. the other substances remain IN the
soil.
In practice I would recommend apply
inS manure in the fall on ploved land
1t saves once handling. II can be more
evenly distributed, and become more sol
uble, and ready for the use Of the plant
a, once. This is better done by fall ma
naring. This is my practice when pos
sible.
Excessive heat viii drive of the am
monia. but nothing else. Moderate heat
is necessary, and the excessive heat Of
the manure can be arrested by water.
The next subject was on the methods
Of culture in growing sweet corn, by 5.
). Smith, Of Oxford. Good seed, well
MANFRED, and good cultivation are about
all that is necessary, 50 far as we are
concerned. Great care should be exer-
cised in saving the seed. 1t IS more dit
fcult than yellow corn. It should be
stripped Of the husks, and suspended
across pole, each ear separate from the
other. 1t viii be slIe 20 grow if well
dried. prefer the eight rowed corn.
AFTERNOON.