The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1883-05-25
The Deer Creek Farmers Club.
Preparation for Haryest.

n
gether with Messrs. Ezra Whitman. of the Waig-
mnd Farmer George H.. VanBibber, Col. Herman
STUMP G. G., s Smith Norris J. T. G. Hopkins, A.
| Before proceeding with the regular business the
club in body examined Mr.. Fulford's stock of
which berkshire swine are a speciality. Mr.. Full
| ford's Berkshres are noted far and wide as the
finest in the country, fact which is attested by
the large number OF premiums he receives at the
best fairs of the land. His herd embraces a
number of choice animals selected and purchased
for him IN England by an agent sent out express
| ly for that purpose. The rapid growth of some of
these swine is remarkable. A lot of about twenty
which were only from five to six months old, will
weigh from l7j to $50 pounds each. Mr. Fuford
has also some excellent registered Jersey and
grade cows and fine horses. A thorough-bre
brood mare, descended from Lexington, and her
| colt by Administrator were much admired.
| Upon the reassembling of the club the question
announced for discussion was: What prepar,i-
tons should we make for harvest and how can we
economic in saving our crops?"
Mr.. Fultord said that since canning has become
so general harvest hands are harder to get, and
one of the most important things to be done i'm
the way OF preparing for harvest is to secure good
hands in time. Another important matter is to
get mowers and reapers in good condition After
the last harvest they should have been cleaned
creased and put under cover, so that they would
| be ready Tor work by merely grinding n few
| knives. He has Champion mower which has
been treated in that way and it has not cost him
attend to little things we will save time if not
money. 1t is important to be full-handed at har-
vest. Crops should be saved as soon as they are
ht to cut, as their market value is considerably
increased thereby. Hay cut in time and properly
| cured VIII sell Tor more money and be better for
feeding than if allowed to become overripe He
also advocated planting corn for forage alongside
the pasture fields in order to provide green food
| for stock in case of n dry season. He advised
farmers to provide themselves with as much la
| bor-saving machinery us their crops will Justify
Self-blnders may be liable to some objections on
billy ground, but where the land is suitable they
| may be used to advantage. They might not pay for
cutting tive or six acres of wheat, but two or
| three neighbors could buy and use one in com
| mon. Hay tedders also useful and there is no
economy in using hal-worn forks in the harvest
field.
VIM. Webster urged the importance of having
harvesting implements and machinery in good
condition before they are needed for use. With
asmail harvest 1t might not pay to buy new ma
chinery. If the crop is sufficiently large self
binder will pay, because it will save great deal
Of trouble and worry about hands. He had used
reaper eleven years at cost of only 81 81 for
repairs. The secret was that after it was used it
was taken 10 pieces cleaned and not put together
until the next harvest. 1t is important to know
what crops to cut first. Frequently timothy, clC-
yer and wheat are all ready for cutting at the
same time He would cut the clover first and
| before more than one-half the heads turn brown.
Timothy should be cut soon after it comes in
bloom. Wheat should not stand too long. There
| Is less shrnkage in the grain ii cut before ii he
comes very ripe.
Thomas a. Hays thought it important to have
corn well worked so as TO be prepared for harvest
when it comes. OFTEN corn working and harvest
come together, and it is therefore important to
have plenty OF help. II is u good idea to have
tools examined, repaired and put away in good
order The gain by the use OF good tools is i'm
nenSe.
James Lee said Il farmer should he ahead of his
work. The harvesting of large crops requires i'm
proved machinery, but he doubted the economy
of buying reaper TO save 10 or II acres of wheat
For large crop he would use self-binder. To
save crop of hay you need "A good mower, a horse
rake and a hay tedder. The latter is very impor-
tant, particularly in wet harvest, as it will turn
hay rs fast as 20 men with forks He lets his oats
lie IN the swath until they are thoroughly cured
and haus them in without shocking.
VIM Munnikhuysen also thought II farmer
ought to drive his spring work, so as to be in
readiness for harvest. He was glad to hear hay
dad
any of the members who wanted one.
George L. VanBibbcr said he did not harvest
anything but raspberries and watermclOus, and
he supposed moonlight nights when there il no
big dog about would be the best time To harvest
watermelons.
VIM. ID. Lee said his watermclOns were gcncr-
ally harvested for him.
John Moores said he was struck with remark
made by Mr.. Thomas Lochary at former meet
ing of the club that the first thing in preparing
for harvest was to see that the roads leading from
the fields to the barn were repaired. and the little
brio ges and gates in good order. Another sug-
gestion was, Keep your hands in good humor {:
pay them good price, willingly and promptly
feed them the best you have and plenty of it,
You will then have no trouble getting hands an
other year. Away be ready for harvest. Have
good tools and enough of them, and always have
spare fork. There is economy in using self
binder for even medium crop of wheat
II. Harris Archer agreed fully with Mr.. Moores
that harvest hands should be paid and fed WE'LL
1t requires good management for farmer to
make things come in right during harvest. lie
had been dealing in hay for or years, and was
market is cut too late. 1t will bring more and
be more satisfactory to buyer and sclcrif cut ear
licr. The color and yield are better and the hay
weighs heavier when cut early Timothy and
wheat harvest generally come together. II Il man
makes speciality of hay he should take cac of
the timothy, as the wheat will be less injured by
standing.
MIR. Moores suggested that with n sef-binder
neither need be neglected, and the after-growth
starts better when cut early
Mr.; Archer would let oats get tolerably ripe,
cut them with side delivery rake machine and
put them in punches.
Hon. James d. Walters said he recollcccd when
boy they used to get ready for harvest by get
ting chunk OF sandstone and putting rifles in or
der for sharpening the scythcs. Times have
changed. bu! the principle is The same. Mr..
meant more. II meant looking ahead and putting
machinery in order The time is coming when
nCar.y every farmer will want a srl-hindcr. 1t
gives farmer control f ms haVos., by enabling
him to cut il down without regard to the help he
may have. lie did not think there was any dis
advantage in letting timothy stand little while,
unless you want 10 sell it or have livery stable,
and don't want horS To cat much of it. Horses
eat 1t better and il is better tor them when not
cut too early. Machinery ought 10 be put in or
} der before the hands are collected in the field,
out forks. lie considered hay teddcrs of great
advantage, and necessary article to be provided
where heavy crop of hay is to he saved. In pre-
| pairing to harvest clover, he thought it would be
Il good plan To have II lot of canvas caps ready for
covering the hay cocks. He would put the hay
in large cocks cover with the canYas, let it stand
a few days and then haul it in.
X. John Rogers agreed with Mr. Hays that IN
importqa,nt par, Of the prcpamt9n is TO gel the
opinion of the uIi!ityuf the self binder us some
members. Few men ar" found on farm who are
competent to keep one in order and being liable
. to get ont of order they may cause detention in
the harvest field. Until they nrc smpliiini he aid
not think they w,dld answer Tor y,.unrlI use -
lie was, however, IA favor ct llsig the ordinary
reaper, and would have OF" II he uniY had lOacres
to cut. He had found horse power hay FORK a
great labor saving Implement, III housing hay i'm
Il barn, and hence the Importance of erecting
buildings adapted I" helr use, although they can
be used in almost any huiidIHg. lay tCddcIa are
also valuable III he harvest field. Timothy
should be cut whcn the hlolm is fun shed ana
before the blossom begins TO turn brown Stoc k
will eat it better than If allowed to stand longer.
George l.. Silver thought the question of pre-
pairing for harvest could hc confined to wheat and
hay alone or he widcncd to take in all Il farmer
| business IL Is very important to look ahead and
have things ready for use. Work can he done
quicker, better and more economically by having
things ready when needed. lie did not think il
eXpedlent 10 engage extra help too long ahead
on account of the uncertainty of getting the
damaged by standing after they are ready To he
cut, and the great point therefore, Is to be ready
, To do II thing and d" it Just when it ought to he
done. Each iurlner must Judge for himself as to
| what machinery he needs. He was n little afraid
: of self binders, and would prefer to wait until
further improvements are made ia them. Then
and not iii then will they be practicable for far
mers generally to handle. Mr.. Fuford hud made
a good point when he said there was no economy
| in working with hnlI-wOrn machinery. He also
thought farmers erred in buying so many differ
ent kinds of machines, but If more of the same
|
more readily procured in the county. a horse
hay fork is useful in saving labor and muscle A
similar instrument is made for hosting fodder in
barns. New buildings should be adapted Tor using
the hay fork and fodder reel.
Bennett II. Barnes was satisfied sclf-binders
will pay for even Ii acres of wheat. Two men
and Il self binder can cut and shock that number
of acres in day. The most of us cut hay too
late 10 weigh well and be bright. Hay will sell
better if cut early. Wheat, also, will be fuller
brighter and weigh heavier when cut Il little
green.
Mr.. Ezra Whitman. of the Mayidad Farmer
told how hay was cut and saved when he was a
boy-some 30 or GO years ago. Farmers may have
been wrong then and he would not underto l;n 10