The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1883-12-21


The subject above named was discussed at tn
last meeting of the Deer Creek Farmers Cut
held ut the residence OF benjamin Silver, ST.
near Chenille, Saturday, December Sth.
Besides active members of the club there wer
present Messrs ID. Il. Wilson, s. Martin Bayl less
Jacob II. PlOwman. DR.. James NJ Magraw
VIM. II. Easter, e. \. Milton, John q. Bayless an,
Benjamin Silver, Jr., said he believed in care
ful selection of seeds for planting. Like pro
dLces like, and if we don't plant perfect seeds W.
can not expect to grow perfect plants or reap tn,
best crops. Wheat and corn may be improved
by carefully selecting the seed sown year by
weeds and every farmer should raise his owl
coverseed. He would then know exactly wha
ne 3 planting. He preferred Northern sugar corr
for seed, as 1t is sweeter and ripens earlier thar
ours.
VIM. Webster said a crop is often lost by moi
sowing good seed. He always nubs his seed corn
that is rejects the small end. 1t is not necessary
10 select large grains of wheat for seed, but II
should be free from cookie. He prefers medium
sized potatoes to plant. Potatoes should be chang
al once in five years. Mr. Webster spoke of the
change in seeds from soil and climate. Fult2
wheat rpens 20 days earlier than when it was in
trJduced here. The Mercer potato was once the
fdvorite, but it can not now be successfully
grown, and the Early Rose he thought, will also
run out in the course of time. If you plant small
potatoes every year they will soon run out, but
Dy m selection q SEED good crops eo4d
red Early Ohio or Early Vermont for table use.
b njamin Silver, ST., had found that good pota-
toes can be raised from the small ones, but they
require longer time to produce the crop. He
prefers medium-siZed potatoes for seed.
are more successful with corn than other crops
Is that they select the seed more carefully. The
proper time to do this is when housing the corn
in me fa Seed wheat should be well screened,
aud much care should be taken with it. Northern
potatoes do much better than our own. We run
more risk in grass seed than in any seed we buy.
lie HAD seen cOverseed cut that he would not
have sowed for 900 bushel
WIN ..Munnikhuysen believed that the reason
'rn had stood better than any other seed Is be-
cause II is always mixing. Corn fields adjoin each
other and farmers plant different varieties
Wheat should be changed occasionally He pre-
terred to go South for wheat say to Virginia, and
North for oats and potatoes: Fultz wheat has
STOOD better than any wheat he had known and
hhd improved in quantity and increased in yield.
1t is imp )rtant to get all the small grains out of
seed wheat, and of the utmost Importance TO have
grass seed clean. To test grass seed, wet your
finger and put it among the seed. Some will ad-
here to your finger, when you can examine the
X Harris Archer did not think a change of
seed as important as to have clean, pure Seeds
4 man can get his seed wheat clean, but it is more
difficult to get good clean small seeds. If all the
small seed terminated the quality usually sowed
would he too much. There is no advantage in
dscarding the grains on the small end of corn
He thought many farmers go crazy on changing
seed, paying high prices for seed that turn out no
better than what they had If you have good
varieties of corn and wheat stick TO them. POta-
seed.
DR.. James NJ. Magraw thought farmers could
not be too careful in selecting seed. Wheat corn
&c., intended for seed should be allowed to ma
lure and ripen perfectly before they are cut.
The bad stand of these crops is often the result of
sowing seed which had not matured. He had
grown better crops of potatoes from Northern
seed than from potatoes raised at home. Nor
thern garden seed also comes earlier than any
other. DIR. Magraw said he raised potatoes enough
from two beds, each so yards long and feet wide,
to last his family through the winter-generally
80 bushels. His plan is as follows:
The ground is first spaded or plowed up. The
potatoes are then planted on the surface in rows
~ inches apart, running across the narrow beds,
the seed being dropped six inches apart. The
potatoes are then gwen heavy dressing Of bone,
plaster and well rotted stable manure. Earth is
then thrown over the beds to depth of six inches.
one working with hoe is all that is required.
John Moores recognized the fact that farmers
should select good seed. The way to do that is
to get seed from farmers who produce the best
crops. Seed corn should be selected in the fall
aud put in place where it will dry promptly. He
would not buy clover seed unless he had seen it
cut and knew there were seeds of weeds in
it. More harm is done by the distribution of
seeds of the horse nettle with clover seeds than
any other way. He did not think wheat is
degenerating. As long as we can raise 30 or 40
bushels of wheat to the acre we should not change
the seed.
Edward p. Moores thought it necessary to have
wheat clean, but there is no necessity of tanning
il over until all the small grains are taken OUT
TO raise big corn must have big fodder and
big cob. He preferred Early Rose potatoes, but
did not believe it necessary to select the largest
potatoes. Tie also preferred early planting.
Thomas Lochary said seed corn should be pick
ed in the fall. Every time it is handled the larg-
est and most perfect ears should be thrown
aside. At planting time it should be picked over
again; ne never plants the grain on the small
was an, use in rejecting the small end or not
Fultz wheat is the best one year with another
He believed all the larger varieties of corn are
later than the smaller kinds, and the heaviest
yields generally ripen later. He has been plant
ing the same kind of corn for IL or Is years and it
is rather better than when first planted The only
way to obtain good clover seed is to raise it your
self.
picked his seed corn carefully, selecting the
that were best formed and best filled out. He
planted all the grains, without reference to the
end of the ear they came from, and had good
stand, a good crop and but few nubbins.
Johns II Janney thought there was no trouble
in distinguishing good clover from foreign seeds,
with nagnifying glass. When he has good
variety of wheat, corn potatoes he don't change
it, He planted the same seed of Early Rose pota-
toes for five years and they improved every year.
He lost the seed by accident. He had planted
Futz wheat for six or seven years and 1t improv-
ed constantly. The skin became thinner and the
color changed. He first raised 25 bushels to the
acre, one year 40 and last year ~. He thought
there was risk in buying al your garden seeds
If you save your own you know you have good
seed and the variety you want.
John Y. Bayless did not thing much of Fultz
wheat for his land The first crop, of it he raised
was ID bushels, the next 10. Then he quit raising
it and now sows Keys Prolific. Seed corn should
be selected when it is lofted 1t is important to
corn when selecting it for seed.
David E. Wilson said he had seen field of corn
at Mr.. Osborns, near Aberdeen, which was
large crop, with large ears and the fodder was
only or feet high.
jacob III. PlOWnan SAID When he firSt began
farming in Hartford, seven or eight years ago, he
selected the best corn in the neighborhood and
has been planting the same variety ever SINCE
The first year he had or barrels to the acre, and
now he raises Is. He thought ii had improved by
selecting the best ears for seed. He sows Futz
wheat and raises rs or 30 bushels to the acre. 1t
has improved, but he has been careful in keeping
cookie out of it. He considered Northern pota-
toes the best for seed.
VIM. 4. Easter thought the cleaner you can get
seed wheat the better 1t is cheap to raise
wheat as cookie. He thought the Early Ohio
potato the best and earliest.
S. NJ. Bayless said he had sowed FultZ wheat
three times, one crop being five bushels to the
acre. He then abandoned Fultz and has been
sowing Keys Prolific. He always buys the best
cloverseed he can get. He removes the small
end from his seed corn, and believes he can raise
more white than yellow corn to the acre.
q. Il. Milton had never raised any but white
corn. Nubs both ends and generally has little
replanting to do. Tries to get his seed wheat free
from cookie and selects large grains.
s. b. Silver, the President said every farmer
should be careful in selecting seed. He can not
expect to raise good crops otherwise. Get the land
in good condition. select good seed, do your
work well, and if you don't have good crops it
will not be your own fault.
Adjourned to meet at Mr.. Thomas Locharys,
Saturday, January 9Th. 1884. Subject, milk
Cows"
Hughes-Gilbert.
The Presbyterian church, at Aberdeen, was so
densely packed in every part, last Thursday
night, Dec. 18th, that when the bridal party for