The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1884-08-23
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
A FARMERS TRIP TO PEN-MAR.
PLAINS FARM, BALTIMORE County,


Messrs. Editors Upon invitation l attended
the Frederick county farmers annual reunion, at
Pen-Mar, last Friday, and L thought these way
side sketches would interest some of your readers.
Let me say in the beginning that though there
were by computation something over 1900 per-
sons present, did not hear a single coarse ex-
preston or notice rude action. All enjoyed
themselves in innocent recreation.
Most of my readers, suppose, have been there
Yet the ride through the rich valleys of Double
Pipe Creek and Baughman's, and on up the slopes
of the Blue Ridge, is ever changing and therefore
interesting. This is pleasant season of the year
to take trip of this kind, as nature seems to be
at rest and the air and the sky now have that
white dreamy blue tint that one delights to see
but cannot so readily describe. As swept
along in the cars at rapid rate saw the early
fall wild flowers in all their pristine glory; and
first the asters, ranging in color from the deepest
purple of royal hue to the purest white, and from
the minutest size to that of the full bloom of the
rose, and behind them the golden rod stood
waving its yellow blossoms whilst the sumac,
just touched with streak of red, is to be seen by
the borders of some shady spot struggling for
foothold, with the woodbine or Virginia creeper,
which are just beginning to assume those autumn
colors that we all love so we'll. In the swamps |
noticed the gum-tree with here and there a saffron
and bright red leaf. Surely envy no one that
can walk abroad in natures garden without
awakening those feelings that will make him
better and truer man. Those of us who are
blessed with having these beauties spread out be-
fore our eyes with every changing season should
justly appreciate them, as they worth far more
than diamonds and rubies are not to be compared
to them.
But let me turn from poetry to prose. To judge
from the hay and grain ricks and the plethoric
barns, heavy crops have been harvested, and the
seasonable rains during the latter part of July
have made the corn fields one mass of tropical lux
urance promising heavy yields for all this favored
region. The farmers were busly engaged in
blowing with three horses abreast for the fall
seeding, some blowing stubble but most turning
under the second crop clover. In Pennsylvania
1 noticed many spreading lime fresh from the
kiln upon this just turned clover sod, practice
would not wish to follow, especially if phosphate
was used.
Though wheat is extremely low yet to look at
the plowed fields one would think that it is the
best paying crop the farmer has, This is no doubt
owing to its ease of cultivation and harvesting
especially since the advent of the sef-binder. In
conversation with number of farmers noticed
that in mentioning the prosperous ones in their
own immediate neighborhoods they were mostly
those that combined grain growing with dairying
shipping their produce in condensed form and
feeding the hay and fodder on the farm, in con-
nection with mill feed and corn chop. And
secondly, the farms were mostly small, ranging
from rs to $50 acres. On farms of this size from
Is to 80 cows were kept, the milk sold to the
creameries or the cream made into butter and the
refuse made into pork. One gentleman assured
me that he fed his skim milk to calves and with
the addition of oat meal cruel managed to raise
two and sometimes three calves from each COW he
had.
These informal gatherings, where innocent
pleasure is given full sway whilst many useful
practices are disclosed is worthy of all imitation
as it gives us broader views of our calling and en-
mobiles and dignifes our labors. As the day drew
to its close, the set behind yon big peek the
sky changing from green gold below to rosy red
above, and silence and darkness crept over hill
and plain, we swiftly and quietly travelled the
being well repaid for our days trip, having gar
nered up thoughts that will give us pleasure and
be of practical use to us in future days.
F. SANpERsoN