Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-09-11
Farmers Club Meeting.

The Practical Farmers Club, of Union
township, met at the residence of John
A. Atkinson, on Saturday, the 9Th inst
TIE first thing in order was the read
ing of essays and selections.by the ladies.
Mrs. Rebecca Shepherd read an essay
Work for Farmers Wives" Although
this essay had been prepared and read at
a previous meeting, yet being considered
worthy of commentator, was (by re-
quest) re-read. Mrs. Al. Pollock read
selection from Cartoons Farm Ballads,
entitled, "Out of the Old House into the
| New" - f
The regular discussion being then in
order, the topic, Wheat Culture was
considered with its sub-topicS: 1st, Pre-
paration of the soil; I'd, Fertilizers and
method of applying them; Sd, Seed. .quan-
tity and qualiry; 4th, Time and method
of sowing. N. B. Nichols opened the dis
cussion; favored early plo@ing, then
thorough pulvrrizing of the soil by har-
rowing and rolling; thorough screening
in order to SOW nothing but clean seed
with matured kernels; read from agri
cultural report to show that wheat under
no circumstances ever turns to cheat;
thinks would not sow this year before
the goth of September; thinks the self
binders in use at present too heavy and
cumbersome for this country. Thomas
Lodge advocated thorough preparation
of the soil by rolling; would not sow this
year until it rains and the grasshopPers
are gone-p6rhaps the 25th of September
or 1st of October. Joseph Thomson re
commends the use of a drag instead of
roller in preparing the soil; thinks barn :
yard and stable manure preferable to
phosphate, or any of this class of fertilir
Zers; recommends early sowing as a rule;
sows II bushel per acre. ROmanZa
HogHe had not had much experience in
wheat culture; thinks pecks per acre
sufficient; all over this amount Is wasted,
which would amount to considerable of
a loss to farmers; thinks roller prefer
able to drag; advocated the converting
of old unsightly straw piles inio manure.
Abner Lodge thinks the increased pro-
ductIOn by the use of phosphate would
about meet the expenditure; sows IL
bushels per acre. j. A. Atkinson, from
statistics, show ed that in some countries
the cost of phosphate and this class of
fertilizers exceeded in the end the in
creased production; could not say as to
this country as yet; recommended expe
rinlenting with them; showed that barn
yard and stable manures produced ex
ceedingly beyond their expenditure. Cal
win Pollock thought the propriety of
using phosphate depended upon this
point: Was it an actual fertilizer of the
soil or only stimulant advocated deep
plowing and thorough mixing with the
soil. of manures produced on the farm;
this he did not consider best for the
present growing crop of wheat, but con
sidered this of minor Importance when
compared to the actual fertilizing of the
soil. the results of which would be no
ticed for many crops in succession;
thought deep loose soil not only more
productive, but would better withstand
drought; preferred drilling to- broadcast
sowing; sowed n bushels per acre.
John shepherd. sr.,had good results from
corn ground sowing; preferred shallow
sowing; recommends not over one bushel
per acre.
Club then adjourned to meet at tre
residence of John Shepherd. jr., on the
first Saturday of October.
A nest sumptuous supper was then
served by the hostess. All felt it was
good 10 be there. 1ea57 C.