The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-09-25
DEER CREEK FARMERS CLUR.
Grass CrOps-A New Way of Planting

The September meeting Of this club was held at
the residence of Judge James D.. Waters. near
Thomas Bun on s Saturday, September 4 lSth;
John Rogers were appointed committee of in
spection and were accompanied by the entire Club
In their walk over Judge Waters farm, Upon
reassembling the committee, through their chair
man, Mr.. Silver, reported, saying that they saw
nothing but what they could commend. The
farm is beautifully located, fertile and healthy
The committee noted some changes and improve
ments since the club last met there. Judge Wat
tiers has some fine thoroughbred Short Horns,
including four cows from 8 to years old, each
with calf two to three months old by her side.
He also has four Short Horn heifers that look re-
markaby well and Short Horn calves six months
old, the largest of which will weigh from 600 to
700 lbs. His Berkshire hogs look WELL Judge
Waters corn field has been severely injured by
storms, the corn being twisted about AMI lying in
every direction. Judge Waters has for several
years planted his corn in a novel manner, as
follows:
Two rows are drilled is inches apart, the corn
being allowed to stand about one foot apart in
rows. These double rows are planted over the
field at distances OF hve and a-half feet. An acre
therefore contains as many stalks of corn as If
drilled in the usual way. feet inches apart
The corn is worked by cultvator especially de-
signed for the purpose by Judge Waters. This
implement works between the double rows and
IS inches on each side. The corn can be worked
until 1t is two feet high. The middle of the wide
space is worked by an ordinary cultivator. The
advantages expected by this mode of planting are
readily and the corn is more easily harvested as
a general thing. Judge Waters has been plant
ing corn in this manner for several years. The
yield, he said, has been fully equal to that by the
ordinary method. and he had no doubt it could
be made to exceed it. He had raised IS barrels
to the Tne fss Is
whether the new method possessed any advau-
tages over the old one; Judge Waters grass fields
look well, being free from weeds. Altogether the
farm is in good condition.
Mr. Rogers said that he had noticed a remarka-
bly, fine yoke OF Devon oxen and the excellent
for wheat. Judge Waters said he had been
obliged ICED to pow his stalk ground on account of
The topic selected by Judge Waters for dis
oussion was Grass Crops"
Judge Waters said that tho grass crop is one
Land set In grass will not wash, AS much land
should be kept in grass as possible either for pas
ture or moving. The land cultivated should be
made rich enough to make small quantity do.
For Instance If you want 800 barrels OF corn, it
is better to raise it on Is acres than on go
10 hn tS os Wser sne tbnnah rep
plan should be reversed, and that fertilizers of
all kinds should be put on the grass year or
said he had never put out manure where the re-
suits were as satisfactory as when applied to
grass. The grass shades the manure and keeping
1t moist the heat decomposes the manure more
rapidly. TO make land rich you must get grass to
grow, and this must be considered where live
stock is an important feature In farming. You
can't have first class pasture on land that Is plow-
cd every few years. IL you desire to have per-
manent pasture you must manure until you
ing, he thought identical. This blue grass will
come OF itself II you make land rich. For cult
waited grasses he relies on clover, timothy and
orchard grass. He did not consider red clover as
the most desirable pasture grass, on account Of
the danger of animals becoming hoveu upon it,
For hay no grass is equal to clover when proper
ly cut and cured. He did not regard timothy as
very desirable and you are not apt 10 raise good
crop of corn on timothy sod. Nothing Is equal to
orchard grass but had not made up his mind as to
Its value Stock are fond of 1t and 1t makes ear