The Somerset reporter., 1889-01-24
Farmers institute



A pleasant winters day and good sleigh
ing contributed to bring out our farmers
and some who are not farmers, filing u.
A. X Hall.
The forenoon session Sas called To or
der by Ansel Holway. Clark +. smith Oh
Cornville was called 10 the chair. An adj
dress by Prof. &. II. Whitcher OF Ne"
Hampshire was followed by dinner ID
the Hall under the auspices Of the SHOW
hogan Grange. The following Is brief
abstract of his address
Plants require food as much as animal.
and farmers must study the wants OF
their growing crops. A plant cannot
grow without potash any more than an
animal can without starch; nor can plants
live without nitrogen and phosphorlc
acid. -
The use of fertilizers commenced WIN
the accidental use of bone in England III
1850. Then came the discovery OF rock
phosphate in Spain in 1897 next In oouth
Carolina rock phosphate; then potash III
Germany. These are needed iorins VI
plant food. and are what we feed our
plants when we buy the prepared IerIii-
izers.
Fertilizers are precisely like farm yard
manures in their effect. A ton of farm
ward manures contains, water, l42o IDS
organic matter, 492 lbs. ash, So total,
2oOO pounds. In the ash it contains,
phosphoric acid, AS lbs potash, l04
lbs. nitrogen, 80 lbs; the total plant
food in a ton PAP; only small quantl-
ty. Now la IL hundred pounds OF proper
" prepared chemical fertilizer there is
phosphoric acid, 10 lbs. potash ten lbs
nitrogen, lbs total plant food, ~ lbs.
| believe in getting phosphoric acid IN
the form Of dissolved bone black, tue
potash in muriate of potash, the nitrogen
in sulphate of ammonia. These the farm
er can mix together just as easily a ne
would mix corn NEAL shorts and cotton
seed meal. Now why are these better
than the prepared brands OF fertliizers
that we find on the maIkeH Because
they can be 80 mixed that they Will fur
nish the food to the plant as The plants
want it, Nearly all plants take up three
times as much potash as they do OF pnos-
phoric acid, but in the prepared fertiiiz-
ers YOU are obliged to buy four times as
much phosphoric acid as there is potash.
L
potash in our fertilizers l get from
dollar invested in prepared fertilizers,
Sl5O worth of increased corn crop,
while side by side with these ! use the
chemicals and get $3.50 to $500 worth
increased crop. This is why am adVo-
eating the use of the crude materials,
mixing them as our soils and crops re-
quire.
Can fertilizers take the place OF
manure? Yes, If rightly used. l have
taken two acres of land, and for the past
four years one has had $4,000 worth of
farm yard manure, and another 833Uo
worth of chemicals. Mixed as follows
Dissolved comeback. 346 lbs. murlate OF
potash, 100 lbs. sulphate of ammonia,
Sc lbs total amount, 552. This amount
costs Sll.00, and three lots were
applied, making $500 in all. Two crops
of corn, one of oats and one of hay have
been harvested. The value of the four
crops from the acre with manure has
been, Sl69. 10, and the four from chemi-
calls, STATE. To show you that the
chemicals are not used up yet, | will say
that this past season we harvested 6202
lbs. of hay from that acre, and from the
MANFRED acre $3.50 pounds.
The following mixtures are such as we
use in New Hampshire to good advan-
tage. Grass per acre, honeplack, 700
lbs muriate of potash, 200 lbs; sui
phate Of ammonia, 80 lbs.
The afternoon meeting was opened with an
address on Chow to sell more and buy less.
We give brief abstract
Farmers in Maine and other New England
States are buying an immense amount OF West
eru products that we should raise on our own
farms. A heavy draft on our farmers. Let us
keep an account with our fields and find out
whether they paying for the labor applied
The use of artificial fertilizers il profitable to
certain extent, but be careful and produce al
the fertilizers possible GU our farms. Don't
sell hay, but feed it at home
The address was followed by remarks by Sec
rotary Gilbert, enlargng upon the same subject
and giving practical ipts and suggestions.
Mr.. Hull of Massachusetts,, next speaker
Subiect-Stock and Stock raising. There is no
bushes. that demands more thought and brain
power than that of stock raising. Spoke of the
methods used in Holland in breeding the Hoi-
stems, that this famous breed had been in exis
tence two thousand years, decidedly the best
breed for us, a milk producer she is not sur
passed, provided she has the necessary feed and
care.
Among the Somerset gentlemen present were
Hon. Geo. Flint, Anson Hon. X. W. Ellis,
Embden IS. C. Watson, Oakland; I. ID. Sally.
Madison G. W. Hobart, Horace Beal, Corn
vile Lewis Beal, DR.. G. NJ. Twitchell, Fair
field j. c. Kinsman, Cornville; Y. A. Withee,
Norridgewock Anscl Holway, A. 5. Hoxc,
Horace Eaton, Skowhegan; Warren Russell,
Madison.
In the evening Prof. Cheesmon read paper,
"The farmers interest in good butter Taste
for good butter is universal. The market can
not be overstocked with good butter. Milk
products are cheaper food than beef, and can be
more proftably produced. New England is a
bette field for the dairyman than the West.
Dairying improves the land. On the merit OF
the COW success chiefly depends. Maine farm
ers must keep better grades Of cows. 1t is a
question whether creameres are more profitable
than domestic butter making. He advocated
establi hment Of crcameries, and cited the Tur
ner Center creamery as the most successful in
New England. He spoke of foods for winter,
fall and summer use, and recommended fodder
plants Of the pea family for fall
Hon. f. ID. Douglass said Dairymen must
get out Of the old ruts, reduce cost and improve
quality Of butter. Costs no more to keep COW
that will make 800 lbs than one that will make
$50 lbs. Recommended daily exercise of cows
in winter.
After the remarks of these gentlemen, ques-
tons were asked by gentlemen present, and the
institute closed. Secretary Gilbert was well
pleased with the attendance and the warm re-
ception given by Somerset farmers. The meet
ing was a success in every particular.
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