The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-06-01

were favorable it grew luxuriantly, whel
they were less favorable. it propagatet
itself less vigorously.
Mr.. Squier took very decided GROUND
in sustaining the idea by ready argument
that the growth of sorrel was largely
promoted by the presence OF too muci
acid in the soil. That this acidiUy wa'
to be neuTralzed by the production of, Oh
introduction in the soil of the necessary
alkaline matter. That the use of lime
by its action upon the chemical ingre
dents of the soil, set free this alkali,
and destroyed the condition favorable to
the stimulated growth of the weed. He
did not assert that the lime itself con-
tanned the needed alkaline matter, but
that it supplied to the already existing
chemical conditions of the soil, the miss
ing ingredient. He rejected with very
decided expressions of disbelief, the idea
suggested by Mr. Bond. Mr.. Coudon, and
other members of the Club, that atmos-
pheric or climatic conditions had every
thing to do with the termination, or pro-
pagation of this weed. That in the great
economy Of nature, existent from the hour
of Adams birth, the germs of this and
other kindred growths had been deposi
ted in the earth. That their appearance
and development were in accordance with
the conditions of their growth, which in
succeeding cycles or periods of time
finally were superseded by other plants.
That these vegetable growths finally die
out, to be succeeded by others in their
turn, and that the agency of man can
only partially effect them by the skillful
application of chemical agents. AS the
world progresses in scientific knowledge
these agents become known, and the sub
limating processes OF the chemist are ap-
piled to the needs and wants OF the agri-
culturalist.
Mr.. OIis asked Mr.. Squier whether he
advanced the idea that the acid contained
in the soil, was transmitted to the plant
as contained in it's cell structure.
Mr.. Squier replied emphateally that
he did not.
Mr.. Milligan and also Mr.. Miller with
out entering into the argument at any
length, asserted their opinion, that the
reasons assigned for the termination and
| growth OF sorrel and all other kindred
vegetable growths, were largely specula-
| tive at best, and therefore to a certain
extent beyond remedial action upon the
part of the agriculturalist.
Mr.. Graham took few moments to
explain very clearly and intelligently the
| character of the acids evolved by the
treatment OF phosphate rock by sulphurc
| acid in the preparation of artificial fertil-
izers, his explanation being in line with
the idea suggested by MIR. Squier, that
the stimulated growth of sorrel was at
tributable to too much acid in the soil.
Mr.. Carson said that his experience had
been that sorrel grew Independently of
any condition that the farmer could
create. He held the idea that it could
be only corrected by the super abundant
growth of some other plant, and by pre-
venting it from growing to seed. Schuyl-
kill lime had been suggested as remedy
for sorrel because it contained larger
percentage of magnesia than other lines.
He expressed no opinion, however, as to
its merits as an antidote for this weed.
II being one o'clock recess was taken
for one hour when the president an
nounced the names of Messrs. Noyes,
Wilson and Kitchener as the committee
for the inspection of Mr.. Sutton's stock,
system of farming, growing stock, etc.
Upon re-assembling after dinner
which it is needless to say was not the
least interesting feature of the meeting,
mittee to examine premises, reported the
very excellent prospects OF Mr.. Sutton's
growing crops, both wheat and grass, the
former promising from 80 to 50 bushels
per acre. The committee commended the
general tidiness and neatness of Mr.. SUIT
tons premises, and praised particularly
four unusually promising 2 and 3-year-old
colts two OF which were sired by Grey
Morrill,, and two others, one of them a
handsome Hambletoniau, and the other
Vermont Morgan stock. MIR. Sutton
thought it but due the Eureka Fertilizer
Company to say that he had used on his
crops the Farmers Favorite Fertilizer
manufactured by that firm.
MIR. Wilson asked-What was the best
top dressing for meadow lands and when
the best time to apply it?
The president of the Club, Mr.. Carson,
replied that he made top dressing of
barnyard manure on pasture land last
fall aud also last spring, the result was
very satisfactory in both cases. He
could not say which of the two dressings
was the better.
Mr.. Noyes asked whether it was better
to pillow timothy sod for wheat twice. the
first blowing in June and the second in
September, or to pillow once after harvest?
This question provoked very spirited
argument which was participated in by
Messrs. Henry Coudon, John r. Bond,
Enoch Noyes, Mr.. Moore and Mr. Duyck-
inck. Mr. Coudon opposed the idea of
too much working of land. He expressed
his belief that land was generally worked
too much. his opinion being that the
amount of money which the extra work
on land cost was better spent in fertii-
izers Mr.. Bond took rather the opposite
view, citing the frequent plowings land
received in England and other countries,
Mr.. Coudou, on the other hand, urging
| that the different climatic conditions be-
tween this country and the others cited
justified the difference in manner of til
lage.
Mr.. Mccullough reported that he had
planted as an expermint this spring about
four acres of a new variety OF corn called
the Brazilian flour corn, which was in
t1oduced into the State of Virginia four
years ago. He procured the seed from
Johnson & Stokes, Philadelphia. He
planted it four feet apart each way, two
grains in a hill, each grain was repre-
scented to produce three stocks, and each
stock from three to five ears of corn from
to 8 Inches long. After some debate
upon the relative advantages of close
| sowing of grain and the contrary, the
next meeting of the Club was fixed at A.
| r. Magraw's on Wednesday, June 18th.