The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-03-23

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laud, could obtain the best results b,
the construction of silos. He had neve
fed enslIage himself and therefore had Ii,
individual opinion to express as to thu
comparative value of it as a cattle food
Mr.. John P. Ewing shared MIR. Moore'i
opinion that where the acreage of the
farm was small the ensilage system could
be protitably adopted.
Mr.. Thomas G. Bond had given the
subject some consideration incidentally
as a matter of personal information, but
had no experience to report to the club.
Mr.. George Balderston said he would
speak as "a proxy tor his father Lloyd
Balderstou who was more familiar than
himself with the practical details of the
ensilage question, and more thor.
oughly posted on the subieUS. He
thought that the exact truth as to its
value as food for cattle, lay between
the two extremes as stated in the articles
just read. He thought the highest value
Of ensilage consisted in the variety 1t
afforded farmers in feeding cattle. Cows
aud cattle generally were machines for
the consumption and appropriation OF
food for butter and beet producing results
Their skeletons were the frame works to
put beet on, by judlcious feeding Of such
articles of food as mostly quickly and
most economically accomplished the pur-
pose, and ensilage had its place, and
doubtless one of value, in the general
economy OF the farm. Mr.. John w. Nc
Cullough concurred in Mr.. Balderston's
opinion, that the chief value OF ensilage
lay in the fact that it afforded farmers a
desirable variety in feeding cattle. He
had read current articles on the subject
with interest, but had not used ensilage
| as cattle food.
Mr.. E. H. Worthington said he had no
personal experience to repeat for the ben
eft of the club, but believed that the
question was one of Importance to farm
ers.
Mr.. Thos. G. Bond, at the request of
the President read a short extract from a
prominent agricultural journal, to the
effect that sllos We're coming into general
use in some of the Western states, be-
cause ensilage was believed to be cheap
food for both cattle and swine, and the
statement was made, that one acre
planted for ensilage, would yield in food
pn,,nb ainht III Yr,,1noa in
hay, or IN the proportion of to l.
No further opinions upon the subject
being offered, the pes lent announced
the following gentlemen as the commit
tee to examine and raJart on the condi,
ton of Mr.. Kitchener took and prem
Uses viz. Messrs. Mccullough, Coudon
and Ewiag. A recess of one hour was
taken by the club. Upon reassembling
at one o'clock Mr.. Euoch Mccullough
reported very favorably upon the condl-
ton of Mr.. Michener's premises and
stock. He commented particularly upon
the superiority of his swine Mr.. Coudon
supplemented Mr.. McCullough's report
by commencing the general indications
of system and order everywhere notice
able about his premises, particularly the
cleanliness of his henery. He noticed his
growing wheat as being fine and indicat-
ing careful and thrifty farming.
Questions being in order, Mr.. Duy-
ckinck and NJ. Michener made inquiry
OF the Club, as to several matters purely
of "a business character, which were cou-
cluded just as dinner was announced. and
which was a substantial tribute to Mr..
Kitchener hospitality.
Upon reassembling after dinner, Mr.
Joseph Coudon asked the Club, when,
and what quantity of oats should be sown
to the acrep''
Mr.. Duyckinck thought from two to
three bushels. The best yield to the acre
he ever had was SO bushels, upon ground,
boned that year tor corn. The variety
was the old fashioned Spangle variety.
If the ground was light two bushels were
enough to sow. II heavy two and one
half bushels to the acre. The best time
to SOW was when the ground was in order
aud as early as possible.
Mr. Enoch Mccullough said his prac.
tice had been to drill three bushels to the
acre, and his results had generally been
satisfactory.
Mr. Ewing said his habit had been to
drill two bushels to the acre. He con-
Cured in MIR. Duyckinck's opinion that
oats should be sown as soon as the coudi-
ton of the ground would allow.
MIR. Moore drilled his oats two aud a.
halt bushels to the acre, which in his
opinion equaled three bushels sown
broad cast. He believed IN sowing boun-
titully, if you would reap plentifully.
Mr.. Michener said that when boy he
had sown broad cast as much as five
bushels to the acre on his fathers farm,
but believed that as large a yield could
now be obtained by drilling two and a
half bushels to the acre. OF the Welcome
variety he has drilled one bushel per
acre, and reaped over fifty bushels. He
has noticed no better yield from drilling
one and half bushels per acre, of the
variety named.
Mr. Carson said he usually sowed two
bushels of the Welcome variety, but had
never raised over an average of fifty
bushels to the acre.
Mr.. Coudan further explained his ques-
ton by saying that he desired to get rid
of a rather TOO abundant growth of weeds
on portion of his farm, and thought of
sowing oats as one means of cleaning the
| land.
Mr.. Duvckinck had so high an appre.
ciatlon of an oa's crop as the mea is of
cleaning land, that it was his opinion.
that crop of this grain would pay for
| the fertilizers to make crop of wheat,
aud the land would not be more impover-
ished by IL than by the growth of the
weeds. If clover was sown with the oats
and allowed to lay year, the chances
| the oats than where the oats had not been
sown.
Mr.. Carson thought that Mr.. Coudon
could not go far wrong in planting oats
to clear his field of weeds He thought
very lavorably of oats as feed for grow.
! ing stock He recommended equal uuali.