The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1889-02-15

any person whose address is sent TO the Ex-
detrimental Station, Agricultural College p.
| o., Md.
A vote Of thanks was given 10 Major AL
word, when the morning session ended.
HOW TO MAKE FARMING PROFITABLE.
The convention met again shortly after
two O'Clock, when Mr.. George r. Stephenson
was called upon to tell how farming can be
made more profitable.
| He advocated no new system, he said. To
make farming pay better, it is necessary eth
cr TO increase the price of farm products or
decrease the cost of producing them. The
first is hopeless. Low prices, he thought, re-
suit from Over-production and il a new
and better system of farming were discover
ell ny which the yield could be doubled there
would still be over-producton and low prices.
he thought legislation is needed to protect
the interests of the farmers aud he hoped this
convention would make move in this direc.
ton. None of our farms produce rs much
as they might de. There is not sufficient at
tention paid to raising live stock. Any of us
| could raise one or more colts, calves shetp
or hogs than we do, and in his experience
stock can be grown at almost a clear profit.
More attention should also be paid TO grass
IS. They require less labor and fertilizers
than any other crop and without them there
can be permanent improvement.
Not one farmer in Hartford county utilities
all the available fertilizing material to be
found on his farm. Without the expenditure
ofany money a compost can be prepared con-
tanning as much plant-food per ton as COM
mercal fertilizers. Manures could be gath
cred by the wheelbarrow or wagon-load;
washes could be reclaimed and their rich de-
DOsita added the pOmnOst haaD
10 ascertain what any particular soil needs
he suggested that three plots be prepared, of
al eighth of an acre each. On one apply
potash, on another phosphoric acid and on
the third nitrogenous matter. By observing
the results the farmer would be enabled to
decide what was lacking in that particular
field. Every field could be thus tested at lit
lie expense.
Mr., c. Lyon Rogers of Baltimore county,
said the invitation he received stated that
this was 10 be farmers, meeting, run by
farmers, in the interest of farmers. He had
attended many such meetings in Maryland,
but found that they were led and addressed
by lawyers and notify farmers.
He had therefore come to see the change
proposed in Hartford Although farming,
according to the statistics given by the Presi.
dent, is such an important business, those
figures fail to show who gets all this money
for farm products. The farmer don't get his
proportion. Other businesses show profit
of from Is to 90 per cent. What per cent
does the farmer get? He denied the asser-
ton that farmers are ignorant, extravagant
and incapable ofbusness management. Years
ago every boy and every girl had a saddle
horse. Now one horse and buggy carries
the boy and his sister or some other boys
sister. The old family carriage has given
place to the dayton. Farmers have availed
themselves Of improved machinery and do
their work cheaper than ever betore-yet
they do not prosper. He urged organization
among farmers for the purpose of effectng
legislation in their own interests This state
of affairs will continue as long as we send
brokeu-down lawyers, who have failed in
their own profession, 10 our legislatures to
make the laws
Mr. Edward Gilphin, OF Montgomery coun-
ty, cOmplment,dth the farmers of Hartford upon
the good start they had made in this conven.
ton and mentioned some wholesome re-
forms which had been brought about by the
farmers, conventions in his county.
Major Alvord, in reply to some questions,
said that the most readily available source
of obtaining phOsphorc acid is bones treated
with acid lfObtainable he would prefer good
guano or the refuse of sugar factories. Pot
ash can be obtained in no better form than
in wood ashes; next German potash salts, mu-
rate and sulphaie OF potash, cotton seed
bulls and mari For ammonia stable manure
is the best source; next tankage and next fish,
There lie no proof that acid used in dissolv-
ing bone is injurious to land or to plants
growing upon it. The natural ground rock
is not Immediately available for plant food,
but there is more or less acid in all soils
especially in low lands, which acts upon the
ground rock and makes 1t s)luble.'
SANITARY CoNDIoNs on THE FARM.
Prof G. G. Curliss, Principal of Oak
land School, FallstOn, was called upon to
open the discussion on this topic. He said
his remarks would more properly be entitled
Health on the Farm, and lie would only indi-
cate some points connected Herewith, leaving
their discussion to others. His first point was
trees about the house and yard. They are
said to shade the house and keep it damp.
The farmer who works all day in the sun
likes to have shady place to which he can
retire, but n house closely surrounded by
trees gets damp and the women folks suffer.
If trees are too near the house the spoutng is
filed with leaves, throwing the wafer into
the cellar, thus making the house damp. He
suggested placing wire cloth over the spout
ing. Porches may also be multiplied to such
an extent as to be an injury in the same way.
The water supply should be cared for par
tcularly. AL causes that vitiate water should
should be removed, as it is impossible to tell
how great n distance drainage can get into a
well. Initiated water causes sickness. There
is NO safety for well in barn yard. Water
for animals should be just as pure as for men.
Stops from the kitchen sohuld not | G thrown
near a well nor should the drain from the
kitchen and house run near it. The proper
way is to have Stops from the kitchen enptied
into barrel on wheels and carried off daily.
Ice should be obtained from perfectly pure
source, if possible. 1t has been supposed
that ice purities itsei In freezing, and willie
il is true that the crystals of ice are compos-
ell Of pure water, between these there may be
poisonous matter Animals need great deal
of pure air, and when enclosed in close sta.
bles their lungs are endangered. Lung dis
eases in calves, &c, originate ia ill-ventls-
ted stables.
The diet on the farm is another important
element Of health. Some farmers live lux
uriously enough but in the families of others
the diet is scaniy. Salt pork, skim milk and
very little butter are used, everything sale
abe being sent to market. He believed con-
sumption originates in such families.
The boys on the farm should not be over
worried. The farmer is careful not to work
his colt hard, but there is danger of boys
being OverwOrked.
Farmers wives, also, work too hard and
are kept too closely in the house. They should
be encouraged To drive about more. The
girls, he thought, enjoy better treatment than
the boys. They strum on the the piano and
go to bIarding-school while the boys toll on
the farm. the farm should be made attrac-
tive to all the members of the family.
DR.. J. G. Butler, Health Officer of the
county, followed Prof Curtss on the same
subject Water, he said, is the chief vehicle
for the transmission of disease germs into the
system, and he had been surprised how peo-
Pile escape from zymotic fevers, since so many
drink impure water. The well should be on
the highest ground on the place, with slop-
ing grade fom il to the kitchen and stables.
Even brick or stone wall tightly cemented
will not keep the surface water from con-
Eliminating the well! A well will drain as
many feet in radius as it is deep. The streams,
also ahould he kent Dure There ia a heavy