The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-04-26

MIR. Carson said that he had grown a
crop at the rate of 400 bushels of pota
toes to the acre. and even when planted
as late as the 2Sth of June from whole
seed
Mr.. Wilson thought that the true idea
i'll planting potatoes was to plant suffi
Gent seed to nourlsh the young plant I'M
til sufficiently strong to appropriate the
strength of the soil in which it was
planted. This was evident in the fact
that potatoe Feelings If containing eyes
was not vigorous because the terminating
principle in the seed was not there iD
sufficient quantity to secure strength for
the young plant. The plant food was
contained in the body of the potatoe,
which if assimulated in proper quantity
made a strong growth. II there was not
sufficient plant food Or in this case a
potatoe, or piece of potatoe large enough
to supply this food, the growth necessari-
ly must be weak, and the yield small.
This idea was forcibly elaborated by
MIR. Squier and MIR. Jno. r Bond, who
| held that nature in every instance furn-
ished the plant food in the germ, or seed
for the young plant.
Mr.. Ewing called attention TO the fact
that the american Agriculturist gave a
prize of 81, 900 for the best growth OF po-
tatoes to an acre. The prize was awarded
to farmer who grew 600 bushels per
acre, from cut seed.
Mr.. Noyes did not think the case cited
as one in point, because it was not a com
| pettive test as to different methods OF
preparing seed potatoes.
The essay being in order Mr.. Moore
| had Mr.. Henry s Coudon read the fol
lowing for him.
WHAT Is THE OBJECT OF FARM sRS' CLUBS
| The answer to this question seems to be
| very simple, viz: the improvement of It's
members Had the question been, III wv is
| this improvement to be effected % the an
! swer would not be 80 easy. Ii is upon this
( Interpretation of the query that | will base
my remarks, and in doing SO shall rely priu
cipally upon our constitution and bylaws,
which, although short, are comprehensive
enough, if strictly followed, 10 ford US the
! means of considerable benefit.
| The first article of the constitution merely
declares the object of the association, which
is "to increase knowledge, and impart sue
cess in farming, Embarrassing and garden
| ing" The fifth article makes it the duty OF
| the Corresponding Secretary to conduct the
correspondence of the association, and en-
! deavor to Z iin information on the subject
of agriculture from similar societies and
! ence before the meetings. Article seven
says leach member when entertaining the
club, shall produce an essay upon subject
selected by himself or the President at a
previous meeting, and this essay shall furn
! :sh the subject for discussion -
This article is in my opinion very i'm
( portauU one, and offers opportunity
for much mutu Il benefit. The mere fact Of
knowing in advance the subject for consid
Grafton, gives each merube AN opportunity
| to post himself and in this way he may moi
only acquire mu, Ia valuable Information fol
himself, but will be prepared 20 impart il
to others The Interchange OF views amoug>
| us, if VIC would take The time to prepare
| ourselves could not fail to be entertaining
and Instructive. How many of MS pursue
! this course?
Article nine says. "At each regular meet
! ing the President shall appoint committee
of three who will be expected to make a
thorough inspection Of the premises, stock
etc, and report promptly to the body, when
each member will be called on for his views
as To she accuracy of the report"
This article il obeyed (and believe it isl
will be found of no little value 1t must bt
admitted that few firms are as well kept a.
they ought to be The surroundings are
often not in a creditabe condition, and the
stock not az well attended to as could be
wished To have this important matter
each month brought to our notice, acts as
an object lesson, and serves IA good purpose
as a reminder if nothing else The lesson
sought to be conveyed is not to attempt
costly improvements and unnecessary orna
mentatlon, but neatness aud order. An ali
of cleanliness and thrift is not incompatible
with plaluness and simplicity; in fact they
are generally found together
| Another of the bylaws also suggests a
means of picking up a good deal of lntorma
| thar yri1, for he lima md
trouble required to conform to it. Article
three which recommends us all to try ex.
periments with various fertilizers upon diff
ferent crops and make known results, opens
the way for getting at the value of certain
mauures under given circumstances with.
out much outlay. Were each member tc
choose a different compound (and theil
name is legion) aud report his success OIL
failure, we. by pooling our knowledge
might be enabled to avoid in a measure the
loss of buying many worthless articles II
| must be renem ber-d, however, that there
| has not yet been introduced any description
of fertilizer that has proven satisfactory a,
all times and Il der all circumstances
| Various compounds have been | repaired
and ara guaranteed to be specifics for Ger
tain crops, and are warranted to bring tn.
answer every time, but they deserve to bt
classed with the quack medicines with
which the country is flooded, and by which
| the ignorant are deceived. As there has
| not appeared any medicinal compound able
to build up the worn out frame of thu
farmer himself and cure all the ills thai
flesh is heir to, so there has not been pre-
scented any manurial compound calculated
| TO build up the worn out soil, and suppl
| the waste that is constantly going on IN oul
lands by reason OF continuous cropping.
believe that good barn yard manure come.
nearer to filling the bill, but this can only
be had in limited quantities and must b,
supplemented by artificial means. Many
of the various prepared fertilizers are good
| substitutes, and are worthy of trial, and as
we have neither the time nor the means t(
test them individually, this article of oul
by laws suggests pan by which we can
assist each other, and is deserving of NOR,
attention than it gets.
Article four reads thus, "All EN- bers ar.
requested to keep an accurate record of tn,
results of all experiments in breeding rails
| ing and feeding the diff rent kinds of stock
the kind of food used, and whether grounc
or cooked" This is good advice and should
commend itself to all who keep live stock
| whe Their horses, cattle, sheep or hogs. We
are all to IA certain extent interested in thi.
branch of farming some of course more
than others-aud had we needed the sug
geslon contained in this article, and from
the time of our organization kept record
mails, the Information giined would be Of
| benefit not only TO ourselves / ut to others