The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-08-21
DEER CREEK FARMERS CLUB.
The Wheat Crop


Reported for The Bgis.
The Deer Creek Farmers Club met last Satur-
day, at the farm of Mr.. William ID. Lee near
Thomas Run. The active members and others
In attendance were Messrs. James f. Kenly,
Lee, X. Harris Archer, Thomas Lochary. John
Moores. Edward P. MooreS. John B. Wysong Jas
W. Hanna, X. John Rogers Bennett Barnes Harry
Wilson. VIM, Munnikhuysen, Rev. j. NJ. Hare, of
of New York.
Edward T. Moores, Thomas Lochary and R.
Harris Archer, a committee appointed TO examine
and report upon the condition of Mr.. Lees stock
and premises, said that everything they saw was
in tirst-class condition. Mr. Lee has a pair Of
handsome Thorndale colts. one of them wearing
very large for its age, and the other twoyear old
as large and fine colt as the committee had ever
seen. He also has good three-year old Dexter
colt. Mr. Lee has, besides, seven or eight nice
ohortnorn calves; ms corn is promising and he has
one OF the flnest orchards in the neighborhood
Mr. Lee makes mistake, the committee thought,
IN not endeavoring to utilize the large quantity
apples with which the ground is covered
MIR. Lee said noted cider maker had informed
him that cider made in August would not make
vinegar.
The question selected for discussion was the
wheat crop, concerning which Mr.. Samuel M. Lee
said that in his younger days to make wheat
crop farmers depended on green crops, such as
clover, ploWed under early in the season, and did
not return the crop. without an interval, to the
same ground: To make good crop of wheat in
tnls way IL Is necessary to make good crop of
clover, and to get a stand of clover the seed must
De covered with frost and rain or by the harrow
Light soil intended to be plowed for wheat should
be trampled by stock but the grass not eaten down
short. Early seeding, especially on corn ground
sometimes misses but oftener hits. Mr.. Lee argued
strongly against the excessive use of commercial
fertilizers and said land can be improved more
economically by the blowing under of green crops.
IN Inc growing OF wheat after wheat, he was salts
hed. was attended with heavy loss
VIM. ID. Lee believed in applying fertilizers to
wheat to make grass grow With fertilizers wheat
To- pow o early s b crop OF Of f wheat er
ought to be put on the ground in August. if posi-
be-say 500 lbs: OF bone and then drill i'll 100 lbs.
OF phosphate with the wheat.
Il. John Rogers said lie had seeded some stalk
ground last year without blowing and some he
plowed The wheat was decidedly better where
the ground was plowed. AS to rolling the ground
after drilling wheat he believed the ridges left by
the drill were of advantage, because they melted
down and Kept the roots covered through the Win
Rev Mr.. Hare said the system OF farming in
Hartford ditfereS from that pursued in Chester
county. Ia. In the latter farmers raise very little
grain, the dairy business being found more prof.
table. The diaries are on the cooperative PLAN
The milk is paid for according to its quality and
the profits are divided among the stockholders.
j. NJ. McFadden said all he knew about wheat
raising was what he mad learned when on the
margin. He thought If we had better roads in
Hartford it would cost farmers onehalt less to
vile to Aberdeen and from Churchyille to Bel Air
were macadamized it would help farmers great
deal. A macadamzed road if attended to prompt
ly costs very little for repairs.
Z. P MooreS said that to raise wheat YOU must
use fertilizers. A great thing fer the wheat crop is
to prepare the ground thoroughly before sowing
Wheat ground can not be narrowed too much. 1t
should be Sowed about the Goth of September and
he would advise drilling in all the fertilizer
with the wheat.
K. Harris Archer said that the older he grew
the more convinced he was that very little is
known of farming. The results of experiments
In practical work are so contradictory. In some
places good crops of wheat are raised by merely
narrowing the ground, in others you must pillow
and harrow repeatedly. He favored early blowing
and would SOW between the 18th and 10Th of SEN
TENDER.
John Moore likes to pillow early and deep for
wheat. The ground should be thoroughly pulyeriz-
ed to good depth. He prefers to sow from the
the 10th to 2lst of September. His experience has
been that early Sowed wheat misses only about
one year out of forty He applies from 500 to 600
lbs. of fertilizers per acre. He cultivates pows
his stalk ground for wheat, as it may happen to
suit, and finds the yield about the same. From
some cause he has had no success with cloverseed
for five or six years past, but has failed in
crop of timothy. He had about concluded that
the failure of cloverseed to take was because the
timothy is sowed too thick in the fall and the
clover has no chance.
Jas. +. Kenly thought the ground ought to have
slight narrowing when the clover is sowed.
VIM. MunnlkhuySen had seen this plan tried and
not sprig of clover could be seen.
John MooreS reSuming, said he had been raising
FultZ wheat and believed it would yield more
bushels per acre than any other variety, while the
quality has been steadily improving.
James w. Hanna plows early for wheat and
works the ground all he can before sowing. He
does not like the spring tooth harrow, because
two bushels of wheat to the acre. His experience
is that $50 lbs. of good fertilizer to the acre will
bring as much wheat 600 lbs. but will not
bring as much grass afterwards. If GOO or 700 lbs
are to be used, 500 lbs. should be applied broad
cast, andthe remainder drilled in with the wheat
His time OF sowing is from the Goth to the 25th Of
September.
S. NJ. Lee said that as rule early sowing is best.
Pillow the ground as early as you can from the last
of June to the middle OF A1gust-not later if YOU
can avoid it. Harrow the ground and have it well
tramped, The quantity TO be sown varies: He
hgh tNu nntnA
and although One-haf persisted the yield was over
As bushels to the acre.
VIM. Munnikhuysen plows as soon after harvest
as possible. He harrows the ground once or twice,
drills in the fertilizer one way and drills the wheat
and some phosphate across. He rolls the ground
ahead of the drill. as the wheat is more easily
covered thereby. He prefers Fultz wheat. Plow-
ing stalk ground for wheat is the most certain way
to get set of grass. His impression is that it is
of no advantage to take out so many of the smaller
grains, in preparing wheat for seeding
John B. Wysong plows as early as he can and if
the ground is in proper condition it does not re-
quire so much working afterwards. 1t is neces-
sary to have the ground compact for wheat and
the finer the surface the more likelihood of good
growth of wheat. He sowS about the 25th of Sep
TENDER or little later. He generally plowS stalk
ground but sees no difference between blowing
and cultvatng the ground. When he plows he
puts roller on Immediately, gives the ground a
light narrowing and drills in the wheat He does not
believe there is as much in the selection of large
grains as many imagine The quantity seeded
depends on the condition of the ground and the
season. If the ground is in tirStclaSS condition it
will require less seed. AS good a crop he
ever raised was from one buShel of FultZ to the
acre
Bennett H. Barnes never plows sod ground for
wheat. He tries to cover his corn ground with
barn yard manure and puts that in wheat. He
rolls the cOrn-stalkS down with heavy roller,
plowS them under, rolls the ground and drills In
the wheat. Seldom harroWS the ground. He drills
in from 800 to 400 lbs OF fine bone and bushels of
wheat to the acre. He fans his wheat thoroughly
so as to get only the heaviest and largest grains
for sowing He follows wheat with Wheat Before
setting the land i'll grass. His time of sowing is
about the 23th OF September The largest crop he
corn ground. He likes to use rubber for stubble
ground because 1t levels the ground and leaves it
in better condition for grass. Rolls the ground be-
fore drilling.
Thomas Lochary sows wheat only on corn
ground, and always sows grass seed on it.
applied with it will act better near the surface
His time, of sowing is the LIST of October, and he
not pillow his stalk ground. His land is red clay,
some of it very tough. He has not had good luck
M Rs Gd or years past sSWs it
tolerably fair stand. He does not think clover
takes so well where the timothy is very thick.
Mr.. Barnes said he had quit sowing timothy in
the fall. believing it injuries the wheat.
VIM. MunnikhuySen sowed timothy last fall with
the drill and sowed some this spring just before
sowing his clover seed. The clover is the rankest
he ever saw.
John Moores said he had about come to the con-
cluSiOn that the reason clover has failed is from
sowing timothy in the fall. He believes if the
timothy and clover were sowed in March we would
get a good set IN clover.
Jas. F. Kenly. the President said it seems to be
generally conceded that early blowing and thorough
preparation of the soil are essential to the raising
of wheat. The ground should be well packed but
OF good. fine filth to a depth of two inches. The
Goth of September is the best time TO sow The
quantity of seed required depends on the richness
OF the land Thin land requires heavier seeding
than rich land because the wheat does not tiller
out so much on thin as on good land. tits import
ant to use good seed, because like produces like.
From an inch to an inch and a-half is deep enough
to drill the seed.
John MOores remarked that when the ground is
dry planting from two TO three inches is BEST be-
cause the grain terminates better.
Mr.. Kenly, continuing, said he seldom Sows any
but corn ground wheat and rarely plows for it,
His idea is that blowing makes the ground too
light for wheat If sod is plOwed in the spring for
corn and the ground worked all summer, harrow
ing or cultivatng in the fall is all that is needed
for wheat. Where the ground is full of weeds
blowing may be necessary. He endeayors TO sow
from about one buShel to five pecks to the acre,
provided the seed is good.
Mr.. Joseph B. Hanway was elected an active
member Of the club and Mr.. William b. Baker an
honorary member.
The next meeting of the club will be at the resi-
dence of Mr.. Thomas Lochary, on September 18th.
The question chosen for discussion is as follows:
us 1t Good Farming is it Profitable to raise two
crops OF corn in succession on the same field?"
500 Reward. 500.
The readers of the 1EgiS and lnteRtgencer will be
pleased Ia learn that il al II cd