The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1892-09-09
MUST FARMERS RAISE WHEAT.
Discussion by the Deer Creek Farmers
Club.

Discussio by the Deer Creek Farmers
Club.
Reported for The Egis.
The low price of wheat induced the Deer
Creek Farmers Club, at its meeting last Satur-
day at the residence of Mr.. James +. Kenly, to
consider whether or not farmers could dis
pense with raising wheat. The majority of
those present thought that it is absolutely
necessary TO raise wheat in order to get land
set in grass, the latter being the aim of all good
farmers.
Mr. D. c. Wharton Smith, President, was in
the chair, with Mr.. K. Harris Archer Secretary.
Other active and honorary members and guests
present, besides the host, were Messrs. Thomas
Lochary, John Moores james w. Hanna,
Robert f. Hanna b. H. Barnes VIM D. Lee, Jno.
Ii. Wysong, It. K. SwartZ, L. 7. Moores, F. w.
Baker, Geo. H. Stephenson, S. NJ. Lee, Howard
Hanway, Robert c. Richardson and b. F. Han
way.
James w. Hanna, b. H. Barnes and T. E.
Swartz the committee appointed to examine
the buildings and farm, reported that the farm
contains $40 acres, and the buildings are in
excellent condition. The dwelling house is one
of the most substantial in the county, the barn
is new, occupying the place of one destroyed
by fEe few years ar ago, the fencing 3 in good
careful farming. Mr.. Kenly's cattle are good
and he has a field of corn equal to big Woods
corn. He has some goods cows and fine Berk-
shire hogs. The club was interested in picket
fence surrounding the garden. This fence is
Il combination of wire and picketS, is readily
and cheaply made and answers the purpose of
a more expensive fence. Members who had
known the farm for years, said that when Mr..
kenly'S father, the late George w. Kenly,
bought it, it was scanned with gulhes and COW
cred with sedge grass, both of which have dis
appeared under Notwithstanding.
The question appointed for discussion was ::
rs it necessary, in this section, to raise wheat 2?
Mr.. Kenly said the object farmers have in
sowing wheat is to get the land back in grass
and have straw for bedding: 1t is not prof.
table crop, even at double the present prices.
I(va h he mo tat,
and grass could be seeded as well with it as
with wheat. Rye straw will bring as much as
timothy hay, but in order to get full prices it
would have to be threshed in different way
from wheat, in order to keep the straw I'M
broken. He had tried sowing clover in corn.
but great many weeds came and the land
soon had to be plowed again.
s. NJ. Lee argued that the growing of wheat
is Il necessity, for the purpose of getting straw
as an absorbent in stables and barn yards and
as protection to the young grass. The objec-
ton to rye as substitute is that the yield is
not so large wheat. Wheat, according to
his experience, is not likely to remain ut the
present low price, and the purchasing power of
a bushel of wheat is very great.
Vim. ID. Lee said farmers can't get along
without raising wheat. Last year he got 81 .O3
for his wheat. This year it is 20 cents, but he
did not believe it would remain at that price.
At present prices it will bring man in debt.
Mr.. Kenly said that the price of fertilizer re-
mains about the same as when wheat was 81 q
bushel.
B. H. Barnes said that in the present rotation
of crops it is necessary to raise some wheat, as
the best way to get set of grass, but at pres
ent prices as little as possible should be raised
He had sowed clover on corn, but never with
satisfactory results. 1t would be an expensive
way TO prepare the ground for grass alone.
Robert c. richardson likewise considered it
necessary to plant wheat for the grain and the
straw. Because the price is low farmers ought
not to stop raising it. One year with another it
pays. The inferior quality this year has much
to do with the low price.
Edward P. Moores said it is as necessary to
crop. 1t is q mistake to charge all the labor
and fertilizer to the wheat crop alone, but
ing should be charged with the first expense
The grass seed might be sowed with oats, but
with the same fertilizer and even a large crop
of oats the difference with oats at 30 cents and
wheat at 20 cents, would be in favor of the
wheat. Wheat is also money crop and there
fore useful and available to the farmer.
X. Harris Archer said he had once prepared
q field, fortified it as il for wheat, and sowed
on it peck of timothy seed per acre, the LIST of
September. The timothy was ready to cut the
following July August. 1t was u success
and the land is still in grass. If one ton per
acre can be procured which is a low estimate,
it would be worth more than Is bushels of
sowing wheat he cut corn stalks for bedding
Crimson clover could be planted among the
corn and cut the following May as hay or to
John Moores said farmer can not get along
without wheat unless he is q Gamer. If the
land be well prepared and the wheat well put
failed to get a crop of timothy when he had
sowed 1t with wheat. Wheat straw is worth
from SIS to 81 an acre and this ought to be
taken into account when estimating the value
of an acre of wheat.
John B. Wysong also regarded it necessary
to raise certain amount of wheat, as the only
from 80 cents to 81 a bushel for it and raise
good crops, it will pay. To do this the ground
should be well prepared. Nothing will take
the place of wheat straw on the farm.
X. +. Hanna said farmers ought to raise n
little wheat, not only for the sake of the -four
but for the straw and to get ground in grass.
A farm without wheat on 1t is u strange sight.
The wheat crop should be credited with the
grass that follows. He knew of nothing that
will take its place. Wheat straw is worth So
an acre to spread on land rs q fertilizer.
VIM. b. Hopkins considered wheat the farm
er's money crop and indispensable. He did not
think it costs as much as some members had
estimated and thought there is some profit in
it even Mt 10 cents bushel.
Mr.. Wysong said thatif from 20 to 25 bushels
per acre can be raised there is profit in it ut 81
bushel, the average price for ten years past.
James w. Hanna said he did not see how
farmers could live without eating and there
fore the growing of wheat is necessary. We
can not get along without wheat straw in our
stables. Leaves would do as substitute but
they are hard to get.
Thomas Lochary did not see how famers
sidered it a mistake to raise two crops in sue
cession on the same ground. The fertilizer
which would be put on both crops il put on
one would ensure good set of grass.
It. Z. Swartz said 1t is necessary to raise
wheat but the acreage had better be lessened.
The wheat straw he can not use in his stables
he hauls out upon his grass fields, with excel
lent results. He did not see how land could be
got back in grass without raising wheat.
Geo. II. Stephenson dissented from the opn-
ions of the majority. He was satisfied there is
no direct money profit in raising wheat. He
regarded it only as depository for the benefit
of succeeding crops Some one remarked that
the purchasing power of bushel of wheat is
as great as it was some years ago 1t should
be remembered, too, that the expense of get
ting that bushel of wheat is as great as it was
then. Wheat can not be grown mt profit at
70 cents a bushe. A crop that occupies so
much of farmers capital without profit had
better be abandoned, or the acreage, at least,
curtailed. If it is necessary to raise wheat to
tho sfra abaOrheut tho of,iaot deair-