The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-03-18
CECIL FARMERS CLUB.
The Regular Monthly Meeting
at Mr.. Il. l.. Duyckinck's
Near Calvert.

Near Calvert.
The March meeting of the Cecil Far.
mer's Club was held on Wednesday last
the 155h inst at 'Lckingbank" farm, The
homestead of MIR Ellis L. Duyckinck near
Calvert. Owing to the condition of til
roads the members were somewhat LAT
in assembling, Thomas G. Bond, ESQ,
the president Of the club directing the
call of the roll Of members at eleven
O'Clock. when the following responded
to their names; Al. Michiner, Samuel
Il Carson, Col. Enoch Noyes, Col. John
X. Bond, John P. Wilson, Thomas c.
Bond, E. L. Duyckinck, VIM. z. GILES
pie, and II. R Torbert. The visitors
present by invitation were VIM. Arm
strong, Amos Martindale, John ]. PEN
neil, Jonathan Smock of New Bruins
wick, n. j., VIM. L. Mearns and A. l..
Duyckinck.
The minutes of the last meeting hav
ing been read and approved, reports of
experiments being IN order, Mr.. Duyck
lnck expressed the opinion that in
sowing clover seed with a seeder.
three quarts to the acre were suffi
cient, aud quite as good in results as a
larger quantity. He had recently sown
in this manner upon the snow, three
quarts to the acre. There was not a
spot on the field three inches SQUARE
that did not show a seed of clover. He
had anticipated the experiment in report
ing it at this time, but if three quarts of
clover seed wore enough to plant to the
acre-and which in his opinion was suffi
clent-farmers generally should know it,
and in sowing clover seed they could save
the additional thr quarts, as six quarts
was the quantity now being generally
sown by them. The result of his expert.
ment he would ultimately report.
Tie regular essay being in order Mr..
Duyckinck read the following paper on
TWO TROUBLES TO THE FARMER-THE
ENGLISH sPARRow-AND THE ROADS.
Dir. President and Members of the Cecil Farmers
Ctu6: Since 1t has been our privilege to enjoy the
opinions OF the strongest minds in the country on
pohtlcal and economic questions of the day.
there Is another equally important and more
grave one, in its future aspect than people fully
realize. But acquaintance and social contact
with this English friend have long ere this fully
convinced the American people that ther would
gladly send them back to their native country
This question is seldom discussed through the
medium OF the press or proclaimed from the
nj "a and tta IN
placidly submit to the ravuges of these little
pests. And unless the farmers and fruit growers
devise some way by which the production OF these
pests is curtailed, the producers of this con try
Will be crying for prot ction from the different
States to save them from ruin and Obstruction
by these pets. Can figures compute the raDid
increase OF these birds from 1866 which TODAY hold
high carnival over all our native and domestic
birds in every city and town in the United states
II was the great interest our English cousins had
in their cousins the ditch, that was the first
step in the line OF importation. They claimed
Tor them to destroy both insect and larva of both
beetle and worm. so that insects were to be
thing of The past. But how do we find his taste
to run in this country? Sorry to say, we find him
like the imported wines-much improved In
stead of being an insectiverous bird his refined
imported ia tie proves him to be the most raven
Gus, granivorous feeder directing his energies
10 rearing iron. two to four broods ina season
ag.regating from twelve to twenty four young
birds il single year. Now what does this mean
in the next twenty-five years of unmOleSted
prosperity? Figures cannot compute the increase
Now let us look at the cOnsumptionO of these birds.
1t Is estimated that we have three of these birds
per capita OF our population which is 90 900 900.
Now tn ee birds per capita would make 80 900 600
Now suppose for a moment each bird will consume
in one day Il teaspoon III OF grain and seeds, YOU
will be surprised to know they consumed the
immense sum of 234S bushels OF grain and seeds,
and that the three months grain and seeds
exposed, take the country at large, the consump-
ton OF these birds amounts to 2lO, $50 bushels in
three months Surely we INST not sleep while
they are working. Now the great and important
question is, how we to destroy these pests and
the cheapest way to do it? In my opinion, any
thing as tame as the English sparrow in
short time be eXterminated and at little cost.
Many advocate a bounty OF two cents as is offered
in Germany. and one cent as is paid in England
per head But object to any procedure OF this
kind, and suggest the soaking of small wheat or
seeds in a solution of strong strychninr, and
placed in deep boxes nailed out of poultry's
reach. This destroys them bya wholesale process.
But we must, in the lace of this fact, regret the
deep interest our English cousins had in our
welfare, and that their efforts in our behalf have
not in any way been to our advantage, and may
add what has been added to this country barring
the different strains OF stock that has been
direct benefit and many times the Introduction
OF stock previous to the quarantine, proved disas-
trous And l warn the advocates of pauper
immigration let they too array themselves in
direct opposition to our social and moral welfare,
as has the English sparrow to the welfare of the
farmer. Since telling OF the great disadvantage
the sparrow has proven himself to be, in what
respect are they an advantage? In the first place
they neither possess grace nor beauty are wholly
denuded OF every principle given to birds, being
wholly void of the slightest degree of chastity and
their filthy nature in every respect makes them
utterly detestable. Arraying themselves in direct
opposition against every known interest so that
no good in the least can be said of them l have
seen them fight chickens the size OF quail from
their feeding dishes, while young turkeys will
actually perish for the want of food rather than
combat with the defiant sparrow. Everything
in the world of creation is either beautiful grace
full or useful and many things possess all these
qualities and beg leave to assert, fail to find
in my observation or in the opinion of others,
anything that will warrant word OF commenda-
ton in his beha II. and the civil war that is wag
ing between the farmers and the sparrows is
inevitable. And l may ask in what light can we
place ourselves for the economic welfare OF the
country? Are we as true American citizens
justified in fostering an English nuisance, be-
cause some fanatical American wished to immor-
taliZe his name? While on the other hand is it
statesmanlke, is it manly FOR us, a free thinking
and Tree acting people, to placidly sit with our
hands folded and mouths sealed, submitting to
the dictates OF our county autocrats? Why not
think and act for ourselves in protecting the
the game birds God has given us, which are
beautiful and beneficial? l do question the
patriotic blood that flows in any spOrtsman's
veins who may say nay. Show me the man who
objects to the tax of the fair grounds, the ball
room or the skating rink Do they not show their
willingness to protect these socialties? Now
show me the man who will object to tax for
the protection OF our native game. As Tor myself,
the bound of the partridge and the crack OF the
gun are as sweet to rs the music OF the giddy
waltz is the fairy, and Tor the protection of our
game advocate tax for every man and boy
who carries gun in the fel's, that the time be
limited to three days in the week during the
hunting season. Individual protection has its
influence when land holders combine, but they
don't res ch out far enough. More thorough and
far reaching must be the legislation, and beg
YOU gentlemen of the county, not wait until the
boat leaves to step aboard.
ROADS.
II YOU will indulge me few moments, have
another subject wish to offer for your coDsidera-
tion-Roads take this method of replying to n
letter in one of our local papers. knowing the
nature of the road bed. The absurdity OF his
ideas to me are greatly in need of criticism on the
point OF road making How can any man at this
dav advocate n dirt road, when he cannot help
bu; know dirt Is as poisonous to our roads, as
pa lis green is to the potato bug, and the true
system OF road making has been narrowed to the
one pOInt a stone road bed. Many plans are
Sugt eSted for raising money to do this work. BY
bonding districts. counties or states. Either
one is preferable the present system, which in
Itself is ali light but the burden of taxation falls
on the few. Tor the benefit of the many L am
an advocate OF tax OF - 80 to be levied on every
non taxpayer over q years OF age who has
franchise or right thereto. Only few OF this
army OF young who do not enjoy the
same right as the heaviest taxpayerin the county
and why should they not be taxed, and let that
20 to the road fund. While the present system OF
road making in its infancy, and is open to
skill and improvement All breaking OF stone
should be done by crusher which can be done
much cheaper and better than by hand. Now let
u turn our attention to our old friend, dirt road