The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1894-09-21
DEER CREEK FARMERS CLUB.


DEER CREEK FARMERS CLUB.
| Reported for The Egis
| One of the most interesting meetings of the
Deer Creek Farmers Club was held at the resi-
dence of Mr.. w. b. Harlan, at Churchville, on
Saturday evening. Mr.. Harlan's farm is one
| of the largest and best managed farms in the
county Everywhere is evidence of neatness.
There are over !, 100 acres of land under the
personal supervision of Mr.. Harlan, yet every
thing moves with regularity of clock work.
The active members present besides the host
were Messrs. S. A. Williams, John Moores, D..
c. Wharton Smith, II. Harris Archer, John Il.
Wysong, John Webster, T. Edward Swartz. C
Louis Elicott, james +. Kenly, Thomas
Lochary and Robert +. Hanna. The visitors
were Judge Henry ID. Harlan, DIR. Herbert
Harlan, of Baltimore, David Harlan. of Penn
sylvania, Prof. Warner 7. L. Taliaferro, of the
Agricultural College, Mr.. w. L. Amoss and
Rev. E. A. Colburn.
| The committee on inspection reported through
| their chairman, Mr.. X. Harris Archer, that MIR.
| Harlan deserves great commentator for the
excellent condition of his farm. The buildings
! were all i'll good order, fence rows clean and
| the bushes hauled away and burned instead of
| allowing them to lay in the cutters and dam
| up the water ways. His cattle look very well,
| but nothing else could lie expected ON such
| luXurant pasturage.
The subject selected for discussion was ''Di-
| VerSitied Crops"
! w. B, Hari ian said that with wheat at present
| prices il behooves farmers to look for some
other crops. He had often thought of small
| fruits, asparagus and celery. Every farmer
| has some low ground upon which celery could
be raised at profit. The question of dispens-
ing with wheat had t Occurred to him he knew
! had harvested about IL tons of good hay to
the acre. This he would hardly recommend, as
| by waiting another year we would get both the
| grass and wheat crODs.
C. Louis ElIicott hardly knew what would
take the place of wheat. Some suggested win
| ter oats ms more bushels can be raised to the
acre and the price is about the same The
| other crops referred to by Mr.. Harlan are use
full as adjuncts, but would they do to depend
| on?
| David Harlan thinks small fruits should be
cultivated and cited the high prices paid for
Delaware farms, while the quality of the soil
! is no better than Harford's. 1t must be on ac-
count of small fruit being their staple.
| James +. kenly knows money can be made
| out of small fruits, but farmers should go into
| it cautiously, or prices will go us low AS wheat.
| General husbandry is the safest rule and it is
better not to carry all our eggs in one basket.
We all agree that it does not pay to raise wheat
| but cannot get along without some. The best
| plan would be to SOW one-half the present
| acreage.
S. A. Williams spoke of one of the most sue
| cessful farmers in the county, who cans toma-
| toes and raises truck for market in addition to
the regular products and has every year made
| money, from this it can be seen that it pays to
| have variety of crops, but not get in more
than we can properly manage.
| ). NJ. Lee thought it best not to get into any
| business we are unacquainted with, therefore
| we should not attempt too many new crops.
| He is not in favor of sowing timothy without
| wheat, as in case the set fails, all use of the
ground that year is lost. He did not think it
| expedient to adopt rye when it pays no better
| than wheat.
". L. Amoss said that the only salvation for
eastern farmers is to grow small fruits. From
our location to market it can be made to pay
well. We ought to grow something to sell at
all times. But it is best not to branch out too
far in the start. Sugar corn is a good thing to
| raise, if the prices are low it can be used as
| feed. Also plant some tomatoes, strawberries
and cabbage. Fruit can be shipped to north
ern markets and good prices obtained. Rive
| pays fairly WELL 1t generally yields about 20
| bushels per acre, and two tons of straw which
made good hay if cut just as it is )ming into
head.
| DIR. Herbert Harlan stated that he had in
| years past read with interest the proceedings
| of the club and CLEANED much valuable infor-
nation from their perusal, but had no su9ges-
tions to offer, not having had any practical ex-
John Webster agreed with Mr.. Amoss, but it
is hard to say what is best to raise. We ought to
manure more heavily and cultivate less ground.
Raise several different crops, but be careful in
their selection.
Thomas Lochary thought we ought to expert
ment carefully to determine the best crops to
raise.
K. Harris Archer said everything depends on
the position any one is in. A man who would
pillow up a sod like Mr.. Harlan's to plant in
small fruits is a crank We ought to fatten
more CATTLE A man with small farm near a
railroad can make trucking pay.
Professor Talaferro deemed this one of the
most important questions. He agreed with the
majority about diversity of crops. 1t is stat
ed on good authority that wheat can be raised
on the large farms i'll the West and delivered
| at profit at San Francisco, for 25 cents per
bushel. This, of course, we cannot compete
with and must look to something else Our
future prosperity lies in IL variety of crops.
In choosing these we must be governed by the
variety of our soil, and select crops which will
thrive best. Raspberries and blackberries can
always be raised ut profit. Prices vary con-
suerably in different places. The Experiment
Station shipped tomatoes to Pittsburg and Bal
timore markets the same time. At the former
81 so per bushel was realized and the latter %
cents You cannot raise fruit like other crops.
1t is a speculative product and prices vary con-
sderably ut different markets the same day.
Barley is good substitute for wheat, but is
particular crop. At the Experiment Station it
yielded so bushels to the acre, worth 50 cents
per bushel.
X. +. Hanna thought we ought not to cOntine
ourselves to any one CROP but we are too far
away from market to make small fruit pay.
We ought to produce plenty of chickens, but
ter and eggs, also tomatoes and sugar corn.
j. b. Wysong's idea was that there is now a
great diversity of crops, and we cannot change
unless we go in the trucking business about
which doubt the prOpriety. 1trequires skilled
labor and experience and we would be liable
| to get too many irons in the fire. 1t is still
necessary to raise some wheat, us we must have
straw.
John Moores, the President, thinks we cannot
| diversity any more than we do at present.
| We are now raising cattle, wheat, corn. pota-
| toes, tomatoes, oats and many other articles.
He would continue to raise wheat even il 1t
| went to 40 cents a bushel.
Prof. Taliaferro, on behalf of President Sill
| ton to the Agricultural College. 1t was de-
cided to go on Friday, October 49,