The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-06-02
CECIL FARMERS CLUB.
The Regular May Meeting at VIM. e.
Giilespie's near CoIora.

Giilespie's near ColOra.
The regular monthly meeting of tn
Cecil Farmers Club was held at Mr.
VIM. E. Gillespie's near Colors, on Wed
nesday last the Both inst. Promptly a
the usual hour MIR. Thomas G. Bond
members, when the following responded
to their names: Henry S. CoudoD, A. J
Mitohiner, George W. Sutton, JOSEPH
Coudon (of Jos), Col. En0ch Noyes
Col. John K. Bond, John P. Wilson,
Thomas G. Bond, Ellis l.. Duyckinck
VIM. +. Gillespie and II. r. Torbert
the Rev Giles B. Cooke, Lloyd Balder'
sion. A l. Duyckinck, Granville Rey'
nolds and Prot James S Robinson Prof.
of Horticulture and Botany at the
Mary land Experiment Station and Agrl
cultural College.
The minutes OF the last meeting hav-
ing been read aud approved and reports
of experiments being in order, Mr., SUIT
ton reported that he had made an expert
ment this season with nitrate of soda.
He had mixed 200 pounds each of super
| phosphate and nitrate of soda and
| applied the mixture about May LIST, to
| growing cabbage between the rows, and
the beneficial result was very apparent.
10 another instance where he applied
pure nitrate of soda the plant was killed,
| when brought into direct contact with
the foliage of it, withering the plaut as
though burned.
Mr.. Gillespie thought that any kind of
manure or fertilizer applied 10 a growing
plant would benefit it.
Col. Noyes cep)rSe that he had made
a compost this Spring containing Scott s
| Sure Growth, hen manure, ashes and a
| small proportion of nitrate OF soda,
which he applied directly in the furrow
to vegetables, with very beneficial
results. AS to the injury done potatoes
spoken of incidentally he thought water
did more damage always than frost.
Col Bond thought that the beneficial
results obtained by AIr. Sutton we're due
as much to the superphosphate as to the
nitrate of soda.
Mr.. Lloyd Balderston said he had tried
solution of nitrate of soda upon veget-
ables with benefit particularly in the
case of cabbage. Two years ago he
noticed that where hen manure had been
dumped in pile, single water melon
plant survived a cool season and grew
vigorously. This he thought demon.
strated the theory of Henderson, that at
least in cool seasons, plants appropriated
beneficially an excess OF nitrogen.
Prof Robiuson referring to nitrate of
soda said, it was one of the most potent
and useful fertilizers the farmer could
apply if lntelligently used. He instauced
field of wheat where application of
100 pounds of nitrate of soda and 100
pounds Of plaster on o-thirds of the
field showed a marvellous result. Nitrate
of soda embraces nitrogen in highly
concentrated form, and must not come into
contact with the foliage of the plant. II
used az a solution which he did not thiL k
the best way to use it, one quarter pound
to 4 gallons of water was the proper pro-
portion. He preferred however to use
it dry, between rows of growing vegei-
ables. 1t is specific for vegetables, and
small fruits. He instauced the benefit of
| the application of equal portions of South
| Carolina Rock aud nitrate OF soda as a
| top dressing Tor straw berries to be used
in February at the rate of $50 pounds to
the acre. He demonstrated that one
half peck OF manure used in June
was worth more than peck used in
March.
| Truckers were using successfully
nitrate of soda, applying 400 pounds &c
the acre broadcast between the rows
when water facilities were easy. Nitrate
OF soda was good insecticide useful il
destroying the cut worm, but he recon-
mended Kainet used $50 pounds to the
acre, the latter carrying small proper
ton of potash and therefore being gooC
fertilizer. While on the subject of insec
ticides the Prof. recommended the U.S.
of bisulphide of carbon for cleaning
poultry houses of vermin and a gooc
remedial agent upon the farm generally
1t was to be placed in a suitable vessel
one quarter pound and placed on tn
floor, it being volatile, it permeate
every nook, care being taken to use i
when fowls were not in the building.
Incidental to the question as to tn
injurious effect of sunlight upon tn
germ of cut potatoes he suggested Liant
plaster as good agent to heal the cut o.
the potato, aud preserve its vitality. II
recommended its use, cautioning tn
club against the use of the phosphC
plaster, as medium of using Paris green
If ordinary land plaster is rot avail
able, dry coal ashes can be used on Gu
potatoes Nova Scotia plaster is recog
nized as the ordinary plaster of CON
merce or chemically speaking sulphate c
lime.
Upon the benefit of turning under rye
he thought, while it would as veget
able fertilizer bring good results, ye
there were other plants that would secul
better results, as crimson clover, CO
pea, or any leguminous or pod bearin
| ma wing the facility
appropriatiug nitrogen from the atmo
phere and besides possessing the innat
and subtitle force of storing plant foot
l they therefore become valuable to tt
farmer, in advancing the fertility of tt
soil. This was natures secret OF tt
value of clover plants as fertilizers. /
thought the best time to SOW them WI
in August or September they bein
winter growers.
Prof. Robinson then spoke at son
'. length upon the wastefulness of the foo
plant value of the corn plant. Aualys
shows, that the food value of 109 poun'
of shredded fodder is equivalent to II
pounds of timothy hay as cattle food.
10 He cited the following instance
. show how our farmers are allowing Il
u value of shredded fodder to slip throuE
l. their fingers. In November, 1892, VIII
10 the division took place at College Stati
- between the college proper and the E
l. pertinent Station, they found ten acI
~ of cut corn standing in shocks. Th
- procured from Massillon, Ohio, 10
pado" fodder cutter, which not only Gu
y but shreds it. They obtained eight bi
10 rels to the acre of husked corn, and th
upon the shredded fodder from this &C