The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-11-24
CECIL FARMERS CLUB.
Meeting at Mr.. Joseph COudOn'S (Of
JOS, near Perryville.
AN ENTERTAINING SESSION
Discussion Of Ground Stone, &C., as an
Available and Profitable Fertilizer.

DISCUSSION OF GROUND Stone, &c, as an
Available and Profitable Fertilizer.
The regular monthly meeting of the Cecil
Farmers Club wis held at ''Woodlands." the
homestead of Joseph Coudon. ESD. (Of Jos. J,
Notwithstanding the inclemcnt weather, there
was Il quorum of members present, and the
meeting was a pleasant and profitable one.
At eleven o'clock. in the absence of the
President of the Club. Mr.. Thomas G. Bond
who as Secretary Of the Board Of Trustees Of
the Tome Institute, was necessarily in attend
ance at the Founders Day exercises mt Port
Deposit, Mr.. Henry 5. Coudon, Vice President.
directed the call OF the roll Of members. when
the following answered to their names: A. j.
Mirhiner, II. 5. COudon, George W. sutton.
Joseph Coudon. (of JOS J, Col. John II. Bond.
John =. Wilson, f. l.. DUyrkinck, William +.
Gillespie, Joseph Coudon, Cor Hy). and H. H.
Torbcrt. The visitors present by invitation
were Mr.. Wilson l.. Coudon editor of the
Perryville RccoId. and Mr. Wm IL. Smcoe.
Of North East
The minutes Of the last meeting having
been read and approved. as IA matter Of
unfinished business, the motion to amend
Article Of the Constitution of the Club. by
striking out the word "uw"lvc.n and inserting
the word 'two-third,,' made by Mr.. II nry
$. Cou!on. was duly seconded. and being put.
was carried 10y unanimous vote of the
members.
There being no reports Of experiments. and
the club having excused the host fur not
preparing an essay, the regular order Of busi-
ness being suspended, Col. John Il. Bond
called tine attention of the Club to and
commented Oh an article in the Baltimore
american, entitled Bread from stone"
which states the opinion that ground mineral
rock, mixed with gypsum and lime. consti-
Lutcs the only essential fertilizer that farmers
require, and that the use Of it would prevent
parasitic Srowths. and he conducive to the
health Of the farmer and his stock.
Mr.. Wilson thought the article contained
forrible suggestions, that ut least might prove
valuable aS experiments us to the value Of
stone as Il fertilizer.
Mr.. Duyckinck said he was not from his
experience prepared to say that in his opinion
decomposed stone was fertilizer but he had
noticed that the stony portions Of his field
were not more productive than any other.
Mr.. Joseph Coudon did not think Col.
Bond'S purpose in submitting the article
advocating the availability Of ground stone
as fertilizer. was to "boom" Port Deposit
rock. On the contrary he-Mr. Coudon-
had noticed that the presence of certain kinds
of soft or porous stone indicated the ferti ity
of tn" surrounding soil.
Mr. Gillespie said that his observation
showed, that the presence Of Il small fiat grey
stone, in large quantities on IA certain field
on his farm. through which possibly potash
had been contributed to the soil. made with
out other fertilizers, out Of the most fertile
fields on his property. He thought certainly
that certain kinds Of stone acted as fertilizers
of the soils. particularly in hilly countries
Mr. Sutton said he had noticed in mountain
ous regions, that the washings from the hill
sides contributed Enthusiastically to the fertility
of the intervening vallies.
COL Bond said the reason why the grav
stone was a fertilizer was owing 60 its chemi-
cal constituents, it being supposed to be
granite in a state of decomposition, and con-
tanning silica mica, fcldspar and horn blend
The grey rock containing the constituents of
plant food enabled the surrounding soil to
reinstatc itself in exhausted fertility. Besides
lt I,rns.p,n If thiS STONE uiIS in tb, r,tau-
ton of humidity in the soil. The disinteg ra-
ton of, the rock. taking up assimiating
properties in the soil, appropriatcs them for
fertilizing purposes. The vallies are kept in
continuous fertility by the washings OF
decompoSed rock upon them. He said that
was not a new theory. but on the contrary
an old one. He thought the subject one well
worthy the study and consideration of farm
ers.
In the course of his remarks he instanced
IL number of farms in the seventh district of
this county which owed their noticeable fer
tility to the presence of disintegrated rock in
large quantities.
Mr. Wilson L. Coudon said the article CON
tanned in his opinion valuable suggestions
for experiments by members of the club.
At this point dinner was announced and n
recess taken, the vice president having desig
mated Mcssrs. Gillespie, Duyckinck and Will
son the committee to examine Mr.. Coudon's
premises, etc.
Upon reassembling after dinner Mr.. Gill
lespie, chairman Of the commmitte, reported
the excellent condition found prevailing in
and about Mr.. Coudon's premises.
Mr. Michner said he was particularly
pleased with the breed and quality OF Mr.
Coudons cattle. He said his herd of young
home-raised grade Durhams was, he believed,
the best in the county.
Mr. Sutton spoke especially of Mr.. Coudon's
farm. as in condition and cultivation one of
the finest farms in the State.
Mr. Henry $. Coudon said he took this
to say that he did not subscribe
to many of the views contained in the article
read by Col. Bond, and he supposed the next
thing would be that the members of the club
would be ordering stone crushers.
Mr. Joseph Coudon said, that as the object
of the committee in examining premises and
stock was not merely for the purDOSe of