The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1896-12-18
The Farmers Institute.
A SUCCESSFUL MEETING.

A SUCCESSFUL MEETING.
The first of a series of Farmers IN
ttitutes, to be held in this State under
the law passed by the last Legislature,
took place at Upper Marlboro, on
Thursday, December 10th, 1896. 1t
was in every respect a successful meet
ing. Director William l.. Amoss, pre-
sided. A large and representative aud
ience from every part OF Prince
Georges and from the neighboring
counties assembled and manifested
deep interest in the proceedings. Mr..
George f. Silver, of Hartford county,
an extensive Feeder and breeder, made
the first address, which was as follows:
Cattle Grazing and Feeding.
We will first take UP the grazing
part of this subject and discuss it be-
fore we go to that of feeding, for each
is a distinct branch of farming. requir-
ing different and distinct preparation,
if one would be successful in either or
both. In the first place, let us under
stand what we mean, by Cattle Graz
ing. In Hartford county we under
stand it to mean the fattening of cattle
on grass, as against that process OF fat
tening by feeding grain. In other
words We rough the cattle through the
winter by feeding straw and corn fod-
der, and then in the spring turn them
to grass on which they fatten and from
which they 60 to market. Now, before
one undertakes to 90 into the grazing
of stock, of any kind, he wants to know
if his farm is adopted to growing the
crops, which are necessary, to make
the grazing business successful one.
The two leading crops upon which
the success of his business depends are
the growing of grass and corn, and. to
tatten cattle from grass alone demands
that you have plenty Oft and the right
kind. In some sections of Hartford
county our lands are especially adapt
ed to the growing of grass and corn,
with an abundance of running water
and good shade While there are 9TH
er portions oi our county which do not
meet these requirements and therefore
do not offer any inducem tnts to the
farmers to engage in this business: be-
sides in some portions of our county
the flies and mosquitoes are SO numer
Gus that they interfere very materially
with the fattening of stock during the
hot months
In the section of Hartford county
from which | came our lands are IS
pecially adapted to the stock business,
and this branch of farming is the most
important one and all others must give
way to it. In addition to clover, timo-
thy and orchard grass-the cultivated
grasses-we have natural green
grass, which is very valuable for the
fattening of cattle. AS the clover and
timothy die ont the green grass, where
the land is rich and has not been cult
vated too much, takes their place and
forms complete mat over the ground,
protecting it alike from the washing
rains, and the burning sun. This grass
does not grow very tall, but is fine and
thick, and when not pastured too close
affords very nutritious and tattening
grass. In order to get this grass, the
land must be in first class condition.
granted barn yard manure is the best
ferti izer to apply. | have some os this
grass on land | never saw plowed, and
so far as | can tell, it is to-day as
abundant and luXIriant as it was thirty
years ago. A top dressing of stable
manure or barn dust will enable the
land to maintain its fertility and keep
the grass i'll healthy condition.
Our lands are also well adapted to
he growing of Indian corn, which with
the fodder from this crop assist in
carrying the cattle over winter and is
very necessary to one engaged in Graz
ing or Feeding cattle. r..
WHAT WEIGHT!
For grazing purposes We prefer Nir-
gnia Grade Short Horns with small
headsand horns ,straight-b backs and good
hind quarters, about = years old and
should weigh any where between 775
to 900 pounds, $50 pounds being good
average weight. This grade Of cattle
does as well or better for us than any
kind we can buy We sometimes get
Ohio cattle and sometimes Canada cat
tie bought in the Chicago and Buffalo
markets but experience has taught us
that the Virginia Grade Short Horn is
more profitable and satisfactory than
any we buy, they are of better quality
and will put on as much or more flesh
and are easier to sell.
As every farmer prefers the best
quality OF cattle, it creates an extra
demand for this grade and hence adj
vances the price. 1t is then for the
farmer to determine whether he will
pay the top price and get the best
grade or take lower grade with less
price. Agood healthy steer of either
grade will put on about the same
weight, and often it is easier to sell a
fat steer of 2nd grade quality at good
price than to sell one of the first grade
which is not very tat. In other words
steer, OF whatever grad" he may be.
to sell well must he fat. and. if he is of
the first grade and not fat, he is hard
to sell SO in selecting cattle | have
found it about rs profitable to buy the
2nd grade in quality, at a reduced
price rs to buy the tops at hirh figures.
WHEN TO Buy STOCK CATTLE AND
WHERE.
We gen rally buy our stock cattl
between the middle of October and
December, being governed by the con
dition of our grass and the amount of
provender Oh hand together with the
markets. If we see Il bargain we are
anxious to take advantage of it: if the
early prices are high we prefer to wait
longer, and if we have not as yet dis