The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-12-12
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CECIL FARMERS CLUB.
Regular Monthly Meeting at Mr.. Alfred
Kinks Near Pennington.

Regular M0n,hly Meeting al Mf. Alfred
Kinks Near Pennington.
The regular November meeting of the Cecil
Farmers Club was held at Mr.. Alfred Kinks,
near Pennington, on Wednesday the 25th
INST. At eleven o'clock, Mr. John Z. Wilson
the President of the Club directed the call of
the roll of members, when the following
responded to their names, Henry S. Coudon,
A. j. NIchner, Col. Enoch Foycs, John p.
Wilson, Thos. C. Bond, james II. Maxwell,
George w. Clifford, Alfred Kirk and II. Il.
Torbert The visitors present by invitation
were Rev John h. Kemp, Rey. A. P. Pretty
man and james n Mccullough of Port De-
post.
The minutes of the last meeting having
been read and approved, as unfinished bust
ness, the best method of getting rid of plant
ain suggested by Mr.. Clifford at the last
meeting oe the club was taken up. Mr.. Kirk
reported that the best method he had tried
was to turn the hogs upon the growing plant
ain where they rooted up the plants gener
ally.
Mr.. Clifford said he regarded the question
as an important one. Two years ago he had
a twenty acre field so infested with plantain.
that it injured his grass crop by one-haf. He
determined to turn it under in August.
Worked the field carefully, narrowed and
rolled it well, sowed seven quarts If timothy
to the acre with broad cast seeder He
narrowed the seed in, and levcled the soil
with a roller again. He secured good stand
of timothy all over the field The next year
he secured "A good crop of timothy. He saw
no more Of the plantain, nor has he seen
any since in that field. The season was II
dry one, which he thought was II propitous
condition for its eradication.
Col. Noyes thought the plantain would
probably return with the second crop of
timothy. Like any grass or weeI it could not
be eradicated by cutting the tops off. In
wet seasons favorable to grass the farmer is
not generally troubled with plantain. He
thought Mr.. Ginord's method good one to
check an unusual growth. although being
indigenous more or less of it could always be
expected.
Reports OF experiments being in order, Mr.
Bond said that he had this year drilled his
corn seed on sod ground using an ordinary
wheat drill. Having realized a poor crop he
would not repeat the experiment, believing
the old method of checkering the better one
Col Noyes endorsed Mr.. Bonds opinion as
to the use of the wheat drill.
Mr.. Coudon asked Mr.. Bond whether he
had used the wheat drill in planting his corn
more than one season, for if he had not he
did not think the experiment final.
Mr.. Bond said he had used the drill but one
season, but he based his opinion of the wheat
drill upon his own as well us upon the eX
perence of a ncishbor, who had used the
wheat drill two successive seasons With bad
results.
Mr. Michiner said his experience i'll using
the wheat drill for corn planting corroborat,d
Mr.. Bonds.
Mr.. Wilson suggesting that the most serious
objection to the use OF the wheat drill was.
that it did not cover the corn at a uniform
depth, Mr.. Bond asked IN" opinion of the
club as TO the comparative advantages of
shallow and deep planting.
Col. Noycs reiterated his opinion that the
use of the wheat drill was not the proper
method to plant corn, because il could not
be gagged to plant a Uniform depth The
depth of planting depends on the depth OF
blowing, the average depth being about 2l5
to 8 inches. By planting the corn near the
sod you avoid the worm because the corn
roots take to the sod, and the plant comes up
strong. The absence of Il roller to press the
corn is another objection to the wheat drill
for corn planting. He had tested the COM
parative advantages of drilling aud checker
ing in the same field. The result has always
been in favor of the corn drill. In some
localities as on Spesutia Island, on account
of the rayages of birds. the corn drill is pre-
ferable to ckering, the corn being covered
deeper. As to the depth Of planting if the
season be wet. you get corn quicker by
shallow planting, in dry seasons by deep
planting.
Mr.. Michiner said thai onca i'll the
Conestoga Valley, Pa, he noticed farmers
using two strong horses, laying ont corn
deeper than he was in the habit Of blowing.
They said if it was planted deep and the cut
worm cut it off, they cut it near the surface,
and the corn would come without re plant
ing. They rarely fail in Il good corn crop.
Mr.. Kirk said he always used the checker
ing method.
Mr. Coudon called attention to the fact
that the phcnominally large crops of corn
reported IN agricultural journals were oh
tained by drilling. Mr.. Wilson also drilled
his corn. Mr.. Kemp said that in Kent
county. Md, the universal preference among
farmers was for checkering.
The regular essay by the host being in
order, Mr.. Kirk read the following paper: