The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1896-09-25
Deer Creek Farmers' Club.

The cluO met on saturday, Septelhoci
| 10Th, ut the home of the president
Mr.. w. Beatty Harlan. The members
present were Messrs. ID. c. w. Smith, w,
Beatty Harlan, John S. Webster, William B.
| Hopkins, John b. Wysong, b. F. Hanway,
Thomas H. Robinson, James F. Kenly, Robert
| f. Hanna, John Moores, J. L. Mccormick and
| Harry Silver. The guests of the club were
| Hon. Henry d. Harlan and Gilbert S. Hawkins.
There being no regular subject for discus
| sion, Mr.. w. Beatty Harlan read very inter-
| esting article on Green Manures," and pro-
posed that as the subject for discussion by the
| club.
Mr.. Wvsong thought that there was more
fcrtilizing material in the roots than in the
| tops The great mass of green matter plowed
| down in the fail for wheat was rather disad-
vantage than otherwise. He generally sowed
| clover the first of April
| Mr.. W. Beatty Harlan said he had tried GRIM
son clover, and plowed part OF 1t under while
green, and the balance when it was dead: and
| in his opinion the wheat was heavier when the
/ clover had been plowed under green.
Mr.. Smith said he thought the subject one or
considerable importance, and he did not think
| that the members were really able TO speak IN
| diligently on the matter. 1t would be as well
| TO correspond with the Experiment Station in
| regard to it. 1t is certainly worth the expert
| ment and it should be tried. The result may
| be of great benefit to the farmer.
| Mr.. James F. kenly.-"A good crop of clover
,
however, i very precariOuS crop. have not
| ,.iu - good SCI Tor several years Il does not
seem to t;is,, as il did before In answer to Il
question from ar. WysOng, MIR. henly said :
| ''ltS thought il Il Disadvantage to turn cattle
| az young clover. - 1t destroys the young
growth. There Is IL ,uDGE er:ilZing matter IN
ire root as il the top. | have had but little
experience ii tic matte and hardly Ieel Justl-
| Hg,! i'll speaking on it
l.r. Moorcs tuouwnt that plaster was Il great
! benefit to the clover, but no; 1" the ground, as
j, taxes Il - ear amount OF ram to dissolve the
plaster. Ills experience with clover has not
utru Il success rul Tor the past five years.
Nc kenly-''rhe way it used to be, the first
crop we had was good and it continued for two
years, but now it seems to run out so that he
hardly raised Il crop the first year. don't be-
lieve that the clover raised now is the same we
formerly raised. The white clover makes very
good pasture, but in my opinion It has greatly
decreased in quantity during the last few
years. "a number of the members concur
red with Mr.. Kenly on the subject
Mr.. Moores continued About 10 years ago
when they raised or 10 bushels of wheat to
the acre and or barrels of corn, they used
green fertilizers, and don't think we can al
ford to go back to those days. He thought It
was better to plow in clover about the time 1t
is ready to NOW, as it was then fully matured."
Mr.. Robert f. Hanna had never had any
personal experience. A nelghbor OF his Always
raised good crops, but he used plenty OF ferti-
liZers His idea is to NOW the clover, feed 1t,
and plow the roots under. The main thing is
had for several years, owing IN MS OPINION, TO
the continuous dry weather.
Mr. B, F. Hanway-"l agree with Mr.. Moores
that this is too progressIye an age 70 tnink OF
blowing clover under. We can enrich our land
better and more cheaply by the use of fertiliz-
ers. think that blowing clover under has a
tendency to tighten the soil, but it should be
improved by the use of fertilizers. Speaking
of grasses, have large quantity OIL bermuda
grass which find it impossible to get rid OF.
1t is Il good iced Tor cattle, Out very naru on
following crops"
j. Lawrence Mccormick has not had a great
deal of experience. He plowed down crimson
clover and put in corn and had very good
had the idea that pl0wing down green stuff.
soured the ground the first year but benefited
the land afterwards. he Thought that top
dressing with barnyard manure was of great
benefit to wheat, more so intact than anything
he had tried.
M, William b. Hopkins has never had any
experience III blowing down green crops, he
remem beFed when they used to plow down
weeds and they raised large crops of wheat.
He agreed with MIR. Mccormick that a top
dressing of manure was the best that could be
used.
Mr.. John S. Webster-"I think the subject
of manures one of the principal features of
farming. | have never had any trouble raising
a good crop with barnyard manure. Have
never had much experience in blowing down
green fertilizers, but If they are OF any dement,,
il would be much better to use them than to
run in debt each year buying commercial fer
tiliZers"
perience blowing under growing crops, but
thought il very important question. IL any
way could be found TO AVOID buying CONNER
ciaf fertilizers it would be great boon to
farmers rs tie average profit in farming is
more than taken up to pay for the commercial
fertilizer. He had always understood that
good crop of clover turned in was equal to II
liberal use of commercial fertilizer, but has
had no personal experience in the matter He
thought the tendency OF the farmer was TO
purchase too much fertilizer, and If they would
use more stable manure, it would be better.
Mr.. Harry Silver thought it would be better
10 NOW the clover and SOW some other crop to
pillow under He thought more money could
be made in that way. He had found barnyard
manure the best. He was troubled great deal
with docks. and did not know what to do with
them He thought that tomato vines and clover
were about equal in fertilizing qualities. They
both have long roots aud the root Is what Ter
Lies the ground.
Mr. Harlan had had no experience with green
Inauures, but thought fertilizer bills bore
greater proportion to the crops than they
should, and If anything could be done TO re-
Ieve the farmer. he WAS strongly in favor OF
taking such action.