The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-02-22
CECIL FARMERS CLUB,
Regular February Meeting at Mr.. Joseph
COudOn's (Of Jos. Near Perryville.

The regular monthly meeting of the Cecil
Farmers Club was held at "Woodlands'
farm. the charming homestead of Mr.. Jos.
Coudon, (of JOS on Tuesday the 18th inst.
Although the weather was intensely cold, ,
the attendance Of members was unus-
ually large, and the meeting n pleasant and
profitable one.
At eleven O'Clock the President of the Club.
Mr.. John P. Wilson, directed the call of the
roll of members when the following answered
to their names: Henry s. Coudon, Alfred
Kirk, Vim. E. Gillespie, James II. Maxwell,
r. T Waters, George W. Sutton, George w.
Clifford, Col. Enoch Noyes, E. L. Duyckinck.
John p. Wilson, Jos Coudon, (of Jos) Thos.
c. Bond A. J. Michiner. H. r. Torbert The
visitors present by invitation were. the Rev.
Giles b. Cooke, of North East: Prof. James
Robinson, of the State Agricultural Colleges
Mr.. John Stump and Mr. Jos. Coudon,
(of Hy.)
There being no unfinished business and no
reports of experiments, the essay being in
order, Mr.. JOS Coudon suggested in lieu of
the essay. Prof. Robinson be asked to address
the club on the subject of Farmers Insti-
tutes,' and what progress was being made at
Annapolis toward their establishment.
Prof. Robinson said that peach cultivation
in Western Maryland has already advanced
the value of land from So to $3.50 an acre,
and that this interest had largely suggested
the bill now pending before tho Legislature
for the State organization Of Farmers Insti-
tutes. With the development of the peach
interest in Western Maryland, had appeared
an insect pest-the San Jose Scale-well
known in California. Another bill ow before
the Legislature provides, that the Governor
shall appoint corps OF gentlemen. who will be
under the direction OF the Experiment Station
Of the Agricultural College, to stamp out this
pest Prof. Robinson detailed at length how
the San Jose Scale affects the peach and
other fruits, and the beneficial effects of thu
use OF hot whale oil soap suds spray. He
explained why cold spray was not etlicacious.
The scale was propagated very much like the
oyster propagates itself, by laying the egg
under shell and propagating by colonial
ton.
The Prof thought that the organization of
State Farmers Institutes was a grand con-
ceptioD, looking to afrording the farmer the
largest measure of practical Information in
his business, and familiarity with the latest
mechanical appliances necessary for that
business. What the Maryland farmer now
needs. is the very Information these institutes
afford. He illustrated this necessity by the
nf ha l..
Maryland are largely dealing with exhausted
lands. and hence need the accession of prac-
tical information as to how these exhausted
lands can be profltably restored. Specializa-
ton on the farm, the dairy, the fruit growing
promise profit, but the farmer needs and
must have proper information how, to
develop these specialties in agriculture. Along
this line of specialties, he spoke of his recent
observation of the results of cold storage in
fruit made on recent visit to Philadelphia,
where n Western Maryland farmer has
shipped to that city for storage a surplus of
apples on which he had realized proat of
5000. He thought this method Of cold storage
for farm products, a movement to secnre
which was now being made by farmers in coun-
ties adjacent to Baltimore, promised great
results to Maryland farmers, in afrording
them profitable market for their products.
Speaking of Farmers Institutes, he related
his experience at an institute held last sum
merat the Black Barren Springs. Two bills
are now pending before the Legislature OF
Maryland, looking to the organization of
State Institutes, the purpose being to hold
annually two institutes in each county Of the
State. The proposition to organize these
institutes originated with the Vansville Far
mer's Club Of Prince Georges county Md.
They caught the idea of their advantage in
attending an institute in Pennsylvania.
Another bill before the Legislature proposes
the organization Of n State Board of Agricul-
ture. and provides an appropriation annually
of "A 900 while the bill first spoken of pro-
vides for their establishment at an annual cost
to the State Of $4,000.
Speaking OF the necessity OF cuitivating
fruit, an apple orchard for instance, he
would seek to supply it with more potash
than he would his corn. which needs phos-
phoric acid. The professor illustrated plant
growth as suggested in the seeds OF plants
Each seed contains the embryo plant, nature
supplying therein the food for the infant
plant. The province Of intelligent agricul-
ture is to furnish the proper proportions OF
plant food rs the growth of, the plant pro
ceeds. The results are us certain as the result
of Il sum in mathematics. because natures
laws are unalterable. and are universal in
their application.
At this juncture dinner was announced, the
President designating Messrs. Duyckinck
Maxwell and Clifford the committee to exam
inc Mr.. Coudons stock, premises, etc.
Upon re-assembling after dinner. Prof
Robinson resumed his remarks. upon plant
life and parasites. The latter attack the
weak part of the plant, all of which are sub
ject to parasitic attacks The tendency Of
the peach is to so to the terminal bud. Hence
most fruit is found at the top OF the tree.
while the weakened lower portions pro-
duced little fruit, and became the object of
parasitic attack. He spoke of the tomato
and potato as the subjects of insect attack.
Scab in potatoes was not produced by stable
manure, but the use of the manure facilitated
the condition for parasitic attack.
In speaking OF the use OF lime, he said that
one OF its great uses was the decomposition
of the potash elements of the soil He thought