The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-11-06
CECIL FARMERS CLUB.
AN INTERESTING GATHERING AT
MR.. E. L. DUYCKINCK'S FARM.
A Paper Read Upon "The Benefits TO Be
Derived From Farmers Institutes
In This County,"

The regular meeting of the Cecil Far
inck, near Calvert, on Oct. 9th. At 10
O'Clock the president ordered the call of the
roll Of members, when the following
answered to their names: John p. Wilson,
E. L Duyckinck, X. X. Rawlings, Nj. c.
Reeder, J. H. Maxwell, Rev. d. E. Shaw.
George w. Clifford. The visitors present
by invitation being Jos. T. Groves, f. Z.
Ewing, A. Duyckinck, Lloyd Balderston,
Elwood Balderston DIR. Reynolds, Amos
Martindale, Alva Reynolds, Jesse Handle
ton.
The minutes Of last meeting were then
read and approved. Reports of expert
ments being in order Mr.. Wilson asked the
members for experiments, none of the
members having any, the reading of the
essay then being in order, Mr. Duyckinck
read the following
To THE CECIL FARMERS CLUB:
Gentlemen-It has been our privilege to
enjoy the benefits of many letters from the
master minds of this association on the
various topics of farming, with the high
aim to grow two spears of grass where one
might scarcely exist; to raise fifty bushels
of wheat in the place of fifteen, and seventy
five bushels of corn where thirty-tive in
days gone by, was one of the impossihilities,
and in the face of these facts, we stand liv-
ing witnesses to double the number of
failures where our efforts have been
crowned with success and it is with regret,
Mr. President, that in view of these facts
we are as greatly mistitied as how to sue.
csssfully operate and lay our plans as at
first. but we withhold not our hand, for
we know not which will prosper, this or
that But we see new star is illuminat-
ing the heavenly zenith of the agricultural
interests, that we are not to gIope in dark
ness. While success cannot be guaranteed
to US in our efforts, yet there is coherent
light of knowledge to which we are heirs
to, for there can be no evidence more
striking of the important position agricul
ture holds in the scientific world than the
establishing throughout our State of a series
OF Farm Institutes. 1t lays at our feet scien-
tic experiments which it is impossible for
individual farmers to possess, and in case,
where individuals are so fortified, it is too
expensive luxury to allow the public the
benefit; in all the different lines and
avenues wherein the agricutursts may
State has come to our relief by the estab-
fishing of semi-free lectures on the various
subjects along this line BY the aid Of
these lectures it expands the comprehensive
views of man. broadens his ideas and com
prehensions and by the aid of such lectures
enables us, as individuals to operate on a
more scientific and economical basis.
tits not the opinion of the essayist that by
these teachings we are to produce three
fold the amount formerly, hut let earth
yield what nature may sustain her in, let
it be great or small, but at cost greatly
below the average Of ordinary production,
to educate us on the point of economy
How, by the development of scientific ex-
periments, all crops are to be treated at the
different stages of development, must par
ticularly in the line of large and small
fruits, the success of which depends greatly
on the treatment. The depletion of the
forests, the indomitable energy of man, ha
thrown open such vast areas of country that
the homes of the insectferous birds have
been destroyed, and the tree and shrub
destroying insects have held high carnival
for the last twenty years, depressing the
energies of the fruit growers in many sec
tions beyond redemption, until the invent
i've genius of man has come to his relief
with formulas, cheap and practical, for the
destruction of the most pestferous insects,
making this line of agriculture both sue
cessful and lucrative, for which we owe
our thanks to the College Park Experiment
Station, to which each of us could add q
fund of knowledge. In Canada the natives
are inducing farmers to assist in making
experiments this year. 1t is an example
that should be followed in this country
Farmers who are interested sufficiently tC
take hold with the officials in the work,
are sure to succeed, and also assist in edu.
eating others.
One more point to lay before you as one
of this strong points of success laid down
by the institution, is the cooperation Of
farmers as unit in the buying and selling
of farm products. am well aware it does
not meet the approval of many of my
hearers, yet you cannot fail to realize sooner
OR later the Importance of move in that
line. Other countries are enjoying this
privilege of advanced methods of buying
and selling, while we view with a critical
eye the success of such a move We only
have to look at the small organizations in
our midst and see the cooperative benefit
We, as farmers, individually, cannot stand
the press and strain OF the combines lhat
are arrayed against us, for we know and
feel we are being trod upon by every avenue