The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-08-17
CORN IS KING.
Interesting Meeting at Mr..
w. b. H0pkins'.

the heat was fearful the goodly attendance at
tested the hosts reputation for hospitality.
Mr.. Hopkins farm ls the old Col. Steve nsor
property. 1t contains over $50 acres of rici
land most of which yields abundant crops
\ His barn, IL not the largest in the county. IL
very nearly so. 1t is a double decker, 81 by 81
feet. and "a feet to the square. The shedding
is 100 by 80 feet, aud there is an immense over.
shot. He now has housed in it over 1000
bushels of wheat, which was cut from SO acres
of land. His hay crop from 80 acres yielded
about go tons. Everything about the place in.
dicates the neatness which thrift invariably
follows. The fence-rows and cutters have
been cleared of rubbish and the refuse burned.
How many farmers can say that? The effect
of the dry spell was not very apparent, but Mr..
Hopkins said that without rain both corn and
tomatoes would be ruined.
The subject selected by the host was AT
the present prices which crop pays the best p"
Mr.. Hopkins, In introducing the subject, said
that years ago wheat was considered as the
best or paying crop, and it was the one on
/ which the farmer relied for his ready money;
but of late years, owing to the deprecated
price, it amounted to nothing If costs $40 an
| acre from the sowing to the marketing. in
GLIDING fertilizers, so it was apparent even
i
there was not much margin left. Hay was all
right, but the short crops interfered very
seriously with the margin of profit. 1t costs
| very little to harvest and house. Nothing pays
| so well as tomatoes. but IL every farmer went
| at that they would soon be a drug on the mar
ket. Taking all in all he thought that corn
was the best, and it would be the hardest for
| the farmer to do without. Oats is crop which
| cannot be relied upon. and as for potatoes his
| experience had been so bad that the subject
always brought up so many unpleasant MEM
cries he did not wish to mention it.
Mr.. W. Beatty Harlan said that the whole
question of profitable farming was brought up
by this interesting subject. He did not deem
it wise for the farmer to put ell bis eggs in one
basket. He should raise all kinds of crops.
The best paying is tomatoes, but when the
husbandman attem pts to extend it to a large
acreage failure invariably follows. About
Churcbville the great hope now is that the
milk sold to the creamery will prove a profit
able source of income. All the producers so
far seem to be In good heart over their pros
poets. Mr.. Harlan also spoke of the suffering
crops on account of the drouth. He said that
without rain within the next few days all crops
would be an absolute failure.
Mr.. Moores spoke of his own corn field, which
a few weeks ago gave evidence of big crop
and now was SO badly fired that the most he
could expect was II crop of nubbins.
Mr.. Wys ing called attention to the fact that
there has bs en- no absolute failure of the corn
crop. such as the present outlook promises,
since 1915. That year, 80 he has been told. there
was frost every month and all the growing
cereal was destroy ed.
Mr.. William Silver thought that this was
vital question and is governed by surroundings
and conditions. No une crop should be the
chief, but we ought to raise all. One may be
the best in one section and He had
never tried tomatoes but it seemed to be an
uncertain crop. He thought that cattle and
grazing was most suited this section. II
creameries were extended they would he of
benefit. He would advise intensive farming
Many farmers are land poor. They should
cultivate less land and make it rich as pos 81.
BILE. Commercial fertilizers are too expensive.
By grazing more manure is manufactured.
Corn Is the most important crop, but for the |
most satisfactory results general farming must |
be followed. For instance. this year there has |
been an abundant wheat crop, hut corn pro u
Uses TO be failure. |
Mr.. Charles Silver had not had sufficient ex-
perience to determine what was he best pay |
ing crop. 1t seemed to be an open question as |
TO whether any crop paid. Corn WAS king, but |
tomatoes brought in more ready money. and it |
always came in the most opportune time.
Mr.. James Lee thought that corn WAS the |
best crop, as it could tie utilized in 30 many diff
fereut ways. He strongly recommended the |
silo.
DIR. Ephraim Hopkins regarded corn as the |
most essential crop that the farmer can raise.
and the same acreage stouId he planted each
al
IN the season and crop. Tomat es are uncer-
tain. but there is always some money made in
raising them. The most substantial farmers in
mis- neghborhood were those who combined |
with canning.
Mr.. John Moores thought that mixed hus-
bandry ought to pay, but talent was scarce.
Most men were specialists and their tastes ran
only in one direction. We ought to raise
8 mething of every kind. but of any single
crop, corn is the best. Too much ground. how
ever, should not be put in corn. The proper
rotation of crops for this valuable product, is
once in every seven years. 1t will stand
drouth much better on sod than falluw ground
and therefore should not follow tomatoes or
wheat. Tomatoes are good crop and he saw
no reason for failure.
Mr.. II. b. Bruins had not had sufficient ex-
perience to speak authoritatively but would
say that corn is the best crop. There seems, |
however, to b. more cash money in tomatoes,
but the farmer should raise all kinds of crops. |
At pays well to raise all kinds of small stock.
N answer to a question he said that otfal from
I he canning hous. helped land the first year
but was positi' disadvantage thereafter.
Mr.. J. B. Wysong said that II he were com.
PEELED to select one crop, he would take corn,
as there were less failures Wheat is not rs
bad Ms some farmers picture IL. as one-third of
tho fertilizer used should be charged to the
succeeding crops. 1t is Q cash money crop.
He did not believe in tomatoes for If the fruit
we're n failure there was nothing lett; while we
always had the fodder from corn or the straw
from wheat, although there might be no grain.
Mr.. William C. Wilson believed in raising all
crops. While corn was the surest, it brought
very little ready money. Wheat. hay and
tomatoes produced the necessary cash, the
Turner must have to conduct his interests
properly. When diversified farming is follow
ed the failure of any particular crop does not
fall as such serious loss.
Mr.. Fred. Lochary thought that in this part
of the country corn Is the best as there is less
likelihood of failure. In looking over his
fathers crop record the average yield for |
many years had been 121a bushels to the acre.
add d considerable item in forming bass
for manure. The fodder from corn is more
valuab e than the same acreage of timothy
hay.
MIR. Asel Tollinger believed in the rotation of |
crops and urged the farmers not to depend on
any one in particular. In the long run the
Lest paying is corn, as more indirect benefit Is |
derived from it than any other. Four crops |
OF it. are no more exhausting to the soil than |
one of timothy hay. and it is mp ssible to get |
good corn after the second moving. He |
thought that the corn and tomato crops were |
now ruined.
Mr.. Harry Silver did not think that farmer |
ought to put all his eggs in one basket, but If |
there was any une crop better than another it |
AS corn. He advised u mixed husbandry AS |
it seemed the most natural. as no two crops |
have to be harvested at the same time and and |
the work can thus be better mapped out. He |
Thought that IL barrels of corn to the acre was |
better than three tons of sugar corn.
MIR. j. ID. Warrington said that although it |
was All sge of speclalties he thought mixed |
husbaDdry was the best. This county seemed |
to be naturally adopted for that method of |
farming IT mau only plants one crop and |
that fails, he Is placed in a very unpleasant |
predcamcnt. A man should have something |
10 do all the time in order be successful, not
only in husbandry but any other pursuit. |
Tomatoes and sugar torn both help, but they |
are only catch crops instead of the back bone of
good farming. Corn a rule is not money |
crop unless there is II local market. He had |
recently sold some of of one Of his furms at Ss |
per barrel, which was more than it would |
bring in Baltimore.