The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1902-11-15
GUNPowDER AGRICULTURAL CLUB.
Proposition from the MARYLAND Horticul-
tural Society-Some Verbal Crop
Reports-Questions and
Answers nta ato

Baltimore. Mr.. John Bond was foreman Others
presenI were Messrs John Crowther, Jr.. James
! Crowther: Lewis NJ. Bacon, Thomas j. Lea and
| Thomas V. Richardson, the latter delegate from
the J11 no Club. DR.. j. Edgar Orrison and Mr..
| Asa b; Gardner, Jr., were absent.
MI frame, who was delegate to the Junior
| CLUB meetlng at Mr.. Clarence G. Coles. said it
was an interesting one and characteristic of the
| members who are always active 1t was a read
| ing meetlng and brought forth many good points
on tne me OF EDUCATION on the farm and that of
| that the next meeting of his club would take
place at the home of Mr.. William d. Curry, when
| the manure question would be discussed. Mr..
| L. NJ bacon was named as delegate.
A circular was read respecting the desire of
Director OF Institutes William L. Amoss to
meet delegates of several organizations of the
county to confer regarding important matters
bearing upon farmers institutes. Messrs. Lewis
III. bacon and E. Cuttings Merryman were named
as representatives.
A circular was also read respecting the work
of the horticultural Society of the State and
requesting that all farmers who desire to send
their names TO be enrolled as members can do
so without any cost, thus emitting them to the
annual reports, besides the privilege of attend
ing tne f meetings. The club approved the con-
The next meeting of the club will be at the
home OF Mr. Asa b. Gardiner, Ir:. December
18th. question for discussion, what grasses
are best adapted for our section of the county,
how prepare the land for them, and the time of
seeding"
VERBAL CROP REPORTS
Mr.. James b. Ensor-Wheat averaged is bush
els per acre; oats, 3S bushels; hay, about y ton;
corn, bbls. The corn that was planted on May
18th, with planter. did well and better than
the late corn. Potatoes, raised 30 bushels. The
early cut Off corn is badly damaged and fodder
is in PAD condition that cut three weeks later
is far better. Rye in green condition plowed
under was great disadvantage to the corn
there was no green rye plowed under the corn
was third better. 1t was test case; will
meyer pursue the same course again, -. on
Mr.. L M. Bacon-Fallow ground wheat 30
bushels per acre; corn ground wheat s to 10
bushels. The grain was very heavy for the
straw hay. about half ton; oats, over 40 BUSH
els corn. not oyer bbls. per acre owing chiefly
to no rain and tie blowing down of green rye.
Whether the pltwing down of green crop for
corn is an advantage is question. The seed
cost S25. Mr.. T. r Richardson thought it does
not pay as the expense and trouble are too great.
MT George Frame, who rents IS his farm, re- re-
per acre; corn, bbs hay not over half ton;
no oats, not favorable to that crop; thought it
SeotGl CO fine
results in size, but not many of them.
Mr.. ]. S. Crowther-Gorn did well in quality
and fair in yield; hay half a ton per acre
wheat was fair best wheat was on an acre sown
in December and that did not come up until
spring. 1t took bale of Irvine to tie this wheat;
the land was previously IN potatoes Septem-
Der 18th, sowed on the same wheat ground 500
lbs. of bone and seeded 20 lbs. of alfalfa. The
alfalfa set prettily and it shows beautifully.
Potatoes did well, and some neighborS have
tested them without permission.
Mr.. John Bond-Corn, bbls.; hay, about X
",
2SX bushels; corn ground, Is bushels potatoes
from small seed, grew over 100 bushels of fine
ones.
Mr.. Thomas J. Lea, overseer of the Sheppard
and Enoch Pratt Asylum farm-Wheat was light;
corn, IL bbls. or more, all husked and fodder
hauled in. The larger part grew on second year
corn ground. The ground was plowed deeply in
the spring and 400 lbs. per acre of South Caro-
lima rock sowed broadcast. EARLY potatoes
failure planted Is bushels of the Mccormick
variety July Sd and raised 275 bushels.
Mr. Lea showed one of the Mccormick pota
toes. 1t was large and smooth: He said it is a
late potato and is better in the spring than in
the winter. In Montgomery county the farm
ers stopped planting about July Goth, and six
acres there produced 200 bushels.
Mr.. e. G.. Merryman-Wheatav averaged Is bush
els hay less than half ton; oats, 35 bushels;
barley, Al bushels corn, bbls. rye, 20 bushels;
one ton of rye straw per acre. Put in with
planter to acres of sorghum and got satisfac-
tory returns. 1t can be made to grow 25 to 30
tons per acre. Horses, COWS and hogs relish
sorghum; hogs stopped eating corn to get the
Mr. T. " Richardson said sorghum is all right.
He grew rows that he cut from once day for
weeks. 1t is richer than sugar corn and so
very much more can be grown.
Mr.. George Frame said when he grew crimson
clover horses and cattle did well on it. When
the clover is turned under fertility is added
to the soil.
Mr. Lea said he grew a nice lot of sugar corn
planted July Sd, after the early potatoes.
HALF HOUR FOR QUESTIONS.
What does the club think of meeting during
the winter months early. in the afternoon and
able to trying it and to commence at the next
meeting. Expression was favorable to getting
new members, thereby adding strength to the
organization Reference was to the early days
of the club when the membership was large and
about all were active farmers.
Mr.. j. Summerfeld Crowther said he believes
in the organization of farmers, as individual eff
fort does not avail as much when public ques-
tionS are to be met.
Mr.. E. G. Merryman remarked that the clubs
command attention because of combined inter-
ests in the county and State affairs Mr.. Bacon
said farmers are not as anxious and earnest in
organization as they should be.
What should be done with wheat stubble
ground where the grass set is poor? Mr.. Bond
thought it best to let the set be and manure as
much of it as possible. Where he has MANFRED
his grass field the timothy is growing nicely.
Mr.John Crowther said better plow the ground
in the spring and seed to oats and grass, as he
has obtained as good sets of grass in oats as any
person ever got.
have reseeded his land this fall and sowed be-
fore narrowing the ground.
Mr.. Lea said harrow the ground next spring
and seed to grass. He does not like sowing
grass seed in oats. He is a believer in sowing
grass seed in corn land and then, If desired, the
grass can be plowed down for corn again. He
does not fallow land, especially for the wheat
Mr. Bacon said he thinks he ought to pillow the
ground and SOW it in peas cut them and seed
the ground to wheat and grass again.
Mr.. Lea replied that if the peas are sown the
land, after peas are cut, need not be plowed as
good narrowing would do, the land being left
loose by the peas. He sowed some peas in the
corn at the time of the last working and got a
good growth of vines which he cut to pieces
with a disc harrow and afterwards sowed to
wheat which has come up nicely.
Mr. Bond, who sowed clover seed in the fall
with his wheat, said the clover did not stand the
winter, hence was not encouraged to continueit it.
Mr. Lea gave his experience with Alske clio
yer which looks fine when red clover failed.
He sowed the seed and then used spike harrow
on the wheat. The Alsike clover stood the
drought and the fields have now well covered
sets. 1t is very important to grow grass as it is
a very serious thing to have to buy hay. He be-
lieves in sowing plenty of grass seed
Mr. Richardson sowed some Alsike clover
about one-third as much as the red cover-and
the Alsike stood the drought when the red clo-
yer died. He believes in paSturing young sets
of grass early. Mr.. Lea said his grass that was
pastured early is better than that pastured
later The tramping helps the grass.
How are apples keeping Answer-Not well
unless it is the Winesap. Northern apples are
not keeping well either, it was said.
The manure question was deferred.
Respecting holding the club meetings early in
the afternoon and getting home early in the
night, Mr.. Lea, who is also member of Enter
prise Club of Montgomery county, remarked
that the club has been very regular in attend
ance and missed but two meetings since 1855
that there are seventeen members and the far
arrives the club adjourns and the members
leave for their homes.
Misses Alice e. and Helen Frame spread an
elegant supper for their guests. Miss Mary
Stebbins and Misses Clara and Laura Gault as
sisted in the service.
Again Sworn in as Judge.-A letter from
Beair, dated November 10TH says: "Aa in
terestiDg feature connected with the opening