The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1903-05-23
GuNPowDER AGRICULTURAL CLUB.
Monthly Meeting at Gerar Farm-A Fine
ana Well Titled Estate-Report on
Mr.. Ensor's Farm-Questions and
Answers Mr.. CroWther's
Paper etc., etc., etc.

| Mr.. Ensor's Farm-Questions and
| Answers-Mr. Crowther's
| Paper, etc., etc., etc.
| The Senior Gunpowder ApricrlturaI I,,,b ~, nj
| saturday, May 9th, at the home of Mr., e. Git
nngs Merryman, near Cockeysvile Mr.. Asa
3. Gardiner, Jr, was foreman, with Mr. George
Jonn Bond. James B. Ensor, Lewis Mr. Bacon I
Summerheld Crowther, N. Howard Gill. Thom,s a
+. Lea n Or: j Edgar Qrrison, BeDjaman T. Ridge
~, baldwin Homer, ID. Sterett Cuttings. linton
H. II. Iarbert, delegate, and Daniel S. Pearce. of
ABOUT Two hours. The crops and the stock were
t uoIicea with interest and the farming opera
lions favorably commented on
IN returning to the house the members and
friends appreciated the restful chairs about the
posdcn. Wnile before it were the foliaged trees
a ai,n snruDoery poisoning with their perfume,
Ewing recuperative benefit. The usual min
utes, which have been published in THE UNION
we're read Mr.. Lewis NJ. Bacon delegate to
reno S9nior Cu6 meeting at T. v Richardson's
a aso most favoraby of the farm and stock
ESQ diso OF the excellent dairy arrangements. the
larry Delng operated by five horsepower gaso-
ilhe engine. He said Mr. Richardson does things
~ practical way and for ease and comfort
aa aug MS farm operations show what man can do
h Win brain behind his efforts. His cattle,
sS.lng lOU or more. are in fine condition and are
s ean9iy treated. He has no kicking cows. He
s seeds snem lbs mddling and lbs. of cotton
Mr. .. H. Tarbert said Mr.. Richardson has no
natural water facilities for general purposes
ana what he has done shows that natural condi-
I1,vls are not essential. A remark that Mr..
Richardson is favored with good farm help and
ne responds to their faithfulness by giving,once
d year, to each man one dollar for every year he
nas been with him.
REPORT OF INSPECTION COMMITTEE AT MR..
- JAMES b. ENsOR'S.
order A pen of thirty shoats bore eVidence 0 of
eooo care and the sheep and lambs show good
Treatment. The cows are well housed and COM
lortably provided for. A young and thrifty
bull came in for his share of favorable comment.
we strolled over the fields viewing first beau
tiful field of timothy which, as estimated
promises yield of one and half tons of hayper
acre. A cornstalk field was referred to which it
was planned by our host to be thoroughly Guilt
Wheat looked well and we were satisfied with its
appearance without going through it. We were
wen pleased with the care, thoughtful and in
Z. 6. MERRYM4N,
L. NJ. BACON,
Committee.
Mr.. james B. Ensor remarked that the shoats
referred to in the report had been sold at 81 Cts
A circular from DR.. Richard s. Hill, president
of the Flrmer's League of Clubs of the State,
and o which was printed in full in The UNION of
the 9TH Instant, was read. 1t was stated that a
meeting OF the delegates of the clubs would be
held on May 28th and general meeting of far
Maryland Agricultural College. Mr.. Asa B.
Gardiner, gr.. was appointed delegate, and Mr..
W. w. G. Stewart, secretary, alternate A num-
Der OF the members will go on the 29th
HALE HOUR FOR QUESTIONS.
The prospect for red clover being most dis
Mr.. Thomas j. Lea, superintendent of the farm
of the Sheppard and Pratt Hospital, stated that
while bis red clover almost failed, yet the alsike
clover in the same field of 16 acres and sown
year ago, was most promising, as not foot of
ground can be seen uncovered and the grass
stands as thick as can be. The seed was sown
in March and narrowed in sOwed 10 pounds of
seed per acre. He sowed Is acres in timothy in
September and sowed some alsike clover with it
n,.6f Hlxo xn.1kr
high as the red clover and is not as woody fiber
ed. 1t stood more than the red clover. The seed
was sown March last year both ways across the
field. Mr.Lea has an excellent growth of crimson
clover that he expects to turn under for corn.
He said he finds that the pasturing of young
grass sets Is a benefit as the field of grass not
pastured does not show as well. He pastured
his until frosty weather last fall. He said he
recommends the trial of alsike by the members
it makes more hay.
Do not the leaves break more easily from the
alsike stems? Answer-It depends much upon
when 1t is cut and how handled.
remark was as to farmers sowing too little
of seed. Answer was favorable to sowing more
seed and as much as Is lbs. one way and the same
quantity in the opposite direction had been
sown and that so acres of red clover, with a
little alsike clover, looked well during the win.
dissolved bone had been put on per acre.
A trial of sowing red clover seed with wheat
reported. The red clover being biennial plant
and sowing in the fall of one year might prevent
its full crop of the last year of growth. 1t was
said that the last or second crop OF the clover
does not afford very much hay.
MIR. Tarbert said he thinks the grass and grain
crops should be grown separate
Thou shalt not SOW thy fields with mingled
seeds" which he thought taught that crops of
grain and grass should not be seeded together.
The discussion brought forth the question for
the next meeting to be held at Mr.. John Bonds
farm. June 9th: "How can we grow red clover
again in this vicinity?''
DiScnsSi0n continued and wheat
growing and the question was asked, why is it
we cannot grow as good crops of wheat and
grass as in former years, and cannot grow them
without the use of commercial fertilizers p 1t
was said, too, that then the ground was not
-piowed nor cultivated as thoroughly as now.
parket. remark was, we cannot account Tor
the change, conditions which are in the seasons
and the soil. 1t used to be we were satisfied
with flour from the buhrs of the country mill,
but now that is refused and the patent process
flour is only acceptable. The change in the con-
diton of the soil affects the quality of the grain
as we'll as the growth and product
Such are the conditions that farmers will not
sow their grain crops without the use OF fert1l-
izers. Farmers were referred to who continued
as long as they could to grow wheat without
fertilizers, but had to use them finally. A man
was spoken of who lived in Montgomery coun-
farmer worth about $75, GOO when he died. The
more fertilizer he used the better his crops and
more money he had to lend. He was plain
farmer and never specialized. The thrifty far
mer of today it was said, is the liberal user of
fertilizers. with the addition of barnyard ma
nure, and the farm of the one who does not use
fertilizers shows decidedly to the disadvantage
of the owner.
A remark was that farmers should make note
as to the effect of the several grades OF fertil-
izers so as to know which is the most profitable.
Mr.. Frame said that the farmers in Kent and
Cecil counties use the cheapest grades of fertil-
izers and they grow from 30 to 40 bushels of
wheat per acre.
Mr. Tarbert said he would not like to be the
man to farm without using fertilizers.
DR.. Orrison said all lands do not need the same
fertilizer, hence farmers should find out what is
the necessary grade or elements for their soil.
PAPER BY MR.. CROwTHER.
Mr.. ]. Summerfeld Crowther read an original
paper as follows:
s'The question has frequently been asked,
Shall we work small or large farms?' Each can
be argued equally favorable and yet we are no
nearer just solution of the problem.
"Mr. Asa B. Gardiner, Jr., in very thorough
Gdy as showed Rew It was poss6e
to produce as much milk with proper success
sion of green crops attentively cared for upon
5O-acre farm with as little or less expense, than
has previously been accomplished by old meth
DDS upon 2OO-acre farm. Mr.. Terry, OF Ohio,
small farm, with such crops as potatoes, ber-
ries, &C., can be made profitable and equally, if
not more so, than the large farm, and yet we
find farmers YEARLY trudging along, struggling
at fate and complaining over what they might
correct.
that with favorable seasons large crops are OBJ
tanned, yielding a surplus of different crops
which necessitate heavy expenditure OF energy,
low returning in cash at times barely enough to
pay the actual outlay for labor, commercial fer
tilizers, freight, commission and other expenses,
and we know to increase our crops to double or
triple would cause a still greater reduction in
prices with all fixed charges remaining about
the same.
'What is the remedy for our complaints Some
have argued to increase our money circulation
to $36 or $40 per capita; some have argued for
Government storehouses, the issuing of loans
upon produce deposited in those storehouses
and then to put out about one twelfth of such
crops as are not perishable each month, thereby
securing regular and even price throughout
the year, largely benefiting both producer and
consumer. In my Judgment the nearer you can
bring the producer and consumer together the
better Off the people of our country will become.
"Our use of commercial manures greatly in
crease our expenses, decrease the amount of
available labor for farm work and give us great
ly increased crops, which always means more
expense of freight threshing, &C., and lower
prices for our commodities.
ut is worse than folly for us to longer deceive
ourselves; such are the facts. The labor at
our command is very expensive and almost
worthless.
81 should very much like the members of this
and the Junior Club to make suggestions look
ing to some wise course to pursue in dealing
with the questions of commercial manures, how
to improve and properly compensate farm labor
ers and how to cheaper farm expenses, which,
affar oil ia fha vif al nrnhlem worthy of orr nrO-