The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1904-04-30
eUNpowDER AGRICULTURAL CLUB.
Meeting at Gerar Stock Farm-Begin-
ming of the Clubs Thirty-Fifth Year
of Existence-Maryland at the st.
Louis Exposition-Questions
and Answers, etc., etc.


ming of the Clubs Thirty-Fifth Year
of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS at the st.
Louis Exposition-Questions
and Answers, etc., etc.
The Senior Gunpowder Agricultural Club met
Saturday, April 10th, at Gerar Stock Farm, the
home of Mr.: E. Cuttings Merryman, near Cock
eysville. Those present were Messrs. George
Frame, foreman Asa B. Gardiner, Jr., assist
ant, and Lewis NJ. Bacon, N. Howard Gill, j.
Merryman. COL Joshua H. Cockey. Benjamin T.
Ridgely, COL william M. Knight, Thomas j.
Lea and Louis Mel. Merryman.
A stroll of inspection over the grain and
grass fields and about the stables occupied an
hour and proved most interesting: The farm is
model one for its location. lay of land, fertili-
we'll kept condition are an attraction to passers-
py. 1t is so highly priced by Mr.. Merryman ana
MS family as to prompt them 10 sui 1urtner
add to its beauty and value.
The time of this meeting was the beginning
Of the thirty-fifth year of the organization OF
the club and showed no lack OF interest IN agri-
culture and that which pertains to the advance
ment of the farmers interests. The meeting
was most helpful in every respect. The social
part was, as usual. most enjoyable. owing TO
ces no meeting had been held since Novem-
Der, 1908. The members were glad to meet after
snch long interval.
one of the late meetings of the Junior Club and
said he always appreciated the privilege OF
meeting with the members ne was aPpoinn ,.r;,
9th, at the farm of Mr.. Daniel 5. Pearce, near
Belfast.
Mr.. Frank G.. Scott represented the Junior
Club in place of Mr.. E. E. Scott.
The action of the Patuxent Planters Club, of
Upper Marlboro. Nd, respecting practical sug-
fund provided by the State of Maryland for the
st. Louis Exposition, was read and the Hollow
ing resolution adopted:
WHEREAS, 1t is the sense of the Senior Gun
powder Agricultural Club that great benefit
would accrue to the State by a complete agri-
cultural exhibit and by every opportunity pelng
given to attract settlers to Maryland; there
fores belt
ReSoiusd, That we request the Commissioners
of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition to appro-
pirate 5000 for horticultural exhibit and use
their influence to have the State Bureau OF I'M
migration installed in the Maryland Building.
turai De5artment answers were as follows {:
That from 5sto 10 per cent. of the late sown
wheat would be plowed up owing to its unfavor-
able condition; that the condition of wheat IS
80 per cent. rye IS per cent, and grass 50 per
cent. and that spring blowing is about finished:
A remark was that the grass roots wintered
better than for years that the roots are not
thrown outand the sets show favorably.
AS to alfalfa Mr., Bacon and Mr.. Crowther said
their sets were badly damaged, owing to the
Mr.. Lea, manager of the Sheppard Pratt Hos
pital farm, and great advocate of the alsike
clover, exhibited several plants of the clover
showing how well the roots grew and clustered.
While walking over Mr.. Merryman's well-set
grass field he readily picked out the alsike from
the common red clever plant. He said If he
continued as successfully with the alsike clo-
yer he would not try alfalfa. He stated that he
never saw crimson clover killed SO badly as 1t
he Past t6e
clovers, and to get the benefit of the pea vines
it is better not to pillow the vines under, but
use harrow to break the vines and drill the
land after them with grain.
The next meeting will be held May 28th, at
the farm of Mr.. John Bond. Reading by Glass
No. III. s. Crowther, John Bond, L. NJ. Bacon
HALF HOUR FOR QUESTIONS.
What influence has the sire on the dam
Answer was that the development of the fe-
male through the growth of the calf Is seen ;
the qualities of the sire are transmitted. Arti-
Giles were referred to that accepted the state
What potatoes are planted for the best re-
sults7 Mr.. Benjamin I. Ridgely said Early
Rose for an early crop and Green Mountain for
quality and should be planted as early as posi-
BILE. His fertilizer cost $26 per ton and con-
tains from to 10 per cent potash and to per
and sows it both ways-hrst with drill and
then by the planter in the row. Five acres with
planter is good d GAYS NO %orx x IN planGng Pota
planter costs about SIS.
Mr.. Merryman suggested that several farmers
buy planter and in that way 1t would cost the
individual less
Mr.. Ridgely continued, saying that 80 to 50
inches is wide enough to have the rows. He
best yield was $3.50 bushels from IL acres. He
wants the soil as light as possible for potatoes
and always harrows the ground as soon as the
potatoes begin to come through the surface. In
low lands weeds start readily and the soil gets
hard 80 that the weeder would not do much
good. He believes in killing potatoes on finish
ing cultivation, then they can be dug better.
Other potato growers favor killing up.
Mr.. Bacon said, as rule. level cultivation for
crops is advocated.
crops it was said the land must be lightened to
do good work and where there are stones it will
o oga 10 cnrn or notstoes Mr. Rdeelv snaiv
follows his potato ground with wheat.
Mr.. Lea said June 18th was the time for plant
ing pototes in montgomery county and large
splapting failed and now they plant any time.
must be met BY the use or paris green and the
ssduster,' was said to apply the poison on two
rows at time, it being machine with MOBILES
and carried by person.
Has clover seed, which was sown two or three
weeks ago. been anected by the freezing wealth
err? AnSWer-N0.
What is the prospect for fruitP Answer-The
backward spring has been favorable to most of
the fruit. The winter no doubt has injured the
peach buds.
Is there any advantage in sowing garden seed
during cold weather? Answer-Only in having
the work done.
The early sown wheat looking well, and some
having been sown as early as September 4th,
interest was manifested in the very earliest
sown on Mr.. Ridgely's farm. He said he
Thought he would try early sowing as the best
wheat that ever was grown on the farm was in
1851 and sown on the 10th of August; that the
seed was put in with one-horse shovel pillow,
after being sown broadcast. In November the
blades measured as much as % inches. The
yield was 425 bushels from TX acres.
remark was that the winter must have been
Eery mild as not to injure the joints of the
long plants. In late years the fly is feared
when wheat is sown early, hence much Is Sown
produced good yield. Some wheat sown last
fall is just getting above ground. AS to the fly,
it seems there are spring and fall broods. In
Cecil county, it was said, the farmers sow early
and are not troubled with fly.
How much seed per acre Is sown? Answer
TX bushels. Mr.. Ridgely sowed as much as 2K
bushels per acre as an experiment. A remark
was that in Hartford county more seed per acre
is sown than here, and that in Talbot county
from TX to X bushels per acre, but tenants
is the cool wind hard on grain? Answer-No,
as the wheat has not been thrown out by the
winter.
spring? Answer-The general opinion is that
it stools and branches more in the spring:
Reading was by class No. 3. Mr.. E. G.. Merry
man chose "Big Dividends for Farmers how
Agriculturists of the Eastern Shore of Vir-
Rinia Combined for Self-Protectlon and How
Their Combination Works." from the Baltimore
Mr.. Bacon said the plan suggested in the arti-
Gle is like that of the Philadelphia markets
where enterprise has accomplished much for
the farmers His object was to establish far
mer's market in Baltimore, but the farmers
would not take nOlQ OIL IL. IL IS amazing what
farmers will go into. He recited instances
where number lost considerable money by bad
Investments.
Mr.. Gardiner read Lessons From Alfalfa"
from the Country Gentleman. 1t declared that
liberal seeding is the great factor in successful
grass growing. One thing on which all writers
seem to agree is the free use of seed.
Why is this? The plant is a strong, wide
grower and if once established can take care of
weaker interlopers. Now that the successful
alfalfa growers recommend 20 to 30 lbs. of seed
may this not teach double lesson-that red
clover should be sown at that rate and that we
have not received full value from the good old
clover because we did not give it generous OPP
portunity.
twenty-five years ago the writer laid down
hay and pasture land with four to five bushels
of mixed seed to the acre, and the land is re-
turning large profit from tho same seeding to
thia day Mr. Clark. of Connecticut, has Sc
cured great results-results that can be du-
piicated by any Industrious farmer who en-
ploys the same land preparation, manures. i'm
plements and an abundance of seed. Ny thirty
years along these lines leave no doubt in my
tie or no manuring and light seeding never will
produce Clark hay crop.
Mr.. Lea said he is an advocate of liberal seed
ing of grass and sows generally peck of clio
yer seed per acre.
Reference was to both-way seeding of alfalfa
giving good results and that the Government
advises Is to 20 lbs. of alfalfa seed per acre. 1t
was said at Is cts. per pound it would make
costly outlay.
Mr. George Frame read from the Country Gen
hemGn Rural Route 49,"
AS to rural free delivery some expression was
that it is a disadvantage in some respects, es-
4All-- @S.11 orln From