The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-08-06
LOCAL AFFAIRS.
FARMERS PICNIC.
Two Thousand Persons Enjoy A Day In
The Woods And Listen to Talks On
Interesting Subjects.

Two Thousand Persons Enjoy A Day In
The Woods And Listen TO Talks On
Interesting Subjects.
| The first annual picnic of Taneytown Grange,
No. lS4, was held in Oilers grove, near Tan
| eytown, last Saturday, and was attended by
| probably 1000 persons, notwithstanding threat
ening weather conditions.
The speakers and invited guests were met
at Bruceville. and the three mile drive in car.
| riages through magnificent farming section
| was greatly enjoyed.
The Taneytown Brass Band of pieces met
the guests at the edge of the grove and marched
to the grandstand, playing familiar air.
MR.. wALsH's WELCOME.
Mr.. NJ. <. Walsh, member of the Hamp-
stead Grange. delivered brief address of
welcome. He showed how desirable these
reunion picnicS are for farmers and how their
increase in numbers was indicative of the
| progress of the farmers. He said that The
exhibit made by the Maryland Agricultural
Experiment Station would compensate by its
instruction for the time it took to come-in
fact, il was not time lost but 4 good invest.
ment.
A. B. Alger, master Of the Maryland State
Grange, replied appropriately to the address
tions which be had looked forward to was the
warm hospitality extended, which always iu-
| cluded bountitul supply of the things that
would satisfy any appetite. Dinner was then
served.
THE VALUE OF CLOVER.
! Prof. II. J. Patterson spoke on The Value
| Of the Legumes." He said there are some
$4,000 acres of hay grown in Maryland every
I year, with an average of only one ton to the
acre. There is every reason why the yield
/ should be greatly increased. Clover, he said,
/ has a particular value in farm economy. Other
| crops that follow are always increased because
! the clover has served to add nitrogen to the
/ soil, as well as humus, aud also puts the soil
I IN better physical condition. The legume
4 family derives the pure nitrogen from the at.
mosphere that is not taken up by many other
plants. Clover is the most common of the
| family. 1t is an agent enriching the soil; il
/ even becomes miner as the taproots penetrate
/ into the subsoil, thereby securing mineral
plant food and liberaiing it also for subsequent
crops He predicted that there is great fu-
iurr for alfalfa in Maryland. The reason that
II refuses 20 grow on some lands in the State
IS the lack of nitrogen IN the soil that will per
nit the formation of the tubercles on the
roots. such soil can. however, be inoculated,
50 that alfalfa will readily grow. Of all the
clovers alfalfa Is the best When the farmer
has alfalfa to feed he need not buy wheat bran
to form balanced ration. All farm stock
readily thriyes on alfalfa even hogs improve
/ upou il. aud poultry lay more eggs when they
/ can pasture on it. There are places in the
/ State where six tons of alfalfa per acre cut
I in one season. One ton of alfalfa 10 equal for
/ feeding purposes to a ton Of wheat bran. He
/ advised the raising of alfalfa, and thus be in.
Z q a.. W.,st.rv Thar
[ should be thousands more acres grown in
/ Maryland and thousands more cattle raised TO
/ feed on u. The station has il growing on
/ grayeliy soil. There should be more fields of
/ it in Carroll county. Every farm should have 1t.
I A PENNSYLVANIA SPEAKER
/ W. +. Hill, Of the Pennsylvania State
1 Grange, followed. The grange in Pennsyl-
/ vania this year has greatly increased its mem
bership and many new oranges have been
started Membership lines are now drawn
f closer than they used 10 be. Character is now
q prominent requisite IN membership. In his
I State. be said. Legislators take pains TO find
: out shat kind Of legislation the grangers want.
/ The old style at farmers picnics used to be tC
/ have city lawyer address them. Nowadays
I experts give practical talks on farm topics
1 everything Is educational. AT one OF the
Peunsylvania meetings a speaker was partlcu
/ larry emphatic ia instructing the farmers ic
/ miad their Ps and Qs. After the meeting an
I old farmer earnestly wanted further intorma
I ton about the Ps and Qs, and was told that
/ z means Pennsylvania Railroad and Y meant
Quay.
Mr.. Hill showed how influential the grange
bad been ia stopping the adulteration Of many
things, aud said many OF the aduleraiions laid
al the farmers door we're made by the middle
mea.
STATE MASTER AIGER's ADDRESS
State Grange Master Alger then spoke on
the progress Of the oranges. which, he said
had over $1,000 members added last year.
Carroll county had once been the banner
grange coanty OF Maryland. but a grange or.
gsuiEer iu Garrett county has recently in
erased the number there. until that county
nov has Is graEges. Farmers never have
fully appreciated what the Maryland Agrieul-
lurAl Experiment Station is constantly doing
for them, he sa'd.
LErrER OF cAFTAfS SYLVESTER.
CART r. W. Sylvester, of the Maryland
Agricultural College, who was to have been
one Of the speakers. was not present, owing 10
sickness, and sent the following letter;
Your principles. your purposes are all
conferred to one end. and that IS the uplifting
of the imperial calling among men-the agri.
culture of iit United States, the bone and
sinew Of our great country. From our fields
and forests aad our labor our great country Is
sustained After feeding and clothing 80,
co, 600 Of our people, We ship one thousand
million dollars of surplus TO foreign countries
and thus settle, what we owe, and with the
balance tnrn the financial stream to our shore.
Over against this are $500, 0O0, 600 Of all man
ufaciures Aad other commodities together.
These facts. irrefutable and indisputable, are
the foundation for your claim that your vocas
ton forms the foundation for the great eoun
try ia whiCh YOU reside. You have not yet
fully realized the rights aud privileges which
the dignity should grant you.
"A close study of grange doctrines as they
apply 70 subordinate county, State and nA-
tional organizations will bring you into full
realization OF these rights. You have done a
good work in Carroll. Eou need to hold what
you have. You need 10 extend your influence
until every eleetive district in your State has
It's strong subordinate grange by the side OF
your pubhc school aud your church. This
trinity stands together. The three stand for u
sturdy manhood aud wopanhood.
EXPERIMENT STATIONS EXHIBIT.
The Maryland Agricultural Experiment
Station had Il tent IN which was exhibited the
insects that are so destructive to farm crops.
also specimens of corn seed. showing good
and undesirable qualities. Professor Garner
gave very interesting talk on corn growing,
illustrating with a chart showing the character
of grains to select to produce certain results.
There WAS quite display of farm aud dairy
implements and machinery, some Of which
was in full operation, model silo and wire
fences.
OFFICERS OF THE LODGE.
Solomon Myers was master of ceremonies
at the picnic. The officers OF Iaueytown
Grange are:
W. f. o. Hiner, master; B. l.. Cookson,
oyerseer: W. X. Eekert, lecturer; Solomon
Myers, chaplain; Noah Baumgardner. treas
urer: E. D. Bankard secretary: G. W. Har-
man. steward; Theodore Feeser, assistant
steward; BERN Feeser, gatekeeper; Fannie
Hines. Ceres; Lizzie Study, Flora; Olive Gar
ner, Pomona. and Esther Garner, lady assist
ant steward.