The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-07-01
"HE Cecil Farmers Club met
. y at the home of J. Harry

Secretary being absent j. p. Will
son was appointed secretary pro
TEN. On the call of the roll the
following members answered to
their names Elwood Balderston,
Alfred Kirk, Frank r. Cherry, M.
G. Reeder, r. X. Rawlings, Joseph
Grove, J. S. Scarborough, Jas. FL.
Maxwell, J. Harry Maxwell, r. T.
Cameron, G. Ross Biles and J. p.
Wilson; with the following visitors
present, beside the honorary mem
bers: Lloyd Balderston, Ell. s..
Coudon, Frank Lakeland, Ellis l..
Duyckinck, WILDER Maxwell.
There being no unfinished bus
mess the call for experiments clio
tied general response, varied and
otherwise. Mr.. j. FL. Maxwell re-
ported the beneficial effect of top
dressing of stable manure for the
third moving; thought the crop
doubled; about eight loads per acre
were applied. Mr.. Grove had sim
liar experience in top dressing, also
Mr.. Balderston on the same line.
Mr.. J. S. Scarborough reported
that in his potato patch on
one side the potatoes came
up stronger and developed much
more vitality than on the other
side. On investigation he found
that the best plants were produced
from seed exposed to the light and
spread thinly over the floor of the
cellar, while those producing the
weak plants were taken from box
or bin in bulk and not exposed to
the light and air. He also spoke
of seed corn dried in the living
room. Ninety nine per cent ger
minated, while that taken from the
crib in some instances was almost a
failure. Another point here
brought out was that the good seed
came up sooner and much stronger,
and that as a matter of utility
farmers should be more careful of
seed corn.
The question was here raised as
to the terminating quality of seeds
and grain kept from year to year
1t was generally agreed if properly
kept corn, wheat or oats did not
lose vitality to terminate kept over
for one or two years. With garden
seeds in general it was thought to
be different. Mr.. TT. S. Coudon
spoke Of keeping turnip seed for a
number of years and used it each
year with success, the vitality de
pending on the care taken.
r. It. Cameron had procured
seed corn from a neighbours crib
and had to replant the entire field.
G. r Biles had sown oats of two
years and had a poor termination
but from present appearance it had
stooled out so as to present a salts
factory prospect.
Great annoyance and loss from
crows and black birds were report
ed. Mr.. r. X. Rawlings recon-
mended deep planting as a safe
guard.
Mr.. Duyckinck, visitor, com
planned of a louise affecting his corn,
working on the root.
Mr.. Grove stated that Interrupt
tion in seeding oats had made part
of field ten days later but that
result from last was equally
promising.
Mr.. Balderstcn further said that
the alsike clover is showing much
more vitality than the red clover,
the latter having to a large extent
disappeared, while the alsike was
quite prominent. The consensus
of opinion was that it would be adj
visable to SOW more alsike.
M. G. Reeder exhibited some
trefoil, a plant showing thirty four
stalks from one seed, showing its
marvellous propensity to multiply.
This, we think, might be used as a
successful substitute for red clover
if we were satisfied with the plant
as hay. Mr.. r. has also great ex-
pectation of a barley crop but
nothing definite to report. He also
exhibited box containing several
varieties of fine apples in good
state of preservation. These apples
are part of an exhibit forwarded
last fall to Washington for display
at the Worlds Fair at st. Louis,
but owing to the withdrawal of the
horticultural exhibit was returned
after being in cold storage for six
months aud since kept in ice house,
were pronounced fine in flavor and
remarkably well kept.
At this stage, having spent more
time than usual on this line, dinner
was announced, when the President
named the following committee on