The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-03-25
CECIL FARMERS CLUB.
March Meeting Held at the Hospitable Home
of ElWood Balderston.
ESSAY BY OLDEST SURVIVING MEMBER

dairy condition. The trees were thrifty in some
other places and healthy conditions were in time
restored here, without our having combatted the
malady or professed to understand it.
The peach crop has gone through its cycles of
success and failure unaffected by any effort we
could make to prevent it. The same is true OF
other fruits These changes have been theme
of never ceasing interest, but always impressing
the lesson thatwe must simply do our part in
their culture with intelligence and care and trust
Providence for the increase.
An important problem just now before US is
involved in the availability Of the leguminous
tribe Of plants for the farmers purposes. Our
fathers took hold of one branch OF this problem
when they introduced clover and stimulated its
growth with plaster. They profited largely from
its culture and use but in time were beset by con.
ditions, in which the crop failed. They knew not
why. Said the soil had become "clover sick" and
could see no further The idea of value in this
legume was never abandoned tho its behaviour
under culture wasoften beyond comprehension.
I Of late times science has thrown over its mys-
terious conduct glimmer of light. We shall
never probably understand these operations of
nature, but we may learn little Of the laws
which govern them and practicing what we learn
may turn them to our advantage.
In the earlier stages of commercial manures
stood on the conceit that it should not be neces-
sary for farmers to be always buying them. 1t
was evident that the soil OF these old fields must
be enriched; but when that point was gained, /
hoped we had home-resources for retaining its
fertility Our recent discoveries of the action Of
clover, has given new force to that hope tho we
may not hesitate about buying phosphates when
needed.
have gone over certain incidents in agricul-
tural history to illustrate the exhaustless field OF
inquiry ever opening before u.s. Ihave named
but few incidents. Potatoes. oats, grass, almost
every product of soil is subject to these vcis-
STUDIES. We have hitherto been borne along by
the TACT (which is cause of profound thankfulness
that failures do not in many of these depart
ments at the same time. We have always left US
a bountiful support in some shape.
These changing conditions furnish continuous
employment for both head and hands, and 1t
occurs to me that these club gatherings If rightly
conducted will be largely available in promoting
mutual help in the problems that beset US.
Every member in his home-observations or in
his reading will meet with something worth talk
ing about and If these are noted either in the
mind or on paper and brought forward here, you
need never be at loss for matter OF discussion.
have spoken of the clover problem as just
now an absorbing one. There is short article in
a late number of the Country Gentleman bearing
on this subject that would advise being read
today.
Passages like this of striking import are fire..
quently met with that If brought forward at these
meetings would make them less dependent on
the essayist, TO give animation to proceedings
R. X. Rawlings, j. Harry Max
well and j. II. Poist were appoint
ed committee on inspection of
premises, after which an adjourn
ment was taken to partake of a
bounteous repast.
When the club reassembled l..
Balderston read an article on
"Ground brought in clover" He
stated that his experience with
sowing plaster had been that the
effects did not show until seven
years had elapsed which he consid-
cred too long to wait for results.
The committee on inspection re-
ported having viewed fine herd
of Guernsey cattle which presented
a sleek and healthy appearance,
due no doubt largely to the succn
lent ensilage upon which they
were fed. The hogs did not look
quite as thrifty as on former occa.
sions, the long cold winter being
against them. A gasoline engine
attached to fodder cutter for put
ting manure into fine condition for
spreading attracted their attention.
An excellent paper was read by
Fl. M. Cook, of Avondale, entitled
"The Farmer Compared from a
Business Standpoint" We hope
to publish the paper in full next
week.
A unanimous vote of thanks was
rendered both Lloyd Balderston
and Harvey Cook.for their interest
ing papers.
A committee was appointed to
draft resolution of respect on the
death of w. W. Moore, who had
been an active and honorary mem
Der of the club for many years.
On motion the club adjourned to
meet at the call of the President.