The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-05-26
Cecil Farmers Club.
Proceedings Of the May Meeting at the
Home of Alfred Kirk.
AN INTERESTING TALK ON AUSTRALIA.

usually made of log with many strong spikes
sticking out of it. and is used for breaking
down and tearing out some of the small bushes
and heath like plants which cover the soil in its
natural state. The stumping pillow is a really in
genious appliance exclusively used on the plains
which were at one time covered with the mallu,
a small species of eucalyptus. The stumps OF
these trees are so exceedingly numerous on some
of the land, that the farmer despairs Of eradica-
ing them. and he takes to using pillow so con-
structed that 1t will cut furrow right up to any
obstacle. and then jump over it as easily as a
hunter will jump over three barred gate.
The 'stripper" is another farming implement
/ in great favor in Australia. At great distances
from railroad stations it is as much the farmer
can do to convey to market simply his wheat. He
therefore sacrifices the straw by burning IT, allow
ing the ashes to remain to fertilize the ground.
The grain is stripped off the standing wheat by
means of an apparatus somewhat resembling a
| reaping machine, excepting that it is designed
not to cut the straw but to pluck the heads from
the top and throw them into q receptacle like a
small carriage. On one occasion new chum
actually mistook one of them for some kind of
public conveyance. The driver hove him in and
went off at full speed through field of ripe
wheat dis curiosity was soon satisfied. and he
began to yell and to beg to be let down. On
being released he said that he had never had
such lively time of it in all his life.
The great drawback to the stripper is that it Is
useless unless the grain be perfectly rpened. In
country subject to strong hot Winds the farmer
frequently loses several bushels per acre through
the falling of the heads in the days when he Is
waiting for the grain to be fit for the stripper.
The rabbit. equally with the drought, was tor
merly the farmers pest. In spite Of wire and
every other continuance the rabbit would get
into the wheat fields Finally the Government
hit upon the happy thought of building great
factories for the purpose of canning bunny, and
shipping him as an article of food. They pay SO
much per hundred for the rabbits. They are
then put up in cans, whole rabbit in his various
parts, just prepare the lobster. It is said to
| much appreciated by the people of Europe.
The following committee were
appointed to view the premises:
Joseph T. Grove, Martin L. Thomp-
son and James Fl. Maxwell. A
recess was then taken for dinner,
which proved an abundant success
and did credit to our hostess and
her competent assistants, as all
can attest.
I On resuming business the chair
man, Jos. T. Grove, and his COM
petent colleagues reported having
noted on inspecting the premises, a
garden of fine vegetables and show
ed abundant labor and care; straw
berry patch A No. 1; fields of
wheat and grass, not only fair but
extra good; fine meadow, watered
by never failing spring, iY which
there were eight fine grade cows
and two young cattle; at the barn
four extra fine work horses, that
showed good care; six fine ,shoats,
SOW and seven pigs, also six white
pigs; fine apple orchard, in fact
two orchards, the younger Of them
in very healthy condition; crib
of corn and plenty of wood in the
large wood shed. The buildings
and pr ,mises show the skilful man
agement of the host and his assist
ants, the fruits of many years of
labor and care.
The report of the committee was
SO favorably received that but few
additional comments were made.
John P. Wilson asked if it would
be better to plant cow peas with
the corn, or separate, for filling
silo. The most of the members
thought it would be better to plant
separate.
On motion the club adjourned to
meet with R. X. Rawlings June IA.
Jos. s. SCARBOROUGH,