The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-09-23
|oUNpowDER AGRICULTURAL CLUB.
Meeting at Mr.. Gill's Fine Farm-Inter-
esting Inspection-Questio and
AnsWers-Discussing the
Seeding of Grain,
Etc, Etc.

AceClng at Mr.. GIFTS FINE Farm-1nGer
esting Inspection-Questions and
II Acknowledgement the
Il Seeding of Grain,
Etc, Etc.
The Senior Gunpowder Agricultural Club met
Saturday, September 9th, at the farm of Mr.. N
Howard Gill, Mantua. Mr.. John Crowther, Jr.
was foreman and had Mr.. George Frame and DR.
J. E. Orrison as assistants. Others present were
Messrs. John Bond, J. s. Crowther, Lewis NJ
Bacon, James B. Ensor. Joshua F. Cockey, Alex
ander d. Brooks ]. Griffith Gent, Edward G.
Wheeler, Roger T. Gill. of Baltimore, Frank G.
scott and Thomas Ensor.
A stroll of inspection to the cornfeld, over the
grass fields, viewing the asike clover set. and to
the buildings proved of much interest. The
farm contains about 800 acres of most fertile
land and has large and substantial buildings
with every convenience.
Report of the inspection committee: 1.-THE
stroll was quite lengthy and very interesting.
We saw two fields of grass-about 30 acres of
| second growth of timothy-part of it heading
out again. The grass was very thick on the
ground. We saw part of the corn tillage about
IL acres in one field and Is in another) not yet fit
to cut. but showing fair yield. Wewere after
wards taken to field of IA acres of alsike clover.
|
| growth. at this point of the stroll an apple and
peach tree, we'll filed with fruit, imperiled
the appetite of many for supper, but a sub
sequent count showed that this fear on that
score was groundless. On our return we saw a
number of well kept COWS and horses. At the
barn much interest was manifested in the
threshed wheat which showed some discoloring
on account of being housed before perfectly
| dry. The farm shows good care and tillage and
the good crops are a reward for it."
JOHN CRowTHER. JR.,
| GEORGE FRAME, COMMITTEE.
j. e. ORRISON,
Mr.. L. M. Bacon reported having attended the
last meeting of the Junior Club, which discussed
ethb character of fertilizer to use for the wheat
crop, aud how much could be profitably applied.
Mr.. Frank G. Scott. delegate from the Junior
| Club, reported that its next meeting would be
| at Mr.. Daniel s. Pearce's and that it will be a
reading meeting. DIR. J. e. Orrison was ap-
| pointed toattend
No one present having attended the farmers
meeting d. the Maryland Agricultural College
no reportwas made of its proceedings and in
! spection there.
The nextmeeting of this club will take place
| October 7tA, at the farm of DR.. ]. E. Orrison.
north of Codkeysville. The annual manure ques-
ton will betaken up.
HALF HOUR FOR QUESTIONS.
Remarks were as to the condition of the land
that is intended for grain. and reference was
made to the excellent preparation of some fields
which looked like garden ground. 1t was said
the best supervision should be given the work
as some labor will not perform the duty prop
erly. Too often the weeds and grass are not
turned under the furrow, half of them showing
~ to go NOT ,1ciu ho chain
or jointer with the pillow.
Mr.. f. G.. Scott said he is much of the opinion
of Mr.. Thomas J. Lea that the following of the
land for fall seeding should not be encouraged
as it is no advantage to the grain crop, and
disadvantage to the grass that follsws; besides
it is saving of time and labor to prepare corn
land for grain. Reference was to Mr. Daniel 8.
Pearce not having plowed any land for wheat,
but utilized his corn ground for 1t and grass. AS
to the preparation of corn land, especially if
weedy, the corn-harvester was said to be very
useful; besides cutting the cornstalks off low and
evenly the ground was cleared of weeds. The
use of the disc harrow was deemed important,
as it breaks up what weeds there are.
The necessity of cutting of the stalks of corn
close to the ground was mentioned, and if by
labor, the sharp hoe is used very satisfactorily.
If done properly, it was said, farmers would
prefer the cutting and shocking of the corn by
hand.
AS to how much can be done and how much is
paid for cutting of corn, reference was to Mr..
Frank Edwards, near Shawan, cutting of 14O
shocks in day and getting 2K cents per shock
and board. He did his work perfectly, making
the most uniform shocks. His plan is to cut and
put the stalks in armful piles on the ground and
then go over and set them up He cuts the
shock rows by 20 rows. making so hills to the
shock. This was considered by the members as
the best work in the line of corn-cutting. The
"horses" and shocks were tied with rope, which
the members approved.
AS to the sowing of alsike clover Mr. Gill seems
pleased with his venture and Mr.. F. G. Scott
much gratified with his. he having sowed all
alsike and no old clover.
II lThe corn prospect was considered and favora-
bic reports were given. Mr.. j. Griffith Gent
and Mr.. Augustus Bourguin were mentioned as
having excellent corn. The former applied 200
pounds of fertilizer on the land. Reference was
to 20 barrels per acre prospect reported by some
Worthington Valley farmers. The inference
was, ''well wait and see.''
Mr.. Scott thought the yield of corn will fall
short of what is anticipated and will not equal
last years crop. Others thought the crop would
keeps greener than usual at this time of the
year. and generally it is too green to cut off and
put in shocks.
: It was decided to omit the reading program
and discuss, what best to do from start to finish
in seeding grain this fall ?"
Mr.. Bacon said: ut is timely subject and we
should talk over it so as to encourage one
another in what should be done. All seasonable
questions should be taken up in their order and
presented with improved thoughts and methods
think it important to pillow the ground well and
then less work is required to prepare it. think
favorably of writer's plan. that of narrowing
the ground after each rain, or as often as posi-
BILE to give the roots something upon which to
feed / have plowed some of my land twice
owing to it not being well plowed at first. will
use the disc harrow roller, harrow again and
then use the rubber. have purchased Is tons
of fertilizer at SIS per ton, and will apply 3OO
lbs. per acre. It contains per cent. of ammo
mia and per cent. of potash and South Carolina
rock. Ihave tried four different kinds of fertil-
izers and yet the eye could not see any more
benefit from one than the other. use potash
with South Carolina rock and put out what
manure is possible. 1t takes great deal Of
manure to cover % acres. If manure is applied
on wheat after it is up then favor the early
application Oh 1t-nOC later IMAM Januaryi IOr
corn manure does better put on year ahead.
l have not much confidence in pure bone, as it
seems to me to be impossible to get the quantity
of bone needed for the market demand. do
not see where it comes from. As to the kind of
wheat thought had the best seed which for
two years gave me 30 bushels per acre. will
change to the general seed used. which seems to
be the Fultz"
Mr. Bond said: II plow the ground as good as
1 can have it done. 1t should be narrowed
enough to put it in fine condition and this can
be done if taken at the right time. When there
is so much rain like this year it is difficult to get
it in the order you wish. have narrowed my
ground twice and will harrow 1t again and use
the rubber. 1t depends on the condition of the
soil as to the quantity of seed to SOW. My best
crop was from TX bushels of wheat per acre.
Corn ground should have more seed. Some land
| will take TX bushels per acre. use from 300 to
| $50 lbs. of ammoniated fertilizers on falloW
ground and South Carolina rock on corn ground
| wheat because it is less expensive and 1t Is
thought good enough to grow wheat. The
best wheat ever raised was 3S bushels per acre
...skl. H. oe C0,1kh CoroIina rOor follow