The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-06-24
euNPowDnR AGRICULTURAL CLUB.
Monthly Meeting at Gerar Farm-Fine
Crop Outlook = Questions and
Answers-Views Of Prof.
Patterson on I'M
portant Mat
ter6 Etc.


portant Mat
tiers, Etc.
The Senior Gunpowder Agricultural Club met
on Saturday, June 10TH at Gerar Stock Farm
the home of Mr.. E. Cuttings Merryman, near
Cockeysville. All the members were present
except Messrs. James B. Ensor and A. b. Gardin-
er, Jr. Mr.. George Frame was foreman and
had Mr.. Lewis NJ. Bacon and DR.. j. E. Orrison
with him as inspection committee.
Messrs. Daniel s. Pearce, delegate from the
Junior Club in place of Mr.. Granville Matthews
and F. G. Scott; Prof. Henry ]. Patterson, direc-
tor of Maryland Experiment Station, Baldwin
Homer, John 7. Hayden, Col. Joshua H. Cockey
and Louis Mel. Merryman were the visitors.
Mr.. Pearce said the next Junior Club meeting
would be at the farm of Mr.. George E. Shelley.
Ny Lady's Manor. Question for discussion is !:
"What are the effects for good or evil upon the
Eastern farmer from the vast corporations and
trusts in the country ?" Mr.. Asa B. Gardiner,
Jr., was appointed to attend; alternate Mr.. e.
Cuttings Merryman.
The next meeting of this club, by request of
Mr.. Thomas ]. Lea, will take place July 18th.
at the Sheppard-Pratt Hospital. The ques-
ton for discussion will be given later.
A stroll of inspection included a walk through
the alsike and red clover field. the 40 acres in
timothy and the permanent pastures; view of
the four acres in well-set potatoes, the sorghum
lot. the barley and the excellent stand of corn;
also the Guernseys and the sheep in the best
condition. Special interest was manifested in
the alsike clover predominating when only one
third of 1t to two-thirds of the red clover was
s0Wn. 1t was evident that the grass crop, which
is very good, is better because of the alsike
clover. Reference was to the large crop of
alsike grass at the Sheppard-Pratt farm, under
the supervision of Mr.. Lea, who sows no red
aeI6ver. One field of 28 acres will average 2 tons
or mole hay per acre.
Mr. laniel S. Pearce said he has IL acres of
prime red clover, and Mr.. Lewis NJ. Bacon said
he neve. had better red clover than this year.
Mr.. Msrryman prizes his farm and proves it
by the care he manifests and the crops he grows.
He gives personal supervision to everything on
the place He has 95 acres in grass, which, judg-
ing from the prospects and what he obtained
last year from 40 acres C75 tonsJ he will more
than fill every capacity of the large barn and
outbuildings.
The appearance of the farm and premises is
attractive and the situation most desirable.
Mrs. Merryman looks well after every detail of
the home, The improved surroundings and the
poultry.
HALF HOUR FOR QUESTIONS.
Prof. Patterson was asked as to the value of
crimson clover as a soil-improver and how to
seed and treatit. He said: Crimson clover has
proven to be soil-improver,as crops of corn and
tobacco had been grown after it and the last
crop showed the greater benefit; as many as
crops of tobacco had been grown after it. Only
had one failure in getting stand of crimson
clover, owing, partially to the seed and the con-
dition of the ground. The seed sells from $3.50
to SIS per bushel A peck is sown per acre and
can be seeded at the last working of corn and
sown from horse, man riding with the sower,
and at the same time the horse will pull culti-
vator or harrow with man to follow the har-
row. The sower will seed the width of 80 feet,
soin covering the seed others can follow with
harrows. Have had very little injury to plant
from freezing out. October seeding is too late !;
the last of July and August to the first of Sep
TENDER is the better time. Crimson clover can
be sown after potatoes, but earlier in corn and
tobacco. The last week in April the crop is
matured sufficiently to pillow under. It lightens
heavy land. No fertilizer is used on corn when
a good growth of the clover is turned under.
The clover does not make much growth until
after the corn is taken off. It is quicker
cessfully in corn.'
Can cowpeas be grown with corn? Answer
Yes, as the corn with the pea seems to do better.
The pea adds nitrogen and improves the soil.
Peas can be sown after the corn is knee high and
at the last working of the corn, which is done
for pasture. In some places crimson clover and
peas are sown on planting peas with corn; a
single or double row planter can be used, but
double hopper would be better-one for the
peas and one for corn. Prof. Patterson said he
drills all corn to stand Is to 18inches in the row.
8 feet by inches, the width rows. The corn
crop last year averaged Is barrels per acre. If
oil is not ensilaged then the balance is housed
Mr.. Bacon has his ensilage corn to 8 inches in
the row. Mr.. D. s. Pearce said his ensilage corn
yielded from IL to IA barrels per acre, judging
from what was husked.
What is the price of cowpeas? Answer-$15O
to S1.SO per bushel. The Whippoorwill and Clay
varieties were mentioned, but the former is
more prolific and better for hog feeding. On
sowing the peas with crimson clover a half
bushel per acre is enough, with peck of the
crimson clover seed.
What advantage is there in using nitrate of
soda Answer-Whilst the benefit was very
favorable from the use of 100 pounds per acre
with South Carolina rock, yet the 200 pounds
application with dried fish was much better and
showed an increase in hay of 1000 pounds per
acre; the whole cost of treatment of the acre
was So. The soda costs 2K cts. per pound. The
nitrate of soda was distributed the last week in
March with grain drill on top of the ground !;
the rains put it in.
What ought to be the yield of orchard grass !?
Answer-From 2 to tons per acre in good
season. Orchard grass should be sowed in much
of the vacant land and often the orchard grass
makes when the clover does not. 1t can be har-
vested the last week in May and is not hard to
cure 1t is richer grass than timothy but does
not sell on the market. Tall meadow orchard
grass and alske clover can be seeded at the last
working of corn.
Prof Patterson does not know as to the first
or second crop of the alsike clover furnishing
the seed. He favored the sowing of it and red
clover together so as to be sure of a crop of
clover.
What is good top-dressing for lawns? Prof.
Patterson said there is nothing as good as tank
age which sells at $27 per ton He advised that
it be put on at the rate of 1000 pounds per acre
and to apply it in November and December.
Manure, which is usually put on lawns, is I'M
slightly besides the grass grows "spotty' and
many weeds appear.
What is the benefit from lime2 Answer by
Prof. Patterson: We are satisfied that stiff clay
soils need lime and increased crops are realized
from it's use. Magnesia lime has given good re.
suits on magnesa and sandy soils. Calcium
lime is preferred to magnesia lime; 20 to q
bushels of fresh lime per acre is about enough
to apply.
What is the proper time to SOW alfalfa? An
swer-Fall seeding without any nurse" croI
and from the LIST of August to September. The
last week in August sowing usually makes good
| growth and will cover the ground, and then mex
year crop can be cut but it is not so with the
| spring sowing. To inoculate the soil the bacte
| ria from other soils is great benefit and THU
n can be had from the land where the English
| clover abounds along the Northern Central Rail
way; 500 pounds of it is sufficient per acre, pre-
pared and drilled in. 1t should be cultivated II
the soil directly If sown broadcast, as exposure
| to the sun will kill the bacteria.
Mr. J. Summerheld Crowther said, it being {
leguminous plant, he has tried to take care of I
| while others are trying to get rid of it.
Reference was made to Mr.. Charles A. Coun
| Gilman having so acres in alfalfa. His wa
spring seeding, which 1t is likely will give wee'
| trouble. Every dairyman should aim to ge
alfalfa. Better SOW it on high than low land
a. 10 hax