The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1906-09-28

hY HE Farmers C1uO met dI inc
home of Mr.. Robt. T. Cam
= eron on Wednesday, Sept.
10. The following members were
present: R. T. Cameron; R. K.
Rawlings; Joseph T. Grove; c..
Ross Biles; Joseph S. Scarborough;
John P. Wilson; James FL. Max
well; J. Harry Maxwell; Joseph /.
France. Visitors-S. T. Freeman;
W. r. Cameron; Prof. Sampson; L..
c. Cameron; VIM. T. Gillespie;
Rev. Samuel Polk; Geo. Biddle;
Geo. Gary; Geo. Blake.
The club was called to order by
Mr.. r. K. Rawlings and in the
absence of the secretary, on motion
of Mr.. Grove, DR.. France was
elected secretary pro. TEN.
When the members were asked
to report any experiments Mr..
Grove said that he had tried put
ting fertilizer on top of the soil on
potato ground but that it was not
nearly so effective when USED Id
that way as when put in the rows.
The rows where fertilizer was put
In rows averaged II bushels betCer
than when it was drilled in. top
soil. He said that on one portion
OF the ground the drill was not
working properly and he put on
at rate of 1900 Id to an acre and
the result was very marked and
he believes the return would
justify such quantity being used.
He reported good results with the
potato digger.
Mr.. Cameron said that he had
tried sowing timothy and clover
together as crop but that the
weather had been so unfavorable
that he could not report his result
at that time.
Mr.. Wilson reports that he finds
it very much more satisfactory and
more economical for him to mix his
fertilizer at home instead of buying
it already mixed. He uses in his
staple fertilizer about 1900 lbs. OF
rock to 800 TBS. of muriate of potash
and he finds this most satisfactory.
He said when asked that he aimed
to lime each field about once in four
years.
Mr.. Freeman, one of the clubs
visitors, was asked to report the re-
suits of an experiment with alfalfa
growing which he had tried. He
said that he had used seed which
had been inoculated but repeated
attempts to get results had failed.
He remarked that the alfalfa root
was very long, reaching at times a
depth of twenty feet and he sug-
gested that our failure with the crop
might be due to the fact that its
natural habitat might be one quite
different from ours, one where the
top soil was very deep with water
supply far beneath the surface
and, he said, this being its natural
habitat may explain its failure to
grow on our more shallow soils.
Prof. Sampson, member of the
U. S. Department of Agriculture,
being present was asked about this
and he said that alfalfa was tap
rooted plant and its roots would go
very deep to obtain water when
compelled to do so and in the West
where the plant has been extensive
ly grown, the water being far below
the surface, the plant by process OF
adaptation to surroundings, which
is one of the laws of plant life, grad
ually developed long roots. By the
same law of adaptation alfalfa would
gradually adapt itself to our soil
and if by hard work we would start
the alfalfa he was confde ut that it
would readily grow upon our soil.
He advised the members TO get the
bulletin on alfalfa issued by the
Department of Agriculture. 4 He
mentioned a book that had been
written by Joe Wing on alfalfa and
said that he would reco nmend to
the members that they write to Mr..
Martin, of the Pennsylvania Dept.
at Harrisburg for literature.
He said that alfalfa had been i'm
ported from southern Europe. He
The agreement between the