The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1906-10-13

oarmer-HoporC OF 1nbpectiOu Com-
mittee at Mr.. Gilps-The Late
Farmers Picnic Said to Have
Been a Success The
Growing of Alfalfa
Questions and
Answers,
Etc.
The Senior Gunpowder Agricultural Club met
Saturday. September 18th, at the farm of Mr..
J. Summerfield Crowther, near Cockeysville.
Mr.. E. Cuttings Merryman presided. He and
Messrs. George Frame and L. M. Bacon were the
inspection committee. Mr.. Calvin d. Price rep
resented the Junior Gunpowder Club. Mr..
George w. Navy and Mr.. ]. s. CrowtheT, Jr.,
/ were among the visitors. DIR. ]. e. Orrison and
Mr.. Asa B. Gardiner. Jr.. were absent.
1t was seen that Mr.. Crowther has added fer
| tility to his farm, which he has owned only
| few years and is managing it well. He uses i'm
| proved machinery where it is possible to save
manual labor and expense. He was the first
member Of the club to use corn-harvester and
| corn-husker. The club was surprised to see
such good sweet potatoes as to quantity and
quality, as it has been the impression that the
soil here was not adapted to them. He also pro-
duced good watermelons, which were tested by
the members. The garden affords an excellent
crop of Irish potatoes and the usual vegetables
Corn planted June 9th has matured large crop
| of fodder and good average of corn. An alfalfa
lot of three acres has done well, three crops hav-
ing been cut this season.
On returning to the house Mrs. Crowther had
a table laden with the good things of life. She
was assisted by her mother, Mrs. George W..
Navy; her daughter Miss Page Crowther, Mrs.
3. G. Merryman and Misses Lottie and Mary
Price.
The minutes of the last meeting, as published
1 in THE UNION, were read and approved.
The inspection committees report at Mr.. N.
| +, ellis was as follows:
tits with pleasure we report that the Bellview
4 Farm is well managed by our young farmer, who
can but appreciate it for its beautiful location
and productiveness. Every department OF the
farm lis made attractive as well as profitable.
| The corr was well cultivated and free of weeds.
The new sets of grass, from present indications,
| will give returns that will fill his large barns
and lighthouses with fully 1900 bushels of wheat.
He certainly cannot be classed as an amateur
|, farmer. The stock exhibited showed care and
attention. We would suggest that he give i'm
mediate attention to the eradication of the few
Canada thistle plants in the meadow.
+ 5os + = d s ssSSs, Committee.
/, Mr.. C. D. Price reported the next meeting OK
the Junior Club would be at MIR. Charles 81.
Price's near Philopolis. Mr.. George Frame was
appointed to attend the meeting.
Mr.. James B. Ensor reported favorably of the
farmers picnic at Mount Carmel, as he consid-
cred it profitable occasion, having brought the
farmers together and taught them the impor-
lance of union of action in all that pertains to
their interests. Farmers can get all they want
If they work for it through organization. Mr..
Ensor approves of teaching agriculture in the
public schools, as was suggested.
AS to the boy staying on the farm-it is i'm
portant, said MIR. ]. s. Crowther. to teach him
there is profit in farming. If not then he can
not be blamed for going where he can make
money. The boy should be educated as to
seeds, their purity and their growth.
Mr.. Bacon said the picnic was a success as to
the attendance of farmers and the addresses. 1t
should be an annual occasion and can be made
of great benefit if the products of the farm are
exhibited. The money profit in farming should
not be the only satisfying thing in the farm for
the boy. Amoney consideration does not satisfy
the average life. The young should be taught
to appreciate the blessings of the country,
natures beauty and the great advantages of
country home. We want better labor on the
farm and as to getting it through immigration
remains to be seen. Houses on the farm for
families may be an inducement for labor to stay.
Mr.. John Crowther said immigrants go West
where they settle. He has seen women on the
farms in Germany doing the work and accom-
plshing more than the men. We would not
want to see our females helping in the fields,
and we think we can manage without them there.
Mr.. Crowther prefers the farm and country
home.
Instances were given where females assisted
on the farm and proved of much advantage, and
where the farmers wife and daughter were
faithful to the interests of the kitchen and
house work which about give them all they
ysnt to d., do: -, ). ,,...,. ,.,,,. :, % 70
turn foreign labor where it came from, If the
conditions are not met, is a question hard to
answer.
was considered very good, and the emphasis he
placed upon the farmer understanding his call
ing was appreciated; also the value he puts
upon alfalfa for hog-raising.
The Importance of alfalfa for stock feeding
was impressed by Mr.. James B. Ensor, who said
his stock relishes it very much. He cut his five
acres three times and averaged four tons per
acre.
Mr.. Thomas J. Lea, farm manager at the Shep-
pard-Pratt Hospital, who heretofore has given
preference to alsike clover, exhibited several
stalks of alfalfa which measured about foot in
length with roots nearly as long, He sowed IL
acres of it on August 10th, and now it is about
high enough to cut, being very thick on the
ground. He sowed 3Opounds of seed to the acre.,
His ground was sod which he pulverized wei
and sowed fertilizer. He is much pleased with
his venture. AS to alfalfa being valuable for
hogs Mr.. Lea has not used it, but finds the use
of bran develops the growth and he prefers 1t to
ground wheat. He has been very successful in
hog-raising. without run for the swine, and
besides selling many he has now 140 head. He
supplies the hospital with pork and lard.
Mr.. J. s. Crowther does not raise any pork but
Mr.. E. Cuttings Merryman thinks there is money
in hogs. Mr.. Lea said he had large crops of hay
but his new sets of grass are not encouraging
although he reseeded some of his ground.
farmer was spoken of who sows his clover
seed about the latter part of December so the
freezing and thawing will cover the seed, but
the members did not think well of this plan.
HALF HOUR FOR QUESTIONS.
What about the corn crop2 Answer-Most of
| il has been cut Those who used the corn-har-
yester speak favorably of it, and of those on the
| market they are spoken well of. Messrs. ].
| Summerfield Crowther, L. M. Bacon and N. II.
| Gill USED G00 QArV05L0E anu WOulu AOb w WIN
out 1t.
AS to the quality of corn, Mr.. Calvin d. Price,
who grew last year from 10 to 10 barrels to the
acre, said he does not expect as good corn this
year, owing to so many sharp ears. Mr.. Lea said
| his corn is not as good as last year.
AS to apples, Mr.. Bond said with him the crop
| is short and but little cider was made. Apples
| it was said, should be put in cool place out OF
doors for winter keeping, and when cold weather
sets In they are covered with straw which holds
the ice formed over it, thus affording protection
from freezing Cider is kept by the use of rozin
| on the barrels to keep out the air. The winesaI
apple, years ago, it was said. would keep put
| away In a courthouse and one said he has kept
lsfhem in the cellar until May but it is not SO
now as the conditions in growth and care of
Iapples have changed.
Is it sufficient to harrow the ground where
cowpeas grew for the wheat crop? Answer was,
it has been but sometimes the growth Of garlic
| is considerable, notwithstanding it is thought
| garlic would be killed out by the cowpeas. Mr.
John Crowther said, to use the disc harrow In
preparing cowpea ground for wheat is not good
farming. Mr.. Lea has used the rubber with the
harrow in preparing cowpea land and thinks
strange that so much garlic was reported in the