The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1906-04-21
euNPowDER -AoR1cuLruRA1 CLUB.
The 36th Anniversary OF the Organize
tton-An Interesting Review-Ques-
lions and Anewers-Discuss-
ing Farm Fencee-Diver-
sity of Opinion on
the Subject,

1
lions and Answers-Discuss-
ing Farm Fences-Diver-
eity of Opinion on
the Subject,
Etc.
! The Senior Gunpowder Agricultural Club met
Saturday, April 18th, at the home of Mr.. John
Crowther, Jr., president of Towson National
Bank, In Lutherville. 1t was the first meeting
since January as the members decided on an
intermission because of the winter weather. 1t
was the thirty-sixth anniversary of the organi-
zation of the club. The first meeting was held
at the home of late Dickinson Gorsuch who,
with other original members. was successful
farmer and an active member of the club until
his death. None of the original members are
living. There are now ten members and three
honorary members.
Reviewing the proceedings of the early meet
ings of the club the matter makes very interest
ing reading, and the reports of the large crops
show gratifying results. For several years, it
seems, the members tried as to see how much
corn could be grown per acre and surprising
crops followed, as Mr.. Talbot Gorsuch reported
over 81 barrels of ear corn Tor 135 bushels of
shelled CORN on an acre. Several members re-
ported Is barrels. This was no guess work, as
the land and corn were measured by commit
tee which made the awards.
The farms of the early members were known
as hay and small grain producers and the large
storehouses to be filed to their capacity. All
crops were then produced with less improved
machinery than is now in use.
Mr.. Thomas ]. Lea. farm manager of the Shep-
pard and Enoch-Pratt Hospital Hon. J. F. O.
Talbot, Mr.. Joseph M. Crowther and Capt. E.
Herman we're present as invited guests.
no inspection, as Mr.. Crowther lives in the viii
lage, where he has a very attractive home.
NJ Ia evident that it is well cared for, which
characteristic he manifested when he lived on
his farm.
An Initiation from Mr.. J. NICK. Merryman for
the club 70 meet some time at his farm on the
Falls road, was accepted.
Remark were very favorable of the late farm
ers' institute at Towson and much appreciation
was expressed for the excellent speakers. The
articles, as published in the recent issues of the
/ Country Gentleman, written by Mr.. Jared Van
Wagenen, on southern and Western Maryland,
| were referred 70 as excellent, and the wish was
| expressed thatth county papers would copy
them.
The next meeting of this club will take place
May 9Th. at the farm of Mr.. James B. Ensor.
Reading by Messrs, L. M. Bacon, N. Howard Gill,
John Bond and ]. s. Crowther.
Mr.. Frame reported having attended several
meetings of the Junior Club and enjoyed them
very much.
HALF HOUR FOR QUESTIONS.
|. Has anyone been successful with alfalfa
| Reference was to Mr.. Charles A. Councilman
sowing large acreage of it and reporting good
results. It was said that alfalfa does not do so
Iewell in this section of Maryland as in drier
climates, and when sowed in low land it has been
| found to die out. Mr.. Thomas ]. Lea said he has
had alsike clover to die out because of too much
wet weather. Reference was to farmer who
said that alfalfa. with a rotation of crops, en-
riches the soil so that good corn and potatoes
are grown. 1t was stated that good alfalfa has
been seen on high, gravelly land. Mr.. John
Crowther said his son-in-law, Mr.. C. B. Babbs, of
Montana, speaks very favorably of alfalfa grow
+ ing there, the climate being dry one.
Mr.. Bacon said he bought some alfalfa seed to
SOW with his red clover seed so as to increase the
bacteria in the soil. AS to the necessity of bac-
terra and the getting of it the question was why
60 elsewhere for it when the land along the
Northern Central Railroad is full of it. AS to
the value of alfalfa with bran it was said it is
about equal in protein to bran.
Mr.. j. D. Ensor said his red clover does not
stand well ard zhe has grown some alfalfa. He
cut his crop hast year three times and the cattle
relished it.
Mr.. E. G.. Merryman said he enjoyed the trip
with the milk Especial" along the Western Mary
land Railroad and spoke of the interest mani
tested IN the subject.
AS to the quality of the milk sent to Balti-
more by the best dairymen, remarks were that
it is of the best standard and as it costs to
od,roo drrnflt hat ho
for it. 1t was regretted that some shippers and
mixers are not as careful as they should be.
Families in the city notice the quality of the
milk they get, which is often rather blue. Good
milk win sell readily, said Mr.. Frame. AS much
as IL cents per quart for the best has been paid.
The smell of COWS should not be in the milk and
this can be prevented If the animals are brushed
well before milking.
Can we use anything as a stock feed to give as
good results as corn and bran2 Answer-The
dairy feeds and rye bran mixed will bring good
results, but some ground corn will, If added,
give better returns. Rye bran, which sells at
SIS per ton, is equally as good as wheat bran
when put with other feed. Mr.. ]. s. Crowther,
whose cows give an average of nearly gallons
per head, mixes 100 pounds of dairy feed and 100
pounds of rye bran and gives to pounds of it,
with clover hay, to a COW. He never used ensi-
lage as he has not seen any benefit from it over
other feeds.
Mr.. Bacon gives pounds of grain, with ensi-
lage and clover hay, but his COWS do not average
2gallons of milk per day. He said herd that
makes a2-gallon average does well. He referred
to herd of Holsteins that is to be sold that
averages per COW az to ~ gallons day. A
Holstein COW was reported that gave as much as
s gallons day. Mr.. Bacon had ~ of his COWS
dehorned. 1t was thought he ought to have had
it done before so that the wounds would heal
before warm weather.
Mr.. John Crowther is having 81 steers fed on
his farm and will pasture them. Remarks were
that 20 steers recently fed showed an increase
per steer of 400 pounds.
AS to the freight milk bill reducing the price
of freight from cents to 2 cents per gallon on
milk when shipped from Baltimore to other
points-for instance, when milk is returned by
the city dealer cents freight is charged, when
cents is paid to the city by the sbipper-it was
said it failed to pass the Legislature owing to
want of time.
REGULAR QUEsTIoN-"FARM FENCES"
Mr.. L. NJ. Bacon said: 1.-THE average farmer
finds it burden to keep up the fences. In my
Judgment we must come to wire fences, as the
post and-rail fence is costly. The old worm
be kept clean. In putting up wire fence the
first post should be put down about four feet
and strong supports or stays should be placed
The Frost, or American fence, can be put up al
about Is cents per rod. not counting the cost OF
the posts. do not favor barbwire, as 1t is very
dangerous. have known stock to be injured by
it. nice fence adds appearance to the farm
Mr.. John Bond said: "All the fencing on my
place is made of rails, and two.thirds of it Is
post and-rail have fences enough to last me
my life. really do not know the cost of post
and-rail fence. At this time would prefer @
wire fence"
Mr.. James D. Ensor said II propose to put uI
afenceof boards and barb-wire. 1 think cattle
shun harb-wire. 1 will do some soiling of crops
and will have to throw much of the feed over q
fence. If 1 put up line fence believe would
| use all wire have fences that will last as long
| or longer than will"
Mr.. e. G. Merryman said: II do not approve
Of barb-wire fence; prefer the smooth wire
For permanent pasture fence favor post
and fverail fence, and for line fence four rails
will do. 1 am building no more fence than IL
actually necessary, and think that we should
guard against putting up fence that might in
| jure stock"
Mr. Crowther said 'tThe barb-Wire is the