The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1906-09-15
Letter In Country Gentleman.
SOME POINTERS ON ALFALFA.



H1ddANuM, CONN.,, Aug. oath, 1905.
Mr. Editor Now comes the report OF my
second crop Of timothy and red top, 1906, and
third crop of alfalfa. have cut my second crop
Of the former earlier than otherwise would,
with hope of getting third crop. am adding
a little more fertilizer for the third crop. and
later will report what the results are. 1t has
been very wet in this section since July lst
have once before tried for third crop, with
good success. and as the season seems favorable
for such action, I am going to try again this
year. With irrigation. this third crop would be
easy. have already cut my alfalfa the third
time. While it is not altogether satisfactory.
yet think there is q very good chance to utilize
many of the high and dry fields by growing
alfalfa.
The worst trouble in growing alfalfa is in the
matter of drying. German reared in the
alfalfa district of Germany explained to me how
they made racks in their well-watered country
and put the hay on. These racks were made
about one foot high and three feet square. and
/ put my first crop up that way. but didn't find
very much satisfaction from that method. /
think we might cure alfalfa in that manner in a
very wet season when it could not be cured in
any other way. My second crop of alfalfa this
year was mown in the morning as close as
could with my mower. raked together in wind
rows two or three hours after cutting, and heap
ed that night. Next morning doubled up the
rows. opening very narrow, turning it by hand
enough 80 the leaves would not be crisped and
fall off, heaped it up that night in larger heaps
than at first. Next morning doubled up the
rows again, opening It narrow, and kept 1t roll
ing by hand, keeping the green locks on top.
This was repeated seven days; kept doubling up
the rows and making heaps larger until l had 400
to 900 pounds of hay in heap, keeping 1t shaken
up by hand all the time, SO that the leaves would
not become dry and crispy. On the afternoon
of the eighth day carted it in. The three crops
thus far for the season have produced over four
tons to the acre. and expect to get another
crop as large this year. Please tell your friends
not to rush into growing alfalfa, but to go
slowly until they are more fully acquainted
with its production.
Now as to my second crop of timothy and red
top. cut earlier, as have said, with expectation
of getting third crop. The first crop was 81
tons from II acres, and the second crop IS tons
from acres. The first crop had three days of
full, clear sunshine, and the second crop five.
without any rain on either crop, which makes
the hay very dry and complete feed. By the
way, after curing the alfalfa. second and third
crops, put it in a high, dry loft by itself, so
that the mows would be small and well sur
rounded with air. So far forth the method de-
scribed herewith is as well as can do with my
present knowledge of the art. If you handle it
as you would an ordinary hay field, and let it lie
and dry, the leaves would crisp on the outside
and fall off, leaving you nothing but stalks to
cart into the barn. Something has to be done to
save the leaves.
One more word in relation to alfalfa. My
second crop is in the barn where keep my COW,
She has very nice pasture of good thrifty
grass, but when she comes in at night the man
who takes care of her lately has been giving her
q small forkful of alfalfa, and he tells me that
she will eat that hay in preference to any other
feed she can get. GEORGE N. CLARK.
THE RECENT automobile trip made by L. l..
Whitman from San Francisco to New York
over 4, 200 mile route, was completed in
fifteen days, twelve hours and two minutes, at
an expense to the company of $1,000. During
the journey relays of men kept pace with the
car by rail, but they were not needed; also q
complete outfit for repair was sent along by
rail from point to point, including complete
running gear and duplicates of every part.
But no part of that gear was required. as it
was out of reach when the smash-up occurred
at Conneaut, on the Ohio border. The gaso-
line used averaged one gallon to fifteen miles.
Whitman received $500 for his services in
driving the machine across the continent.
AMPLE APPROPRIATION for repairing and re-
fitting the White House inside and out was
made by Congress at the last session, and the
work has now been nearly completed. 1t has
practically been limited, however, to the APP
plication of soap, water and paint, except that
new roof has been substituted for an old and
leaky one. Mindful of the jealousy with
which the people regard the historic mansion
and of the critical attitude toward the changes
made couple of years ago, there have this
time been really no changes at all.
THE DESCENDANTS of Casper GIadfelter, to
the number of nearly 1,500 held their an
nua reunion at Gladfeter's Station, York
county, on the 9Th instant. The principal ex-
ercises were conducted by DR.. Noah Gladfelter,
of st. Louis, historian of the family. Casper
Gladfelter, who came to this country from
Switzerland in 1744, settled near the scene of
this years reunion. His descendants number
about 1000 and are scattered all over the
country.
THE LATE grand jury of Baltimore city wants
the law providing for the use of the whipping
post enforced. In its report TO the court the
jury said: 'We would specially recommend
that in all cases of wife-beating the commit
ments, indictments and presentments be made
as such, and not as common assault, so that
punishment at the whipping.post, as provided
for in the existing laws, may be made
effective"
AT DAISY, Howard county, on Saturday last
Governor Warfield laid the cornerstone for a
church for colored people and at the same
time delivered an address in which be gave his
hearers much excellent advice and counsel
The Governor has many colored people en-
ployed on his estate in Howard and he believes
that the best influences that can be thrown
around the race are those of religion and
morality.
Mr.. THEODORE HOOPER. of Baltimore died
at Clifton Springs, N. Y, on Tuesday evening,
aged 90 years. He was son of the late Will
liam E. Hooper, founder. of the Woodbury.
mills, and was for years member of the firm
of w. E. Hooper & Sons, one of the most ex-
tensive manufacturing concerns in the coun-
try. Deceased was brother of Mr.. Alcaeus
Hooper, former mayor of Baltimore.
On SATURDAY last, at the Minnesota State
fair at st. Paul, Dan Patch, the liking of
Pacers," broke his own record and paced
mile in 1:55 fiat. When he finished this won
derful performance which was witnessed by
$4,000 people, the horse was covered with
floral blanket.
Aeru Advertisements.
CHEEP FOR SALE.
TWENTY LARGE CHOICE SOUTHDOWN
EWES AND ONE FINE BUCK.
Address L. NJ. PEARCE.
Sent 15-2t1 Manor. Md.