The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-02-16

An Elaborate Test in the Growth Of
Alfalfa.-Mr. Charles A. Councilman, of
Worthingion Valley, Baltimore county, who
has been successful in growing alfalfa, is test
ing several varieties of this great forage plant,
with especial reference to their adaptation to
the soils of Maryland, say. the Baltimore San
of Monday.
He prepared field of 20 acres last August
and sowed the first week in September the fol
lowing varieties of alfalfa, viz: acres with
seed from Argentina 2 acres with seed from
Turkestan; acres with seed from Northern
Montana 2 acres with seed from France; 2
acres with seed from Germany; acres with
seed from Wisconsin; 2 acres with seed from
Southern Montana; 1 acre with seed from
irrigated soil in Arabia; l acre with seed from
nonirrigated soil in Arabia.
The field selected to make the test had been
in alfalfa for eight years. 1t had been origl-
nally seeded with seed grown near Phoenix,
Arizona, which furnished the bacteria needed
for the incubation of the soil for these tests. .
Thd field was plowed in the latter part OF
July, after two crops of alfalfa had already
been harvested. 1t was selected because, after
eight years, the alfalfa had become coarser and
had disappeared in many places.
The Darwinian theory of the survival OF
fields, for, although it would seem to the casual
observer that the plants have all an equal
chance in the race for life and development,
some either from stronger seed or root environ
ment. push ahead and crowd out and Kill
many weaker plants, with the result that the
vacant space is quickly occupied by white
clover and bluegrass, the great enemies OF
alfalfa.
surface feeders and delight to make home in
a field of leguminous plants. For this reason
Mr.. Councilman strongly advises farmers to
clean well alfalfa seed before seeding it.
After blowing the field was rolled with a
heavy roller narrowed both ways and again
narrowed after every rain in August to destroy
all weed seeds in the ground.
Three hundred pounds OF 70 FERTILIZER
was drilled in and the ground again rolled just
prior to seeding. Thirty pounds of alfalfa
seed were used on each acre. 1t was covered
by light smoothing harrow.
A good start was made last autumn, the
season being favorable one for plant growth,
and the plots looked well at the beginning OF
winter
The Department of Agriculture in Wash:
ington is taking much interest in this test and
had the various plots marked by neat sign
board, so that persons passing along the road
next to the field can see the result, which can
not be fully and intelligently determined Tor
two or three years.
Wife of a Venerable Rector Passes
| Away.-Mrs. Sophia McHenry Brand, wife Of
Rev. Dr. William #. Brand, the venerable
rector of st. Mary's Protestant Episcopal
| Church at Emmorton, Hartford county, died on
| the 9th inst from an attack of pneumonia,
| aged SO years. She was daughter of the late
| McHenry Hall and came of one of the Oldest
| families of Hartford county. Besides her bus
band. who is SO years old, she is survived by
| one son.
DIR. Brand has been rector of St. Mary s
| Church for nearly go years. The church,
which is one of the most beautiful in the State,
was built after he went to Emmorton. chiefly
through the generosity OF one OF Mrs. Brand, 8
| relatives. He married Mrs. Brand in 1843,
| when he moved to Hartford county from Anne
| Arundel county, where he had charge of All
| Hallows' Parish. In 1848 he took charge OF
the congregation which was being formed at
| Emmorton. Since then the two have lived
| near that town.
For 20 years they conducted boarding
| school for boys. Many of the boys who at,
| business life of Baltimore and the State.
| About 80 years ago the school was given up
| on account of the advanced age of DR.. and Mrs
Brand. Among the men who went to the
school and who are now prominent are Messrs
| John M Glenn, Stevenson Archer Williams,
William G. Wetherall, John J. Mllllgan, Cnas
Morris Howard, Hamilton Stump, Frank
| Howard and Rev. William L. Glenn, who has
served as his assistant at st. Mary's Church
for several years. The old rectory, which also
served as school house. was destroyed by hire
about five years ago. DR.. and Mrs. Brand los
| all their papers, family heirlooms and furni
| ture in the fire. A new rectory was built neal
DR. Brand is the oldest Episcopal priest in
the diocese of Maryland.
Jurors for the March Term.-Judge Dun
can on Wednesday drew the jurors to serve al
| the March term of the Circuit Court, which
will begin on the first Monday of the month
Following is the list the figures after the names
| indicating the district the juror is from