The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-05-11
auNpowDnR AaR1oUITuRAL CLUB.

aUNPowDER AGRICULTURAL CLUB
Meeting at the Farm Of Mr.. Jamea B.
hnsor-President Sylvester Guest
Necessity Of Law Taxing Dogs
Questions and Answers
inspection Commit
tees Report at
Mr.. Bacon's,
ETC., Etc.
The Senior Gunpowder Agricultural Club met
saturday, April 9th, at the farm Of Mr.. James
b. Ensor, near Belfast. Messrs. John Bond
George Frame. T. J. Lea and DR.. J. E. Orrison
were absent Mr.. John Crowther was foreman
and had Messrs. E. G. Merryman and L. NJ. Bacon
asassistants. Messrs. Joshua G.. Bosley, Edward
e. Scott Laban Sparks. Daniel s. Pearce and
Frank G.. Scott, of the Junior Gunpowder Club
Daniel and ]. Fred. Shamberger, of the Georges
Greek Farmers Club; President r. w. Silves-
yer, of the Maryland Agricultural College; w.
ii. Buck, Jr., Alexander Dance, Alexander ID.
Brooks, Garfield, Webster and Thomas Ensor
| and Milton and Daniel Brooks were the visitors.
On reading the minutes of the last meeting on
"What Constitutes a Successful Farmer" as
| published in TIE UNION. President Sylvester
was specially interested and spoke favorably of
the proceedings.
| Mr.. Ensor and Mr.. Bacon, delegates to the
Junior Club meeting at the home of Mr.. Laban
| Sparks remarked that the discussion on the use
of commercial fertilizer on corn was of interest
| but gave no encouragement to use 1t. as no real
benefit could be realized other than additional
fodder, and that good sod, with thorough Gull
tivation. would produce crop of corn.
Mr.. Sparks, of the Junior Club. stated that a
Sor L. - htroh or nd nd Oor Ia
was considered favorably, the features being to
give out the collection of the tax to bidders; a
Justice of the peace and constable to meet any
violations and collect fines also that if any sur
plus fund should go towards restocking game.
Mr.. Asa B. Gardiner, Jr., was named as dele
gate to attend the next Junior Club meeting at
| thefarm of Mr.. George E. Shelley.
sIt was decided to consider the dog law at the
next meeting which takes place May 18th. at Mr..
| E. G.. Merryman's. Readers will be Messrs. j. 8.
Crowther, John Bond, L. M. Bacon and N. H.
Gill.
HALF HOUR FOR QUESTIONS.
When is the time to plow down crimson clover2
Answer by Prof. Sylvester, about May 10th, but
this year. owing to the cold April. will be later.
Mr.. j. s. Crowther said that owing to the clover
being short he has plowed his thinking it woua
make him late with his complaining. MIR.
Bacon has thirty-five acres of crimson clover
which has grown about two inches. 1t is the
first time he sowedit. Hewill wait later to plow
it. Remarks were that corn has done well when
planted in June. 1t occuis sometimes in May
the ground is dry and makes difficult blowing
and preparation.
How long would it take to pillow 35 acres with
three teams? Answer-Eight to ten days.
lro1 nj not 10 q
blowing? Answer-One and a-half acres of sod
land and two acres of corn-stalk land. He said
a man with him is expected to pillow two and a.
half acres a day with pair of horses. Mr.. J. s.
Crowther said he plowed 20 acres in 10 days and
on blowing up crimson clover was surprised at
the long roots it had.
How will it do to SOW rye with the crimson
clover to plow down. Answer-The clover will
decompose but the rye not as soon. Rye is
detriment to the corn cropas it leaves the earth
to dry out readily. good deal of moisture with
it might be an advantage. Rye has but little
root President Sylvester said with him 1t is
difficult to get rye to come up, and he has 30
acres of it which will hardly give him the amount
of seed sown. The advantage of crimson clover
is that corn can be repeated by blowing 1t under.
Mr.. j. s. Crowther said he thought of using rye
or some green crop to plow under so as to plant
corn yearly on the same ground.
Which is the better, white or yellow corn
Answer-Yellow is more nutritious, but white
contains more protein. Yellow corn natures
first.
Which is preferred for ensilageP Answer
White corn produces the largest yield of fodder
and much of it is grown for ensilage. The grain
requires a richer ground. If weeds are cut
before they seed less fertility is lost.
Atwhat state should corn be cut for ensilage
Answer-When it is about matured, and some
cut it about the time for sowing corn. 1t was
said corn in the shock gets benefit on matur-
ing from the cut Off stalk. Mr.. Gardiner SAID
he has cut off corn for ensilage which appa-
rently was no BETTER with the corn than fodder
alone. 1t may be it was cut of two early IL
was said corn is cut off later now than formerly,
and ordinarily acres will furnish 80 tons OF en-
silage. Mr.. Sparks cut acres and got llO TONS
of enaiiaee. Owing to the great value OF corn
it was said more Importance should be given IT,
and as so much more can be grown per acre ev-
cry effort should be made to grow an abundance
of it and sell the hay crop. 1t was SAID care
should be exercised in feeding the grain to young
stock. Pigs will not do well on it, but 1t is all
right to fatten stock that is maturing Tor markell
An alfalfa plant, with root two feet long,
interest. and remark was that it showed no
bacteria Mr.. Ensor pulled up some roots tnat
were dead and asked what was the cause OF 1t.
He has acres of alfalfa that shows spotty be-
cause of this. That which was inspected shows
a growth of six inches. He thinks the colo
weather in April must have damaged it, and de-
string to continue the crop, was encouraged to
reseed in August and disc harrow the ground.
Reference was to Mr.. I. v. Richardson, who cut
three crops of alfalfa last year and then plowed
and reseeded the ground with good results.
Regret was expressed that the cold weatherin
April was so severe that it affected the alfalfa,
which. during the warm weather in March, grew
about six inches.
President Sylvester said he has ten acres of it
and was glad to note efforts being made to get 1t
established in the State but sorry to hear OF dis
couragements in the way of failure to get sets
and the dying of the plants. 1t may be 1t has It's
enemies in the way of disease or insects.
Mention was to irregular showing of some
wheat fields caused by the improper working OF
drills It was said drills should be perfect so as
not to bunch the grain. Mr.. Ensor was compli-
mented on his good grain, though it was punched
in places because of the drill and not the driler.
AS TO the quantity of seed per acre to SOW the
opinion of the members was favorable to a bushel
| and a-half.
The care of farms in several neighborhoods of
| the county was spoken of and regret was that 80
| many are not as productive and well cared for
| as wears ago and as many, If not more, mortga-
ges are recorded as there are deeds. 1t is sad to
| relate that our farms, with all of the improved
machinery and advanced agriculture, do not
| show a corresponding improvement in tillage
and product
Considering the great quantity of corn that
can be grown to the acre 40 to Is tons) the ques-
| ton was: Why grow so much hay which will not
| average ton and a-half to the acre? Answer
was there is profit in hay at $40 per ton, and the
| fodder can be utilized on the place. Owing to
the cut up fodder answering for bedding there
is less need for straw which grows in less guam
tity than fodder. Mr.. J. S. Crowther sows nc
| wheat because of it not being profitable crop
He relies upon his corn and grows much OF 1t fol
/ the fodder. He was commended for growing
| and harvesting, husking the corn and shreddine
the fodder from 20 acres att extra cost OF S9.lo
| He and hired man did most of the work be-
sides attending the dairy and shipping the milk
| He has all the machinery required, including
/ gasoline engine. He cut of corn one day BY
hand, but hereafter will do 1t all with har