The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1908-04-25
oUNpowDBR AGRICULTURAL CLUB.
Meeting at Mr.. CHS Fine Farm-Elec-
ton for Of6cers-A Good Roads
Committee Chosen-Half Hour
for Questions-'The Grow
ing of Corn Discuss
ed, etc., etc.

tion for Ofhcers-A Good Roads
Committee Chosen-Half Hour
for Questions-"The Grow
ing of Corn Discuss
ed, etc., etc.
The Senior Gunpowder Agricultural Club met
Saturday, April 18th, at the home of MIR. N. H.
GILL; near Mantua Mills. Mr.. George Frame was
absent, owing to illness; Mr.. Asa B. Gardiner,
Jr.. attended the funeral of brother, and Mr..
T. J. Lea was unable to be present because of
sickness at his home. Mr.. Daniel s. Pearce rep
resented the Junior Club. Messrs. J. Griffith
Gent, L. NJ Bacon, Jr., Thomas Ensor and Rev.
H. NJ. Price were among those present.
Mr. John Crowther was foreman and had
Messrs. James B. Ensor and E. G. Merryman as
assistants in inspection. The stroll was to the
grain and grass fields, Notwithstanding the very
high wind which was keenly experienced about
the hilltop of Bellview Farm, known for its fer
tility and beautiful situation. Much was seen
that was praiseworthy. the grain being above
the average and the grass promising. The
management of the farm shows in the manner
of preparation for crops as well as in the crops
and the whole appearance of the property indi-
Gates care and forethought.
An election for officers resulted as follows:
Executive committee, L. M. Bacon, A. B. Gardi-
tee, J. B. Ensor, E. G. Merryman and N. H. Gill; ;
machinery committee, ]. S. Crowther, ]. B. En-
sor and N. H. Gill; fertilizer committee, e. G.
Merryman, L. NJ. Bacon and ]. B. Ensor; library
committee, A. B. Gardiner, Jr., N. H. Gill and
L. M. Bacon fruits and seeds committee, George
Frame, J. Crowther and John Bond; Maryland
Agricultural College committee, A. B. Gardiner,
]. B. Ensor, ]. Crowther, George Frame and
John Bond treasurer, L. NJ. Bacon; secretary,
W. W. G. Stewart.
Considering the Importance of good roads and
special legislation by the State for road improve
ment, it was decided to elect committee on
highways and the following were chosen: e. G..
Merryman. James B. Ensor and N. Howard Gill.
Mr.. Merryman said that in Carroll and Hartford
counties, also in York county, Pa, he noticed
that signboards were placed at the intersection
of roads as guides to travellers, and favored sign
boards for our county. Mr.. ]. B. Ensor approved
of them.
Mr.. Merryman said the prospects are for bet
ter roads In the upper end of the county as the
roads in the lower part are in such condition as
to allow for more attention elsewhere.
Mr.. George Frame being sick, Mr.. Bacon was
appointed to visit him.
Report of the executive committee: "The
next meeting to be May 9th, at the home Of Mr..
John Crowther, in Lutherville. Reading by
Messrs. J. s. Crowther, John Bond, l.. NJ. Bacon
and N. H. Gill;"
HALF HOUR FOR QUESTIONS.
Has clover seed been sowed2 Mr.. Merryman
said be will not SOW any this spring as he expects
to SOW it late in the summer and try growing
grass alone. Mr.. Pearce sowed eight bushels
and all on corn land seeded to grain. He finds
in this way he can get as good sets and has less
plantain. Where he has had plantain he finds
that by close grazingi lessens Cattle like plan
tain. 1t was said plantain has been extermi-
mated by putting the ground for two successive
years in corn, then follow with grain and grass.
Prof. H. J. Patterson was referred to as adj
vising the seeding Of grass alone and sowing the
seed in August and it was said Mr.. T. ]. Lea has
been successful in hay growing by this method.
Mr. Pearce said he seeds corn strips in oats and
grass and finds that by covering the grass seed
the grass takes better. He is not an advocate of
oats as the yield does not justify sowing them
He has not raised 40 or so bushels per acre but
considerably less. Mr.. John Crowther said we
used to grow oats successfully and he has raised
as much as 40 bushels per acre. Mr.. j. S. Crow
ther said he had one year over 1000 bushels from
20 acres. Mr.. Ensor said barley pays better. Mr..
Merryman agrees with Mr.. Ensor as to barley
being more profitable, and said it makes an early
and excellent feed. The crop is out of the way
before general harvesting. If he needs the feed
he threshes early. Mr.. Pearce has grown good
barley, but oats has disheartened him owing to
being difficult to save and prolonging harvest.
He likes oats for feed.
1t was thought that not sowing more oats there
are more weeds. The oats ground was in for
mer years followed with wheat or other grain.
What is the condition. of the wheat cropf
Answer-Not over 70 per cent. as but little good
corn land wheat is seen. Some fallow ground
wheat was considered excellent and Mr.. Gill's is
above the average.
Does sod land give much vegetable matter?
ANsWeR.z Vimeth1 SOD, does not but clover does
being fertility added by the roots of peas.
Would it be advisable to buy nay when fodder
is plentiful? Answer-No, as fodder shredded,
corn and little bran give good results; too
much bran should not be given.
Mr.. Gill asked advice as to the treatment of
one of his grass fields. Answer was-Let the
grass remain and cut it, afterwards plant corn
there If the grass is plowed under it might be
we'll to SOW millet for hay crop.
The feeding quality of Hungarian grass and
millet were thought to be the same. The grow
ing of these does not add fertility and they leave
the ground too light for wheat, which needs
compact bed.
What are peas worth per bushel? Answer
$2.75. and one bushel per acre is enough to SOW.
Mr. Bacon expects to SOW rs acres.
Is it advisable to plant potatoes where they
grew last year, the ground having been manfred
at that time? Answer-Yes, and use fertilizer
literally. Some large growers apply 1000 to
1900 lbs. per acre. If fertilizer is put in the row
the cut potatoes should not come in contact with
1t !; 500 lbs. per acre is used by several members
for the row system.
Has any member tested seed corn and If 70
per cent of the grains sprout would that indi-
cate good seed? No member has tested except
Mr.. Merryman, but Mr.. Pearce suggested that
there be four rows arranged for the seed. Not
withstanding his corn is very good yet he be-
lieves in dropping plenty of seed If it has to be
thinned out. He drills for ensilage but for the
crop favoTs the checkered way. He grew last
year over 500 barrels, which was the best crop he
ever raised. While others were complaining of
their corn spelling his did not. He planted the
latter part of April and the first of May and cut
off his crop early. He mentioned miller who
said there were only three farmers that brought
him sound corn to grind last year.
REGULAR sUBJECT-"THE GROWING OF CORN"
Mr. Bacon said: st will pillow all the ground
CnlS bprluks i WILL pldub Iuo WILL Al AAAAo 40 L
find get fair crops. Good seed shows strength
and vitality. have applied fertilizer but could
see no benefit from it. have heard that land
that will grow 10 barrels of corn per acre does
not need commercial fertilizer. have used
kainit but could see no advantage from it.
like the Yellow Dent corn. The drill corn is
more tedious to cut off by hand, but the harves-
ter takes it readily. Manuring for better grass
adds fertility for corn growing"
Mr.. Merryman said: II usually put manure on
during the winter and pillow the ground. Con-
sidering the condition Of the corn it will be well
for it to be tested and plant thicker than usual.
Three feet 8 inches for the rows is good width
with stalk every IA inches The use of the
weeder after the corn is planted is advisable and
afterwards start the walking cultivator and
double shovel plows. 1t is well to work corn
four or FIVE times as clean culture is necessary"
Mr.. j. S. Crowther said II have been putting
out manure in the summer but now do it during
the winter and topdress the ground. The top
dressed manure gives best results but makes
more weeds. We are inclined to plant corn too
wide rather than too close. Better have two
small ears than one large ear. 1 have cultivated
corn when it was high. Better defer harvest
than neglect the corn. believe in getting the