The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-07-02
!; ESSAY READ BY THE HOST.

| tiOu WOuld NC IShssuSu AusAuC va ~ yNsAs.
AS for the corn crop, the United States now
produces four.fifths of all that is grown in. the
world 1t rescued American cotonists from star
walton, and aside from being nourishment for the
human body it is the most important stock food
produced in the country. The starch becomes
the fat of the hog and the finish of the steer, with
which we not only supply our own markets but
the marketsof Europe. Last year our export of
| packing house products. which were derived
principally from com, amounted to over 280
million dollars. James Wilson. secretary of
Agriculture, in an address. said the farm value
of the corn crop, eight such years as 1907, would
pay for duplicating every mile of steam railroad
| In the United States. tand pay for their costly
terminals, rolling stock and all property. In
thirteen years. it would replace the present bank
| ing powers of this country, in banking capital,
surplus, deposits and circulation; and in seven
teen, years. it would replace the banking powers
| of the world.
| In speaking OF the possibilities of agriculture
nearly thirty-six per cent of our people are en-
gagged directly in that business but all the rest
depend upon it, for every form of activity rms
back to the bounty of the earth. by which every
workman, skilled aud unskilled must be fed and
| by which his wages are ultimately paid To own
farm is the highest aspiration of millions of en-
ployees in factories. furnaces and mines, and of
the toiling millions, in the busy industries of our
great cities. 1t seems to be natural for mankind
to gravitate toward the country, and the soil.
But it Is strange that there are millions OF our
people who in their experience have known
little of life elsewhere than on the farm. are
pining for the city, anxi rus t leave the farm and
Free independent lite IL the cluntry and WOO its
misfortunes in the great contest for existence.
This only illustrator the pecnar bias, Of the
human mind, which imaGn.s that every other
ones burden is lighter thai, his own. while it an
exchange OF conditions and burdens were affect
ed it would be followed ny fearful awakening
to realization. that wouli he appalling. Mine rs
cannot restore the mineral To the mine, hut
with the farmer ii IL different. the prilevnl
forces and atoms OF the universe are his. the sun
shines, and the rain falls ana he applies his art
and science to ineAhaiisthe resources ever All
ding To the country's wealth. credit AMI welfare.
The mother earth is our capital upon which we
can draw through all the future. and the amount
of the draft that will be honored denends upon
the care and intelligence given to its cultivation.
In Commenting on the paper MIR.
Biles said the essayist had over
looked the Importance of the potato
crop. Mr.. Brown thought it u
paper from which II farmer could
draw much encouragement. Mr..
Wilson thought it sharp contrast
inview expressed in paper read the
month previously aud Mr.. Polk
heartily approved Of this latter
optomistic view.
Mr.. Rawlings asked which is the
best crop TO raise, wheat or corn
and the answer was coru.
Elwood Balderston mentioned
having received ii letter from %
party in New Jersey who knew of
a young German recently landed
in this country who was very
anxious to secure steady work on a
farm. He also showed "a few
copies OF the first edition of the
American Flag Book. being an
authentic historical account of the
Betsy Ross flag and from her time
to the present, issued by his
brother and complied from data by
the late George Candy.
The following committee on in
spection of premises was appointed
aud an adjournment taken for din
ner, A. Ell. Mendenhall, Wayne
Reynolds and @. r. Biles.
After partaking Of "a most excel.
lent dinner which brought forth
many expressions of praise for the
hostess ami her daughter, IL stroll
over the well kept premises fol-
lowed.
On reassembling the committee
reported having noted a separator,
80 hogs, wheat fields which prom
Used 35 bushels per acre, grass not
up to average, a good garden, n
acres in potatoes, the host stating
that his home grown seed was not
as good as that he had purchased,
6 tons of old hay 200 barrels of
corn, II head of cows and one bull,
Is head of horses and mules, a
shortage of fruit, the barn newly
painted, very good corPfeld and
but few fences on the whole 1876
acre farm.
Mr.. Maxwell asked what is. the
best lump lime for this fall's wheat
and was told either Wrightsville or
LIE Cores.
Mr.. Polk asked why grass was
always much better around the
edge of a field aud was told because
the ground was tramped more.
Considerable discussion was in
dulged in regarding the thinning
of corn, some advocating one stalk,
others two, and others three stalks
to the hill, for best yield.
On motion the Club adjourned to
go into executive session, after