The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1909-05-08
GUNpowDER AGRICULTURAL CLUB.

Meeting at the Residence of Mr.. Crowther
Some Pointers About Hay-Ques-
tions and Answers-The Gov
eminent and the Roads
Condition of Wheat
Market, &c &c.
The Senior Gunpowder Agricultural Club met
Saturday, April 9th, at the home of Mr.. John
Crowther. at Lutherville. Mr.. George Frame was
absent, owing to illness. Mr.. John Bond also was
absent. Messrs. William D. Curry, Granville
Matthews, Frank G. Scott, Edward E. Scott.
Daniel s. Pearce and Upton H. Tarbert, of the
Junior Club, and Congressman J. Fred. C. Tai
bolt, Mr.. Emanuel W. Herman, Col. David G.
Mcintosh and Mr.. Joseph NJ Crowther were
among the guests.
Mr.. Asa B. Gardiner, Jr., presided. There was
no inspection stroll, owing to Mr.. Crowther's
farm being located near Cockeysville, where he
raised last year remunerative crops, which is
evidence of his knowledge of farming. His home
is one of the most attractive in the village of
Lutherville and shows that thoughtful consid-
GRAFTON for care and improvement of the prop
erty is taken.
Mr. James B. Ensor reported, that as delegate
to the Junior Club meeting at Mr.. Charles Fl.
Prices, he was pleased with the proceedings
and especially the discussion as to the most
economical way of getting produce to market.
AS to hay he said his experience one year was
enough, as baled hay shipped by rail brought him
$40 per ton while loose hay sent by wagons
brought $14.
Mr.. Tarbert, representing the Junior Club, re-
marked that loose hay is preferred by the stables
in Baltimore. as it is better handled. He exhib-
tied specimens of his hay and that which is sold
in the city and rated as first class and said to be
better than Maryland hay which, at the hay
market, is graded at lower figure. The speci-
mems were inspected by the members and pref
erence was given Mr.. Tarbert's hay.
A remark was that some farmers, in baling
their hay, allow too much loose siftings and dirt
to go with the hay. This should not be, as it
hurts the sale of the hay. When putting the
price on baled hay in the city difference is made
in each grading. 1t was said baled hay loses its
color.
Mr.. Calvin D. Price will entertain the Junior
Club on Saturday, May 9Th. Mr.. Asa B. Gardiner,
Jr., was appointed to attend.
The report of the inspection committee at Mr..
Lewis M. Bacon's was read.
REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
1.-THE next meeting, May Goth, at Mr.. N. How
ard Gill's, at Mantua. Reading by Messrs. John
o. IL,
Fl. Gill;
HALF HOUR FOR QUESTIONS.
Mr.. Bacon said that in estimating the differ
ence in cost on growing corn and wheat he reck-
oned the product of corn at 10 barrels per acre
at So per BARREL and wheat at 20 bushels per acre
at 81 per bushel, and gave preference to corn at
$40, as more can be made at that.
Mr.. W. D. Curry stated that in growing corn
he Andc ~ nm aduontaOo In have N imnlamant
to take earth away from the corn and at the
same time return the earth, which can be done
by one tooth of the implement following to
throw the earth back.
AS to the testing of the seed corn and the inn
portance of it having been impressed by agri-
cultural experiment stations and Others yet but
few farmers are doing it. The members said
they had not and one reason may be because the
corn last year was well matured. About all of
the members are preparing for the crop and
some will plant on or before the first of May.
Reference was to statement that dust mulch,
created by shallow cultivation, has been an adj
vantage to corn-growing, when deep and thor
ough cultivation produced more potatoes-sO
bushels to an acre by dust mulch and $50 bushels
by deeper cultivation being reported.
Reference was to molasses food for stock show
ing authorizations such as weed seed and other
impurities.
Mr.. Gardiner spoke Of sprouting and growing
of foods in ovens for cattle fattening as ikelyto
be one of the most profitable industries. Cattle
are fattened better and quicker and are more
salable, owing to the improved condition of the
meat. Cowpeas and other grains are sprouted
and increased and made more palatable for
stock, besides the expense of feeding is lessened
by half. While. it was said, the expense would
be less, yet mother earth must furnish the
grains or produce also that the Government is
exercising supervision of the new process of
feeding.
AS to the value of the incubation of the soil
and how much good has been accomplished by
the Agricultural Departments Efforts remarks
were that the Government has distributed much
of the bacteria and given information that is
valuable and the principal of incubation has
been recognized. Messrs.s J. B. Ensor and D. s.
Pearce favor the soil bacteria taken from other
alfalfa fields and when used should be covered
Immediately, either narrowed in or drilled. Mr..
Ensor said with plenty of manure plowed under
and more put on top afterwards will greatly help
towards adding bacteria. Mr.. Pearce said the
blowing down of cowpeas has been good foun-
dalton for the setting of alfalfa. Mr.. Curry said
he has seen better results on ground in which
potatoes grew, as corn land with as good Guilt
walton did not produce as much alfalfa.
Reference was to the House bill introduced by
Hon. Frank d. Currier, of New Hampshire, pro-
viding for the creation of National Highways
Commission and making an appropriation in aid
of the improvement and maintenance of the
public highways; also to favorable action taken
by the National Grange on the subject.
Congressman Talbot said he knew but little
%ho
Government has not the money to meet the ex-
penses of national road building, and there is
now one hundred millions dollars deficit. Mil
lions of money is being spent for irrigation of
land, but the Government will get some of it
back by increased value ofland.
Col. Mcintosh said he would vote against any
action for national highways to be maintained
by the Government as 1t has enough to do with
out engaging in an enterprise of the kind. The
Government already has had some experience
in a national highway and railroads by which, is
wiser in not going any further with them. The
idea is good one and everybody wants them
but by the time highways are built automobiles
will wear them out. We ought to go slow in
spending money on macadmized roads as no ma
terial has been found to stand automobiles, the
suction being so great that the material cannot
stand them. Science may come to our help and
show us how to do it. In making roads we must
go cautiously and not encourage any bonding
system. He said he does not want to see any
bonds issued for school houses or anything else.
After the &5OOOOO is spent by the State for roads
we will not have much to show for it.
Congressman Talbot said: "The county roads
are better and are being improved and instead
of bonding the county additional taxes could be
levied to meet the prospective required interest,
say S72,0OO which could be spent. Otherwise
sinking fund would have to be created, besides
paying the interest II bonds we're issued"
Mr.. John Crowther said it would be a great
mistake to bond this county. He knew when
we had two bonded debts. but we had the old
alms-house property sold. the proceeds of which
about met the debts. but how much Of it went
that way the public knows. He recently visited
East Orange. N. J.. which generally had good
roads, but they are being ruined by automobiles.
+ Mr.. Granville Matthews said it was his pleas
ure to lately visit Philadelphia and vicinity and
the surprise was the damaging of the good roads
in two hours by 200 automobiles. There was some
snow on the ground at the time and yet the roads
were injured.
Mr. Bacon said we should look upon road
building as an educator. He is opposed to the
bond system but thinks the county should look
after its own roads and let the State make the
main roads good. He thinks the Government
should not go in debt to build roads, it is not in
a condition to do it. We are in an experimental