The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1909-08-14


Wheat Crop,
&C.. &c.
The Senior Gunpowder Agricultural Club met
Saturday. July 3lst, at the farm of Mr.. James B.
Ensor. near Philopolis. A number Of the MEM
| bers were absent. but the Junior Gunpowder
Club was wen represented. Messrs. Daniel s.
Pearce. Frank G. Scott, Calvin D. Price and
Joshua G. Bosley being present. Among the
other visitors were Messrs. John 7. Ensor, Rev.
William J. Meeks, Thomas G. Pearce. Webster
Ensor, Charles M. Chilcoat, L. M. Bacon, Jr..
Webster Bosley and Thomas Ensor Mr.. Lewis
| N. Bacon presided.
Mr.. J. B. Ensor, delegate to the Junior Club
meeting at Mr.. d. s. Pearce's-where much Of
interest was seen regarding the development Of
stock and adding fertility Of soil resulting in the
best cr0ps-said the discussion on the improve
ment of permanent pastures was of special in
terest and the utilizing Of cortland for the wheat
crop-instead of following the ground as is usu-
ally done-met with his favor.
HALF HOUR FOR QUESTIONS.
What is the condition Of the corn crop2 An
swer-Owing to the drouth the crop cannot be
full one. Some expression was that If rain
comes soon the crop is not beyond redemption
and it will be fair one. The Belfast neighbor-
hood had good rain that encouraged the farm
ers. Mr.. J. g. Bosley said the crop is at criti-
cal stage, 'tasseling'' and shooting"
Is the yellowness Of the lower blades Of the
corn attributable to thick planting, limestone
soil or the use of fertilizers Answer-It is due
principally to the dry weather and the kind Of
fertilizer used. Manure plowed under Just
before planting has caused yellow blades, owing
Ito the soil drying outquickly. The manure was
applied on wheat stubble ground. Where no
manure but fertilizer was put the corn shows
better. Mr.. E. E. Scott, it was said, put South
Carolina rock and floats on his corn growth.
What are ''Hoats ?" Answer-South Carolina
rock ground and not dissolved
It may be the yellow blades are caused by
thick planting. It was said thick planting of
corn should not be encouraged because corn
needs plenty Of air and sun as well a. good cul-
tivation. It is mistake to plant any cultiva-
ted crop too thick and too often crops are
shortened by too much seed. As much as four
bushels of oats to the acre was reported as hav
ing been sowed this year. but the yield per acre
was 90 bushels, which is an unusual crop.
Mr.. Thomas @. Pearce said he has seen 70
bushels grown to the acre. While TX and
bushels Of wheat to the acre is usually sown. yet
Mr.. William d. Curry sowed only bushel and
half peck to the acre and got 30 bushels in re-
turn. Mr.. Bacon said he expected an average of
% bushels Of wheat, judging from what he has
already thrashed-788 bushels.
remark was that the wheat In the bin should
be watched as to the fly, which has been seen in
some places. Heating causes the incubation Of
the fly and the damage 10 soon seen. Whether
the fly is developed from the seed or on the
growing heads of wheat 1t has not been ascer-
tanned. Fly has been seen in the rick as we'll as
in the barn. Considering the many enemies 1t
was thought well to sell as soon as possible, or
before the fly attacks the grain.
Has anyone sowed alfalfa with other grasses
in wheat? Answer-Y es, and GOOD results have
been realized; the bacteria for the soil is i'm
parted. Mr.. Bacon sowed half bushel of alfalfa
seed with other seeds on 8 acres. Mr.. D. s.
Pearce said If we can getsoil bacteria by sowing
alfalfa we would be greatly benefited. 1t was
said Mr.. W. D. Curry has been successful with
it. Alfalfa makes wonderful growth in dry
weather.
What effect has the drouth had on crimson
clover? Mr.. Pearce said his is growing, but
doubts If all the seed has terminated.
What is the price Of the seedf Answer-Five
cts. per pound the FIRST of the season, but now it
is cents.
Has the potato crop been injured by the
drouth? Answer-Not the early planted; the
late vines show the effect, but rains now might
do some good. The early ones were planted the
first week In April and the Irish C0bbler variety
is about made and being sold at 81 per bushel.
They are larger so far than the Green Mountain,
planted later but seems not to have as good
| flavor. It was said farmer planted IA bushels
of Irish Cobblers and will get 200 bushels; also
that potatoes are too green to dig for keeping.
Has any member noticed difference in the
bearded and unbearded wheat? Mr.Pearce said
his bearded wheat is far better in quality than
the Fultz. He thinks the boards afforded pro-
lection during the wet weather.
Reference was made to the improved condi-
ton of Mr.. @. Morton Stewards meadows from
| the application Of manure and fertilizer. Mr..
| F.. G.. Scott said he went to the abattoir and
| asked the superintendent If there is anything
| better for grass land than manure and he said
| yes; that Tankage gives better results and the
| city uses it in the parks. Mr.. Pearce favored
manure, which mulches the land and has an adj
uBAtage over commercial fertilizers. Mr.. j. G..
| Bosley said manure forms humus in the soil.
| Mr.. William Woolseys source Of nitrogen was
| the manure from his many cattle, but he added
| fertility by the use of ground bone and plaster
| and applied bone with q shovel. He did not
| need to buy nitrogenus fertilizers. With such
improved conditions Mr.. Woolsey had abundant
| grass. and his corn yield was 20 barrels to the
acre. His cattle being we'll fed the manure was
| of rich ingredients for soil Improvement.
| Reference was made to the experience Of Mr..
| 7. v. Richardson who, In hauling manure with
| two spreaders. the stable manure showed de-
cided benefit over the yard manure.
| Mr.. Edward Geist places great value on cotton
seed meal for cattle for soil enrichment and has
seen much good from the application Of nitrate
| of soda and muriate of potash on sod land.
| ''THE PREPARATION AND SOWING OF THE
WHEAT CROP" WAS THEN TAKEN UP.
| Mr.. j. B. Ensor said 81 think well of getting
! ground plowed as soon as possible after harvest.
The cortland of last year which had wheat is
| fallowed then MANFRED. The ground should be
| well narrowed and pulverized. The fertilizer
used is composed of LOCO lbs. of dissolved bone,
| 800 lbs. of South Carolina rock and 200 lbs. OF
| muriate of potash for the ton and costs about
| $22. begin to think favorably Of Mr.. d. 8.
| Pearce's plan of seeding cortland in wheat and
| setting at once in grass. SOW Fultz wheat and
| TX bushels to the acre and do not vary in guam
tity whether the land is poor or rich. do not
believe in providing any crop by sowing too
thick. good time to SOW is September 18th to
| October 1st It used to be clover was plowed
under for the wheat crop and this was done
| about the middle of June, but we cannot follow
| this plan the way we farm now"
Mr.. D. s. Pearce said II do not follow the
| method of many as do not plow ground for
wheat, preferring to SOW it in cortland. My
way is to manure on top Of the ground after 1t
| is plowed for corn, then cultivate the ground
| thoroughly which mixes we'll the manure with
the soil. 1 then apply 300 lbs of fertilizer for
| corn, which shows the benefit of it. After
/ the corn is cut of then cultivate the land
thoroughly and apply 800 lbs. of fertilizer to the
i acre for the wheat. / find the earliest Guilt
yated ground gives better results in the grow
ding wheat and grass. It ia important to have q
i well worked soil for seed-bed, but the soil
need not be cultivated deeply. While the plow-
ing down Of grass for the wheat crop-which has
| been done-would enrich the soil, yet with
| dairying we need the grass and hay. l think
the blowing Of clover in June would expose the
ground too long before seedtime. The seeding
of the corn to grass to cut and in the fall seed
to grain may be well. The incest looking meadow
that see is that of Mr.. &. Cuttings Merryman,
resulting from seeding grass last August with
out any grain crop. A crop of hay was cut and
now the second growth looks well and would
make an ideal pasture. The sowing OF crimson
clover in corn, to be plowed down for corn OF
wheat. no doubt will be profitable. 1 can hardly
see the Importance of blowing down green
clover, but green manure Is all right and the
next thing to do lie the use of manure. The