The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1909-04-10
euNpowoBR AGRICULTURAL CLUB.
Meeting at the Farm of Mr.. Lewis NJ.
Bacon-Club's Seth Anniversary
Talk About Fencing-The Corn
Question Discussed-Some
Interesting Figures on
the Subject-Report
of Inspection Com
mittee, Etc.

the Subject-Report
of Inspection Com
mittee, Etc.
The Senior Gunp0wder Agricultural Club met
Saturday, March 27th at the farm of Mr.. Lewis
N. Bacon, at Belfast. The Junior Agricultural
Club and the following persons we're among the
guests: Messrs. Thomas G.. Pearce, Howard
Crowther, Lewis NJ. Bacon, Jr., John G. Patter-
son, Charles Smith, Shadrach G. Sparks, William
Cofel, A. Bartholow, Daniel Ryan, Abram 8.
Pearce, Charles Chilcoat and D. Webster Bosley.
The occasion was the 39th anniversary of the
organization of the Senior Club. None of the
original members were present. all but one or
two having died. Mr.. John Crowther was fore
man and chose Messrs. James B. Ensor and E.
G. Merryman as assistants. Organization was
at the barn, which is one of the best and most
convenient buildings of its kind in the county.
Inspection was most interesting as there are
many dairy cattle and work stock in the best
order and stored crops saved in good condition.
Sixty five acres of wheat and the grass show
favorably. In return for good attention and
feeding the dairy herd is giving an average of
gallons of milk per cow day and has done we'll
all through the past winter. The farm shows
well and with added fertility the increase of the
yield of crops is seen.
Mr.. Bacon, representing the club at Mr.. T. NJ.
Pearce's, Ny Lady's Manor, reported an inter-
esting meeting, especially the discussion Of the
fence question, the wire fence being advocated
in preference to wooden fences. Mr.. Laban
Sparks was delegate from the Junior Club.
Mr.. Daniel ShamberRer, being an applicant for
secretary and treasurer of the Maryland Agri
cultural College, the two clubs Endorsed him for
that position made vacant by the death of DR..
Joseph r. Owens.
Asst the holding of farmers picnic this year
Messrs. James B. Ensor, E. G.. Merryman and N.
H. Gill were named committee to act with
other committees. Mr.. D. Fred. Shamberger, of
the Georges Greek Farmers Club, offered to
assist
A letter from committee of wholesale gro
GERS of New York, desiring to secure reduction
in the tariff on sugar. was read and favorable ac-
ton taken. While table necessities should be
cheaper, yet it was said we must not overlook
the interests of the farmers engaged in the beet
sugar industry.
A letter from Mr.. Asa B. Gardiner, Jr., secre-
tary of the State Farmers League, respecting
the work that has been accomplished, that had
to be done, and the annual dues of 81, was read.
The dues were ordered paid
Mr.. James B. Ensor was appointed to attend
the Junior Club meeting. The fence question
being an important one, 1t was said the farmers
should have all possible information on the sub
ject. Mr.. John Crowther will put up 300 rods
and desired to know the best fence. He said
steers rub against rail or a wooden fence and
damage it. He expected to put up wire fence.
Mr.. T. P. w. France recommended the crimp
spring wire fence, with straight cross stays.
Jones lock and square clamps. This lock is
easily undone when the fence is to be removed.
While much of the wire fence is said to rust yet
it was claimed the frost wire does not show 1t.
wire fence with two feet apart stays make
pretty fence as well as strong one. Mr.. Bacon
said for stays posts old rails can be utilized to
the advantage of all farmers.
AS to the advisability of baling hay 1t was said
the price of hay does not encourage it. Loose
hay now sells at $12 to $13 per ton and baled hay
not any higher. One reason is that the latter
has the competition of Western baled hay, which
is classed better than home grown. Mr.. John
Crowther said he has go tons of hay to sell.
The half hour for questions was passed as
the corn question was taken up first and much
time was consumed. A great deal of interest
was manifested when the foreman made state
ment of the cost of growing 20 acres of corn and
the profit realized. He said he keeps books on
business that does not require book keeping
also, that farming pays if man is suited to the
occupation. man that grows only barrels of
corn per acre at So per barrel cannot succeed.
He rendered this statement on growing 20 acres
of corn: 1t was the second year for corn in the
field, but he covered about half of the field with
manure and applied 800 lbs. of fertilizer per
acre on the entire field. The manure was put on
LII of ~ toll ND hoo
was drilled. A farmer that works gets the
benefit of what he does. He paid for all labor
and articles used on the crop. The following
are the figures showing what was done: For
blowing, hauling and spreading of manure and
applying fertilizer; also, planting, cultivating
the crop. including feeding of the horses while
doing the work, $1S1.40; cost of fertilizer, $3.50
seed corn, So cutting on the corn. $780, paying
$1.5O an acre; husking, $592S; lofting, $50; tar
rope, SIS; interest on land and taxes, $14 amount
of corn raised, IA barrels to an acre-2S0 barrels
at So per barrel, $40; 5000 bundles of fodder at
IN cts, $75 total receipts, S9l5.00; total expen-
ses, $4lO68; leaving balance of $504.32 as profit
on 20 acres of corn.
Mr.. Crowther further said if farmer wants
crophe must feed the land. 1t is well to pillow
light soil in the spring. Clay soil should be
plowed in the open winter. To prepare the
ground the disc harrow does good work, to be
followed by the springtooth harrow. 1t is well
to use the smoothing harrow after the corn
comes up. Cultivating it during grain harvest
is an advantage.
Mr.. Laban Sparks said: "Corn is the main
crop for the farm, and good seed, good ground
and frequent cultivation are necessary. If land
does not produce 10 barrels per acre it is not
profitable. To add fertility 200 lbs. of South
Carolina rock and 200 lbs of kainit to the acre
should be applied. Lime, no doubt, would bene-
fit the land"
Mr.. N. H. Gill said Corn should be planted
both ways to get the best results and manure
will give increased yields. The double-row
planter is good implement, so is the corn har-
vester and husker. Corn is hauled in with the
fodder and shredded as the corn is husked.''
Mr.. H. Arthur Matthews said: Drilling corn
--one grain every Is inches-gives good results
if the corn is cultivated well. Manure is used
with benefit. Sometimes the corn is cut off by
hand and have paid cents per shock for cut
ting. Part of the crop last year produced IS to
to l7barrels to the acre. The corn was husked
by hand"
Mr.. Upton H. Tarbert said: 1.-THE ground can
not be too rich for corn. 1t should be plowed
deeply and thoroughly cultivated. With check
cred corn the dust mulch can be retained; it is
a benefit in keeping the moisture. Preference
is for checkered corn if the lay of the fields will
allow it; also for hand-cut off, as the bundled
corn is more liable to spoil. 1t is safer to use
plenty of seed and thin the corn.'
Mr.T.P. W. France said: 1.-THE best thing In
growing corn is to have a stiff sod, then pillow
deeply and throw up little of the subsoil. tt
keep the weeds down when starting to cultivate
the corn it is well to use the weeder or similar
implement Best results have been seen from
manure applied during August as by early fal
the sod improves
Mr. II. Amos Matthews said: For two years
have been testing seed corn and of IA ears Sc
lected 70 for use. With special variety of seeC
| two barrels more per acre were grown. The seec
is selected from the crop as it is gathered wa
well paid for the trouble in testing the SEED al
| the corn came up well. The checkered corr
gives good results. Usually plant plenty or corr
| in the hill, which generally requires thinning
| The smoothing harrow was used twice last yea
| after the corn was up and although it looked al
if it was disadvantage, yet 1t was not, as iron
| IL to Is barrels per acre was harvested. Fal
| blowing is favorable to good stand of corn.
| Is we'll to keep the seed from MICE"
Mr.. J. 8. Crowther said: 1.-THE manure should
! be put out as soon as possible to get the mos
! benefit from it. Machinery for cutting and husk
| ing also to cut up the fodder is an advantage
| On blowing crimson clover for soil improvement
the ground is not always in good condition"
| Mr.. James B. Ensor said "Ten inches deel
| and well stirred soil keeps moisture Tor TIM
| corn crop. All of the manure possible should b
| used and applied during the winter. as it add
very much to the crop, and indeed an crops
Three feet and a-half each way is good widtl
| to plant corn, which should not be planted to-
close. To get the most out of the crops 1t is bet
| fer to feed them on the farm-grind the grail
/ and buy bran and other feeds"
Mr.. A. B. Gardiner, Jr:, said "The 1arme
| xuhn nutS nm an eQsilaR0 pit makes q big prom