The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1911-02-17
FARMERS INSTITUTE.
Most Successful Institute Ever Held Here
HAL Crowded To Overlooking.
IS EXHIBITS In THE CORN SHOW.

years Oh ltS CULTIVATION. Alfalfa yields from
four to six crops season, an average Of about
i've tons to the acre. The market price of al
falfa averages about so a ton, which means
that each acre win return at least s400 a year.
Alfalfa makes excellent pasture for both dairy
and beef cattle and hogs and DR.. Hills ex-
perience has been that animals pastured on it
fatten more readily than others. Crab grass
and weeds play havoc in an alfalfa crop. re-
tarding its growth, and he advised the farm
ers to work the crop Immediately after the
second cutting, usually about the middle Of
July. The first crop of alfalfa is ready to NOV
early in June. Alfalfa will not grow during
the winter months. Dr. Hill told the farmers
to sow q field Of alfalfa close to the house SO
the farm poultry can pick in it, which in
creases the number of eggs
Mr.. Collier, whose home is at Easton, is one
or the most extensive corn raisers in Mary-
land and he stated to his audience that ex-
perlence had demonstrated that the largest
| crops were to be obtained by selecting seed
from ears Of medium sized cob, with a slight
protuslon OF the cob at the tip. This character
OF ear, ne said, will permit of greater develop.
ment and increased yield. He recommended
In this connection to use the terminating test
box, which largely overcomes the necessity for
replanting parts of fields or thinning out
plants by careless labor The lecturer said
that he considers 100 bushels Of shelled corn
per acre standard yield, and though this
may seem high, he believes it can be attained
on Maryland farms by systematically fellow
ing scientific methods The method recon-
mended in producing large corn crop was to
lay foundation, seven or eight months prior
to planting, by preparing the soil. This can
best be done by breaking the wheat stubble In
July and sowing scarlet clover. This clover
may be used for grazing purposes early In the
spring and should be plowed under when the
crimson tips are first noticed. Crimson
clover is one of the greatest renovators Of the
1 soil known to the science Of agriculture, form
ing a blanket to the soil when most needed.
A small quantity of lime should be used when
plowing the clover under, and for manurial
purposes alone it is worth about $50 an acre.
/ Commercial fertilizers the speaker has found
by experimentation to be q failure in corn
raising. He also called attention to the use of
clover for pasturing stock.
Mr. Phelps lecture on dairy husbandry
aroused keen interest in the subject Regard
ed as one of the foremost authorities on this
subject in America, and having managed the
largest dairy farms in New England, Mr..
Phelps impressed upon the farmers the op-
portunities open for successfully engaging in
the dairy industry so close to the large mar
kets of the East. He spoke of the selection Of
the herd, recommending Jersey and Guernsey
cattle for butter purposes, and Holsteins and
Ayrshires for generous milk supply. Crossing
the strains the speakers experience had
proven unsatisfactory and he cautioned the
farmers against blending the breeds. Mr..
Phelps is strongly in favor of keeping individ-
ual daily records of each COW in the dairy SO
that small producers may be eliminated.
Little attention should be paid to trivial mat
ters, such as solid colors, black or buff noses:
rather that the productivity Of the COW be-
considered. He explained the physical require
ments of the ideal type of dairy COW, laying
stress on the development of the udder and
milk producing organs. The best COWS, he
said are those whose udders are fabby when
MIXED out rather than feshy
Mr.. Oswald is one of the most extensive
peach growers in Maryland, having gone into
poultry husbandry as a side issue, and it was
from this standpoint that his lecture was de-
livered. He explained that poultry Is divided
into dairy for egg-producing varieties, and
"beefy" or market fowls, being similar to
cattle in this particular. Among the dairy
chickens are tclassed the Leghorn, Rhode
Island Red, Game, Black Minoroa and All
<ASAcsoS HAocuSs AAC OO0AJ CllCAOu1 1u08B
suitable for market are the Buff Cochin.
Rrahma ard Langshang. The lecturer stated
that from E5 to 200 is about the yearly LAYING
for hens, though it is not uncommon, with
care Fows for them rs
much as human beings, SO it is important that
they be properly housed. Well ventilated
obtained by confnfng the fowls during the
winter months. Hensl compelled to forage
the lecturer gsT % explained drop of in laying
wheat tends to keep up laying during the
winter. Wet mash made of scraps from the
commended; also dry mash containing linseed
meal, which facilitates moulting. A strong
point made by the lecturer was his caution to
the flock merely because of early maturity
This he decsied because such practice leaves
Mr.. Oswsld's talks were entirely along practical
lines, his methods being readily within range Of
hen house In use on his farm In Western Mary
land which answers every purpose. The cost to
build this character of house with capacity for
80 laying hens is but $6. The house Is OF open
front construction, containing glass windows ad-
mitting sunlight, with detachable screen In the
can be made Of finexpensive lumber covered VIII Sish
taxpayer. By building them on sled-like base
they can be moved nom place to place on the
farm.
Mr.. Oswald and his brother are the owners
OF large orchards at CheWsv1lle, Washington
county which Is In theheart of the Peach Belt of
Western Maryland. Engaged in horticulture ON
an extensive scale, his lectures ON the care 81
orchards and development OF fruit are of most
instructive nature.
The orchard from which Mr.. Oswald and his
brother are now gathering some OF the largest
crops Of fruit in Western Maryland Is probabfv 4
hundred years old, having belonged Ia his
ancestors for generations. That an orchard that
had practically ceased to yield could in ave years
be rejuvenated, speaks well for scientific methods
OF horticulture. The first step In this direction
was TO train the trees. pruning them OF the large
tops and overdevel0ped branches. This was done
in such way that light was admitted TO the
center OF the tree essential to raising large and
richly colored fruit After this was done the
branches were sprayed to exterminate tha Scale
and destructive insects. The spraying was done
at regular intervals and fhis agent of desiructfon
was readily overcome. The soil In the orchard
was plowed and tertilized In order that the trees
where the fertility Of the soil would nermif
garden vegetables were sown In the orchards.