The midland journal., 1916-02-18
NINTH DISTRICT FARMERS
CLUB.
NINTH
Proceedings OF Meeting Held At
The "Hickorys.''

AO 4NAAtA AASsAASS = "a AAAS@S O@-~~
met at the home of VIM. F. and
Linda M. Gibson, on Feb. 2.
Meeting was call to order by
President. The following members
answered roll call: Mr.. and Mrs.
VIM. f. Gibson, Mr.. and Mrs. A. M.
SPOTS, Mr.. and Mrs. Edwin F. Kirk,
Mr.. and Mrs. ]. B. Churchman, Mr..
and Mrs. Chas. W. Mckinney, Mrs.
Harvey Kirk, Howard Brown. Visi-
tors: Mrs. Clinton Logan and G. F.
Marsh.
Minutes of previous meeting were
read and approved.
Experiments being call: Mr.. Gibson
is going to plant corn old way, mark
out with sled, drop compost and
corn; potato ground plowed and will
plough again in spring; has a bag
OF potash to use, something no one
else has; just intends to use manure
and potash.
Lunch being announced, ]. B.
Churchman, Edwin F. Kirk and
A. M. SPOTS were appointed COM
mittee of inspection.
The host then responded with the
following essay:
This, the third meeting of the new
Farmers Cub Of the 9Th District of
Cecil County, State of Maryland:
We welcome you to the Hickorys,
the home of w. F. and l.. M. Gibson,
hoping we may one and all be
= benefited by this meeting. First
what crops shall we raise to give the
best results, as feeding material to
stock in milk, butter or beef dc
not want to raise any dictation with
any one about what shall be fed,
to either horses, cows, hogs, beet
cattle, or sheep. So far as my ex-
large ones for the market, If for
home use on small farm not over
IL hundred lbs. in weight. No
farmer in this locality has use for
horse too heavy to drive to buggy
or carriage; they will not last any
length of time. This is my ex-
perience. Any good clear bright
roughage horse or colt will do well
on, let it be hay straw or corn fodder
and lots of labor saved. But of all
stock If we had our little farm
fenced well, give me the good sheep.
There would be more pleasure in it
than the best of an Auto; no labor
to care for them, and more money
in the end, no manure to buy and
a. rich and clean farm in a few years.
Take any district where sheep are
kept and you do not have to lay out
all the money you receive for fer
tilizer, and have fields clear of all
kinds Of weeds and foul grasses.
Ny experience with the cow here
and at other places has not been
yery encouraging. Lots of labor and
poor returns, after feed bills are
paid. Hogs likewise; would prefer
feeding steers; pleasanrer to work
with; only to care for during the
winter season and more and better
manure, and out of the way wnen
spring work comes on.
Have not had corn to feed cattle
the last three winters, but was a
success the three winters we fed
cattle at home here, and attribute
1t in great degree co feeding beets
and turnips. The last winter we
fed was all beets, and the cattle
gained S12 lbs. on one 600 pound
steer, the balance of five in number
weighing 500 lbs., gained 403 lbs.
on average. Paid five cents and
sold for six cents. Fed 134 days;
started with two quarts corn and
cob meal ground from short corn
or nubbins; finished up with eight
quarts OF good corn and cob meal,
also 100 lbs. cotton seed meal, all
the corn fodder and second crop
hay they would clean up; salt at
hand at all times.
On reconvening the committee
made the following report: A very
fine wagon house and granary, six
head Of horses, / colt, in good order,
three good cows and three fine
heifers, all grade guernseys, eight
nice shoats, two hogs, plenty of hay,
second crop alfalfa hay and fodder.
After this was a discussion on feed
ing beef cattle.
The President then asked what
breed of hogs make the best meat.
The opinion was Yorkshire, as the
big hog reported in last month
dressed $50 lbs. Mr.. Marsh then
gave US talk on the work he is
doing. The following questions to
be answered at next meeting: Build
ing hot bed, VIM. Gibson; does
It pay to invest in registered stock
or grades, A. M. SPOTS; why 1 am
glad live on a farm, Mrs. Edwin
Kirk; what is the hardest part of a
woman's work on the farm, and how