Lecture on Grass at Farmers' Club and Local News of 1883

The Cortland News, Friday, December 21, 1883.

FARMERS’ CLUB.

   At the meeting of the Club held Dec. 15, Mr. Crandall, who was to have addressed them upon "Grasses," being present, said that if this country was an aristocracy instead of a democracy, grass, instead of cotton, would be called king, for there is more money invested in its production than in any other one crop in the United States. Grass should be cultivated, and just here is where farmers make a great mistake. They are very choice in preparing for wheat and other crops, but after "seeding down" no further attention is given to the crop, except to gather it and find fault with the seed, the soil, the climate, or altogether, if the crop does not yield bountifully, or if the grass runs out sooner than desired.

   In the first place the soil should be as carefully prepared as for any other crop. Then the selection of seed should be understandingly made. Every farmer should thoroughly understand which seeds or mixture of seeds are best adapted to his soil.

   The old mixture was timothy and clover, but modern farmers have a greater variety to choose from. He considered "quack" the most tenacious of grasses. Upon a piece of six acres, the soil of which having been well fitted, he cut the first time after seeding three tons of this grass to the acre. At the same time he would not advise the extensive cultivation of it, for in a few years' growth it forms such a mass of clinging, strong, far-reaching roots as to form a compact, heavy mass, which renders the cultivation of the soil most laborious. Swail [rye] grass gets a great deal of abuse, but if it is cut when about two-thirds grown, before other grasses reach maturity, and taken good care of, it makes not only the sweetest but the best hay for horses and for producing milk in cows. After haying cut the crop a second time and this cutting is rather better for milk than the first.

   Unless a man is posted he has no idea of the amount invested in grass in this county. A man who sells his hay is obliged to reduce his stock, and he has to find some other means than the old by which to recuperate his soil. This should be done as follows: The hay should be cut in good season. If it is not the stalks become woody fibre and so lose not only their nutriment but their market value. If cut early the juices are retained and the aftermath comes up more evenly than we could possibly sow the seed. Then clip this aftermath and let it lie upon the ground. In so doing it not only returns to the soil in a fresh state that which it has taken from it but also protects the roots from cold blasts. This is admirable treatment for land exposed to the cold winds, especially of fall and spring.

   By this treatment it will be found that the farm produced twenty per cent more than before the stock was sold off. Some meadows treated in this manner have run twenty years without turning. He had no success at first with sowing red-top, but as it now yields well he blames himself instead of either the soil or the seed. There is a kind of natural red-top which cannot be readily restored after once being destroyed. Its tops are a trifle browner than our sowing kind.

   Mr. Tillinghast killed quack grass by following in one season three successive plowings, with a thorough harrowing each time. A good growth of clover will also accomplish the same end.

   Mr. Crandall said that he was the first man who loaded a car in this county with baled hay. He paid $67 a car and sent it to Philadelphia, where it was unloaded beside cars of baled hay from Chicago which cost $60 a car. It cost a man from $13 to $13.50 a ton to bale hay and send it to the cities, which is computed as follows: Cost $8, baling $3, transportation $2 or $2.50.

   The next meeting will be held Saturday, Dec. 29, at 1 P. M., which will be the "annual meeting," and at which time will be reviewed some of the most prominent subjects of the past year, and will be opened by Mr. Tillinghast.

  

CORTLAND AND VICINITY.

   Mr. Delos Bauder [proprietor of Cortland House—CC editor] has moved into the Bliss house, on Charles street.

   The Normal School will close only on Christmas and New Year’s days, and not during the week intervening.

   The Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railway Company have lately reduced the pay of the track hands and gravel train men employed on their road from $1.20 to $1 per day.

   The Utica, Ithaca & Elmira Railway Company's report to the Railroad Commissioners shows that the road earned $148,000 and expended $196,000 during the past year; a deficiency of $48,000.

   Judge Smith is at Ithaca this week on legal business; on Saturday he goes to New York, and on the 27th to Albany, where he attends the reunion of the graduates of the State Normal school.

   Prof. W. A. Brownell, of Syracuse, lectured at Well’s Hall last Friday evening on "Sight’s and Studies in Colorado," for the benefit of the Onondaga Indians. It was a highly interesting discourse.

   The town clock in the Squires' building when the five-foot dial is illuminated presents a beautiful appearance at night. It then has the appearance of the full moon, only the position dispels the illusion that it is that orb of night.

   J. S. Barber, Esq., expects to erect next year a fine brick edifice on his lot, and will do so unless some one buys the lot for the same purpose; but he will not sell to any one except on a promise to put up a first-class building.

   A four-story brick building, extending from D. E. Kinney's premises on Groton avenue to Mr. Bauder's barn on Main street and occupying all the space to the sidewalk, with stores, hotel office, and arcade leading to an opera house, on the first floor, would just about fill the public eye.

   Workmen began this week to remove the ruins of the Cortland House. Mr. Bauder proposes to have the rubbish cleared away preparatory to the erection of some kind of an edifice. He has no decided plans as yet, but with proper encouragement a building will be erected that will delight the eyes of the citizens.

   Horace E. King, of the New York Custom House, formerly of Tully, and Miss Irla I. Smith were united in marriage at the bride's home in Cortland, last Saturday afternoon, by the Rev. Mr. Robinson, of Cortland. Mr. King and wife are spending the week with their parents and relatives in this place.— Tully Cor. Syr. Journal.

   Mr. A. Mahan [proprietor of a musical instruments retail store and village president—CC editor] has secured the services of Mr. A. T. White, of New York, who is well known among some of the leading New York manufacturers and dealers in pianos as a strictly first-class tuner and repairer of pianos and organs. Mr. White has had extensive experience in all classes of tuning and repairing, and is a valuable acquisition to Mr. Mahan’s establishment, as well as a great convenience to our citizens, who will fully appreciate a good tuner and repairer of musical instruments.

   Our Cortland neighbors have recently had their baptism of fire [Cortland House fire—CC editor] to the tune of some fifty or sixty thousand dollars, the insurance companies being the chief mourners. I cannot help thinking that, had that same burned property been located in Ithaca exactly as there, our department would have squelched it in short order, and with less than one-eighth the damage sustained, not reflecting at all, however, upon their fire men. But they were not provided with the same facilities for fighting successfully this universal fiend that we have, and hence could not do impossibilities. True, it has cost us something, but in just such cases, it is where we get our dividends in the shape of many thousands saved. But Cortland people will hereafter foster her fire department with greater liberality and judgment, I hope, having learned wisdom in the somewhat extensive school of experience.—Ithaca Cor. Dryden Herald.

   The State Dairymen's Convention met at Ogdensburg this week, commencing the 18th.

   Masquerade ball at Taylor Hall Tuesday evening, Jan.1, 1884, by Prof. L' Amoureux' class in dancing.

   The remains of Mrs. Oliver Glover, who died in Des Moines, Iowa, will arrive in Homer this (Friday) afternoon on the 2:30 train, for burial.

   Pneumonia is very prevalent in town, and many cases prove fatal. Too much care cannot be exercised during the changeable weather we seem likely to experience this winter.

   The well-known firm of D. M. & E. G. Halbert, of Binghamton, failed Monday, with liabilities at about $300,000 and assets $125,000. Too much American District Telegraph stock was the cause.

   Deputy Attorney-General Dennison was in town Tuesday, taking evidence in the case of Prof. Hoose and his fellow-teachers in their claim against the State. Judge Duell and Dr. Hoose were examined, and their testimony closes the evidence.

   The snow of Wednesday favored us with a run of sleighing, adding greatly to the bustle of the streets and of course to business. Mr. Miller is running the sleigh omnibus between the villages, and our Cheningo correspondent can now "sleigh" his best gal.

   The Board of Education, of Cortland, has appointed Prof. C. S. Sanderson, of this place, to be Superintendent of the Union Schools. Mr. Sanderson has had several years' experience, both as a teacher and as Superintendent, and it is believed that he will make an excellent officer. Villages having a population of over 5,000 are entitled by law to a superintendent, and to an appropriation of $800 to pay his salary.—Democrat.

   R. Beard & Son, having been compelled by the fire to remove, and having become located at 14 Port Watson street, are fully prepared to meet all demands for the choicest of furniture, of all styles and kinds, and of the newest manufacture. Their stock has been replenished, and they are constantly adding everything that may be required in their line. Elsewhere the firm invites our people to visit their store, and we know that it will repay everybody to accept the invitation.

   Will some one please step down to the office of Hollenbeck's organ [possibly Temperance newspaper—CC editor] and inform its editor that, notwithstanding he daily, if not hourly, brought his immense powers of persuasion to bear upon the Board of Supervisors during their late session, the Standard received only one vote in favor of that paper's publishing the session laws of 1884? We see that the editor, no doubt accidentally (?), omitted to mention that part of the Supervisors' proceedings, and also that the Homer Republican received 4 votes, THE NEWS 2, and the Standard 1.

   The first Commune party last Friday evening was a surprise to every one. The weather of the day and evening was all that was not to be desired—a rain all day, which froze into a sleet at evening. Yet, notwithstanding this inauspicious state of the elements, fifty-two couple gathered at Peck's Hall to engage in the enjoyment of the occasion, and gave to these parties an impetus that insures their success. Nine couple from Cortland were in attendance, as well as others from out of town. The next party of the series will be held Friday evening, December 28.—Marathan Independent.

   A reunion of the graduates of the State Normal school at Albany will be held in the school building on Thursday, the 27th inst. Prof. Waterbury, the present principal, has sent invitations to every graduate whose address is known, or over twenty-two hundred, and the responses indicate a large gathering. It goes without question that the reunion will be of the most interesting kind. Of those who are expected to attend are Hon. A. P. Smith, Mrs. Mary Reed, Mrs. Isaac Edgcomb, Miss M. F. Hendrick and Miss Martha Roe, of Cortland; Dr. S. C. Webb and Albertus Webb, of Homer; Hon. D. E. Whittmore, of Marathon; Mr. C. H. Gillett, of Scott; Mrs. Rachel A. Harris, of Chicago, formerly of Virgil; Mrs. Ruth Slocomb, of Center Junction, Iowa, formerly of Marathon. This is the last reunion that will be held in the present building, as a new one is being erected in Washington Park at Albany.

   The first of Orris Hose Co.'s entertainments was given Wednesday evening, and the Company deserve warm congratulation for the variety afforded and for the excellent manner in which it was carried out. The boys had evidently practiced to some purpose, as they all did well. The music by Webster's orchestra was decidedly fine, their selections attracting the closest attention of the audience. "Mrs. Brady's Pianay Fortay," and "The Bold McIntyres" were uproariously applauded, and the Company were compelled to reappear. "The Charleston Blues," by a company of negroes in uniform, was so well given that although it was the concluding piece the audience refused to leave, but insisted on an encore. The music on two harmonicums and two guitars, by descendants of Pa Mclntyre, was very sweet, and they were recalled. In "The Toodles," which was, under the circumstances, pretty well presented, we think Miss Allie Fairchild as Mary Acorn, Miss Libbie Newkirk as Mrs. Toodles, Mr. C. T. Miller as Chas. Fenton, and Mr. A. Robinson as Lawyer Glib, deserve special mention for the naturalness of their acting and the life and spirit which they threw into their parts; while Mr. W. O. Parsons, not only as Toodles, but in his character songs, afforded the audience as good singing and acting as any of the professional actors who have visited Cortland. His every appearance was the signal for applause. The entertainment was repeated last evening, and was equally as well received.

   The Cortland County Medical Society held its semi-annual meeting at Cortland Dec. 12. Dr. C. Green read a biographical sketch of the late Dr. Geo. W. Bradford, an abstract of which was directed to be sent to the State Medical Society for publication in its transactions.

CHENINGO.

Correspondence of THE NEWS, Dec. 18, 1883.

   A merry Christmas to all.

   Wires are being pulled for the spring election.

   Hopper has finished his work for James L. Goddard.

   John Lockwood has hired to Henry Denison for one month.

   George Hollenbeck has hired to T. N. Hollister to draw off lumber from the steam mill.

   The 18th of December, and nobody in this section has as yet "sleighed" his best gal. Give us some snow.

   A social party was held at J. E. Justice's on Friday evening last. "M. and I." were present. Broadway and Fish avenue were also well represented.

   The long talked-of new school house is now being built, with John Munro, of Solon, as boss carpenter. The frame is up and partially sided. The building is 24x30. A good deal of dissatisfaction exists as to the place the house is located. The school lot is almost square, and nearly level. The house is set clear in the corner of the lot, not giving the children a chance to pass around the house. Many are of the opinion that it ought to have been set nearer to the center of the lot in the rear.

PREBLE.

Correspondence of THE NEWS, Dec. 18, 1883.

   William, please exchange horses once more, then we will present you with a white hat.

   The nuptials of Miss Maycumber and Mr. Mulinex, of Cold Brook, is on the list of future events.

   Clipping of horses is the topic of the day. A boy in this village clipped his father's horse unbeknown to him, and the result was that when he had reached home the boy too was clipped.