CORTLAND COUNTY FARMERS' CLUB DISCUSSES TIMOTHY HAY

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, October 28, 1887.

Farmers' Club.

   The attendance at this the first meeting after the summer vacation, was quite good.

   President Blodgett called to order at the usual hour with "Our most profitable crop the past season" for the question. The question of getting one of the Farmers Institutes here this winter was discussed, and now that our application was in the hands of the proper committee, farther action was postponed until after the appointments were made. The following letter was read by the secretary:

A. D. Blodgett, Esq., President of Farmer's Club of Cortland County:

   DEAR SIR—I wish to suggest this subject for discussion by the members of the Farmers' Club: "What causes the leaves of timothy grass to turn brown or rust, and what is the remedy."

   The hay crop and the sale of hay has become to farmers of this county almost their leading industry, and anything that can be done to improve the quality of hay will be much to their advantage. A ten years' experience in buying, baling and selling hay from this county in many markets, in competition with hay from other parts of this and other states, enables me to say that the hay generally offered for sale, or the general crop raised and cured in this county and some adjoining towns, is far from what is desirable, or what it should be, averaging on the whole as graded in New York, Philadelphia or Boston, about No. 3, occasionally a car load can be selected that will grade No. 2, but never a car load can be selected that will grade prime or No. 1.

   Now no buyer enjoys buying farmers' produce which they insist is No. 1, or as good as anybody anywhere raises, and have to sell the same to buyers who insist that the goods offered are only No. 3 quality, and not such as is wanted when better can be had.

   With No. 1 goods, a seller can always find customers for it at the highest market prices. With lesser goods, he has to hunt for customers, who usually, are not the best, and take such prices as may be offered. With best grades the seller is independent.

   The trouble with timothy hay secured here is: First, it has too much clover with it. Second, most of it is cut too late and too little care is taken in curing it, so that it lacks a handsome, fresh, green shade, which has much to do in determining the grade of hay in market.

   Third, that the worst feature is the brown or rusty color of the leaves, and one which must be overcome before our hay can be made to reach the best grade. I have given considerable attention to this defect, but am unable to say what causes it, but I have noticed that it usually appears on the lower leaves about the middle of June increasing upon the leaves where first seen and upon other leaves higher up as the season advances, until more or less of them become dead, and these dead, brown leaves give to the hay when baled a brown, dead color, which is so objectionable to buyers, and is the chief cause of the low grading of the hay. When the same hay with the leaves as good color as the stalk usually is, would pass for number two or number one hay.

   In many parts of the state this rust does not attack the leaves at all, and there you always find hay of a bright green color and sweet, fragrant scent; hay that is a delight to handle, while to handle the hay in this vicinity neither gives pleasure or brings profit. To farmers better hay would bring higher prices.

   Yours Truly,

   CHARLES O. NEWTON.

   Homer, September 1887.

   Mr. Crandall: I can endorse every word of the article. It has been my experience for 20 years, and I am yet at loss to tell the cause of the trouble. The crop starts luxuriously, but as the season advances, while the stalk keeps green the leaves get brown. Hay does not look as well in the bale as when loose.

   Pres. Blodgett: Was it so when we cut our grass with a scythe?

   Mr. Crandall: I do not remember. At that time I did not sell my hay and one's keenness of observation is quickened when his profits are affected. New seeded seems to be more free than older meadows. In this section we do not cut our grass early enough. This season I did not wait for the timothy to get in blow. I would not recommend seeding with timothy alone. I could never get a full crop of hay the first season by so doing. It might look well in spring but when ready to cut a good deal was not headed. It had appearance of aftermath and that is objectionable. The first year I sent to market it netted $22 per ton and the freight was $67 per car, to Philadelphia. At that time the freight from Chicago to the same market was $60. The rates have always been in favor of the western producer. If we could produce a quality of hay equal to that from portions of this state and Pennsylvania I would not wish for a better business than raising hay.

   Mr. Purvis: Does not the thick grass show this more than the thin?

   Mr. Crandall: I think it more noticeable in the thin.

   Pres. Blodgett: Is hay your best crop now?

   Mr. Crandall: For the past three years there has been but little difference between hay and dairying.

   Mr. Gillett: I am better pleased with my apple crop this season than any other this year.

   Mr. Rowley: My apples have been fine this season.

   Mr. Woolston: Would not location make much difference about profit of hay crop?

   Mr. Rowley: Some of my neighbors will net $100 per acre from potatoes.

   Mr. Woolston: I do not want to raise the crop everyone else is raising.

   Mr. Purvis: I still think potatoes a good crop.

   Mr. Goodrich: Is it as exhaustive as corn?

   Mr. Purvis: Yes, I think it is more so. We raise one crop of potatoes on a field in from five to eight years. Horse manure I think less liable to produce rot than other kinds. We shall use considerable more phosphate in future than we have used. I think we can as well raise 300 bushels per acre as 200. I prefer sowing the phosphate on the soil to putting it in the hill.

   Mr. Goodrich: My suggestion about the brown appearance of timothy hay is that it is largely due to a characteristic of the grass itself, particularly as it approaches maturity.

   Mr. Rowley: I am a strong advocate of a mixed crop for general farm purposes-- Oats, barley, wheat and peas.

   Mr. Purvis: Oats are not good to sow as a late crop. Barley is better. The past season has been the worst for potato bugs that we have had since their first appearance in this section.

   Pres. Blodgett: I seeded my wheat this fall with timothy and clover.

   Mr. Rowley: I prefer to seed in spring and trim the soil afterward with a roller.

   Club adjourned for two weeks, Saturday, October 29.

   Subject for discussion, "Our hay crop; how can its quality be improved?" will be taken up by C. O. Newton, H. B. Greenman and others.

   Cortland, October 15, 1887.

   C. M. BEAN, Sec'y

A Card to the Public.

   EDITOR, DEMOCRAT: Inasmuch as the doctrines of Universalism are often condemned through a mistaken knowledge of what they are, I have thought it proper to deliver an explanatory discourse upon Universalism next Sunday evening. It is my desire to tell those who are ignorant of our "Faith" what it is.

   Universalism has often suffered, and to-day suffers through misrepresentation on the part of those who are innocently unaware of its precepts; and what is still more, by those who keep themselves in willful ignorance concerning its teachings. Again there is a class of embittered people who in view of a right knowledge of its features still continue to dishonestly misrepresent it.

   Those who are innocently ignorant of it are to be criticized for attempting to explain what it is, when they know nothing of it. Those who are willfully ignorant and continue to misrepresent it are to be blamed for their injustice. And those who knowingly do the same, are to be condemned for their dishonesty. I do not desire to, and shall not run down any other denomination; but rather work with them in building up the cause of Christ. But we demand a fair treatment at the bands of the public, and next Sunday evening I shall give the public a chance to know what our church stands for. If after hearing and knowing what Universalism really is [and] anyone then takes sincere exceptions to its doctrines, that is their business and they are justified in so doing; for we are not all constituted to look at things and judge of their relative merits in the same way, yet fair treatment demands that anything be not condemned until it is understood. Therefore be careful not to take or trust everybody's representation of our Faith, unless you have every reason to believe that they know what they are talking about; and never attempt yourselves to tell what Universalism is until you know what you are talking about.

   Next Sunday evening October 30, you will be afforded the chance of obtaining a right idea of our Faith and of obeying the suggestion of Apostle 1. John IV. 1: "Beloved believe not every spirit but try the spirits."

   Seats free and all are invited to attend.

   Cortland, October 25, 1887.

   Respectfully,

   H. E. GILCHRIST,

   Pastor Stone Church.

HERE AND THERE.

   The Wickwire block on Railroad street is nearly enclosed [new building—CC editor.]

   The "Little Tycoon" in the Cortland Opera House, next Monday evening.

   The Homer Cornet Band have leased Keator Opera House in that place for one year.

   The front for the new First National Bank building is partially up and begins to look very attractive.

  Mrs. Alvin Gay gives a supplemental party at Willowdale, in Little York, this Friday evening. Supper free.

   The new Episcopal church in this place is nearly completed, and the society expect to occupy the same sometime next month.

   Comstock, Eggleston, Meredith & Fitz' Minstrel Company and brass band give an entertainment in Taylor Hall, to-morrow evening.

   Messrs. Cook & Dinsmore, who have leased the Gilkerson Machine Works, near

Homer, have an advertisement in another column that is worth reading.

   John Long's team ran away one day last week, on North Main street. They ran against a tree, and one of them was so badly injured that it had to be killed.

   L. D. Garrison, the well known grocer, has something to say on the subject of "bait" in an advertisement to be found in another column. It is right to the point.

   The Homer Wagon Company, limited, have taken possession of the old Cortland Wagon Company's shops on Railroad street, where they will be found in the future.

   Only a fair sized audience saw "Mixed Pickles" as presented by J. B. Polk and his company, in the Opera House, last Thursday evening. The play was very funny.

   A Smithville sportsman, accompanied by four dogs, came over the hills through the woods to this place last week one day and on the way bagged twenty-eight partridges.--Cincinnatus Register.

   The Republicans are to have a mass meeting in this place next Tuesday. Mrs. Fred. D. Grant, and husband, will be present, and speeches will be made by Senator Frye, of Maine, and Senator Fassett, of Elmira.

   At a meeting of the Local Board of the Normal School, held last Monday evening, Hon. R H. Duell was elected President to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Dr. Hyde. Appropriate resolutions were adopted, which we publish in another column.

   On the supplement issued herewith, will be found an installment of the interesting serial, "Allan Quatermain," which we have been publishing for some weeks past, together with notices of deaths and marriages, market reports and other interesting reading matter. Preserve the supplement.

   Postmasters have been notified that in accordance with the ruling of the Assistant Attorney-General of the Post-office department, the regulations regarding writing on fourth class mail matter will be construed as follows: That the writing or printing on the face or surface of such packages of anything except the name and address of the sender, preceded by the word "from," and the number and name of the articles enclosed, will subject the entire package to postage, at letter rates. Heretofore any printed matter not having the character of personal correspondence has been permitted on such parcels.