The Webster Farmers' Club

Editor Coürier- The meeting of the Webster Farmer's Club, lield at the restdence of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Ball, last Satimlay, passedoif pleasantly and profltably. Most of the time was spent in discussing tlie question, " What is the best niethod of tending corn ?" Mr. Cushman opened the discussion by advocaling the use of the drag, describing one he using this yeir for the flrst time. Tlils one is an A drag, wkleenough for two spaces. It is used witli the wide end forward, and is drawn by two horses. He conslders it the best Implement he ever used in corn, because he can use it without injury to the corn earlier tlian he could a cultivator or a common drag. Mr. Boyden used the drag iu corn this yetr for the first time, and üked It very Uiuch. He uses a mixture ofashes, piaster and hen man ure, which he finds the cutworms do not relisli. He believes in cutting corn wheu it begins to glaze; for, while it does not hij ure the corn it renders the stalks more valuable. Mr. J. Williams uses a light garden hook to mellow the soil in the lilll. He begins its use bcfore the corn is op. He would select seed corn from the hill Mr. Terry agreed with Mr. Williams in everything, and said that he had selected seed corn even before it begau to glaze, and found that every kernel would grow. He believes we could make an earlier variety by so doing. At the urgent request of the club, Mr. J. Wheelerdescribed a new corn marker nvented by him thls season. In appearance it resembles the common marker, only at the lower end of each of the three arms it luis two pins so fixed as to make i ridge iusteud of a furrow. The corn is planted on tliis ridge, and the cut-worms folliiwing the furrow on each side fail to flnd the corn. Mr. Backus uses a fork Inlaad of a hook to loosen the dirt around the cornhill, and uses the drag extensively. He lias found that there is more danger of cutling corn too early tban too late. Corn cut late will be lit to house earlier. the ears will be more solid, and seed seUcted at tliis time will be better, and the stalks will lose none of their value by standing in the hill. Hon. Wm. Ball said he knew little or nothing about raising corn, and was having poor luck this season. He applied sak and ashes to the bilis before the corn was up, and very little germinated; the cause, uowtver, he attributed to poor sei'd. which he had not thoiougbly diïed last fall. Next, the ladies discussed the advisaliiiity of using butter color in the dairy. Mre. Cuthman has liever tried it, but is of he opinión that althouli it might im prove the appearance of the butter it :ou'd not improve its quality. fllrs. A. Alsaver has tned it, and thinks it inproves the flavor. Tliis ended the iliscussion of qneslion. Tlie club deeided to Iiold Is slimmer picnic in connection witli the animal picnic of the Farmers' Association of Washtenaw and Livingston counties, to be helü in the fiist part of August next at Wliitmore Lake. A spechil invitation is extended to everv one. The next meeting of the club will be held at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Alsaver, on Saturday, Sept. I2th, beKlnnine at ten o'clobk.