The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-11-04

An adjourned meeting of the Farmers
Assembly was held last evening at the Ex-
change Hotel, Judge +. N. Watkins, of
Prince Edward, in the chair.
Mr.. Nowlan offered the following resolu-
tons, which were unanimously adopted
Resolred That the thanks of this society are
due, and hereby rendered. to the various
transportation companies of the State for the lib
eral policy they have shown, in the aid they have
rendered the society on the occasion of the Fair
which has Just terminaied
Resolued That the thanks of the society are
hereby rendered to the various officials of the city
and county. who have aided it by their presence
and authority, and also to individuals who have
freely rendered the society through its chief mar
shal, their valuable aid.
The cultivation of wheat was announced
as the subject of discussion.
The discussion was opened by Colonel
Frank Ru6in, of Chesterfield, who said
that bis wheat crops had not been very
satisfactory of late years. He proposed as
partial substitute for wheat the cultiva-
ton Of rye.
Mr.. Goldsmith, very intelligent gentle
man from Orange county, New York,
stated that his county had formerly been
grain-raising country, but they had been
compelled to change their crops, for wheat
had failed for so many years.
Mr.. Minor, of Albemarle, said that the
wheat crops in his section of the country
had been signal failures for many years.
He could not account for the fact, but was
satisfied that the land had lost its produc-
ing capacity. He had not been much in
the nabit Of using lime, as it was generally
understood that their soil had already a
sufficency of lime in it. He knew that
the best lands now failed to make the crops
they formerly had. Some attributed this
to the absence of grass.
Col. Ruffin: Have you thought of any
crop to substitute for wheat?
Mr.. Minor: Well, we are trying fruit.
Col. Ruffin: What has been your ex-
perience as to the profit of this crop?
Mr.. Minor: 1t has been generally very
profitable, and some of our farmers have
made money from it, especially those who
began early enough. Grapes are also be-
ing successfully cultivated in Albemarle.
A thrifty German, who settled in the
county since the war, who had used con-
siderable quantities of bone-dust, had made
very good crops of wheat, and his place
had more grass on it than any he knew Of.
This gentleman has made as high as twenty
bushels to the acre. This season he had
a field of wheat, from which he expected
to make twenty-five bushels to the acre,
but was disappointed. lie only got elgh-
teen. There was plenty OF straw, but the
grain was scanty.
Col. Ruffin: Was that on red or gray
land?
Mr.. Minor: 1t was on gray land. The
gentleman refer to has made some wine,
and probably realized as much as $500 per
acre from it. The soil seems to be quite
well adapted to the culture OF grapes.
Col. Ruffin: Have your people tried
grazing?
Mr. MINOR: MOI 10 any consioefaDie eA-
tent they nave iioe lli'u .i,e niohey " puy
cattle. ! mtehG tTynie IL siioley.
Mr. "iliis, oI oralise, salu .liae .ie cur
ture OF apples was becoming Proiitaoie IL,
ms county. nir. y. p uoss liau leaii19u Ggl
handsome prohtS from tnat business. ne u,
MI Mliiisl M;.l ll;.d away e uee.a u;
IN wheat. WIN iofty years experience
ne couiu eonsciehtiousiy say ulat ne iIa!l a:'
never mace put one SATISFACTORY crop. en- alls
OPINION ana inioIila.lon Mas, .hao ai:ei
awhiie sne pest Wneat-proaucllS couhlleS
Would iaii 10 yielu Sooq crops. AZ Que
tme ne peheVeu tiiaI the yaihes 1sI TNer iallus
were an exeeptioh puI MI. mn carter
sLae sha,nht M W. ono r"rt;on nf tha Si.fa ,ya,
thore h, hette,. m tarmng m do, done = than in Easter
W;ra;,;. S1,1rG G uo raaiiy could reco,nmand !,
snhst;t,'to ,Iiu for wheat He was oo;nc 10 t,., ~
suns.,sv auassas mos ,os oo;n@ "a ra;ae @ meat i,
Ss-o,,ld Sld cal, To,, olaaus and would br;n,
tho on raopaz mo- WITH winch bread MIGHT be oh
to;nad taH Tho',nb b;s Lands would not br;n,
wheat Wheat thew 5ronobt % corn GOOD enouph
Tbev were {;rst-rafe for grasses. too. IN
daad he tbouaht the rcd lands Of Orano,
Inf l;ttle ;nfer,nr to TO- tha hlne grass reoion 3
Kentnckv a cir ''S' ~ - WY ''s'e o 49,
NJ, I1., c.;.,
40 MI n,a oat.er % saiu Una. a. oa oiy fc, aoou ao
~ years ago e,,e "ieas o,op aaea e ,o' tht Ie.a
successive years ai'er"d'us a" rSnod ,In ''t tha