Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-09-03
WooGInyn Agricultural Society.

3lst ult., President Dillingham; in the chair.
After the reading of the minutes of the meeting
in July, and calling the roll Of mcmbcrs, the
committee to ascertain the cost and value of
German potash as il fertilizer reported the cost
to be thirty dollars per ton IN Baltimore. The
value in itself alone was not so great as in
combination with equal parts of guano and
bone-dust, which compound the committee
recommends to be tried by the members of the
Club.
The following review of the transactions Of
the Society for the past year was read by the
Secretary, and ly resolution was ordered to be
preserved among the records of the Club, and
published in the Alexandria Gazette
mr.. President and Members 0fMe Chtb:
We have come to the sixth mile stone OF our
Society-our annual gathering We make
the necessary arrangements Tor conducting our
enterprise another year. AS prudent business
men, we should take account of stock, review
the past and arrange for the future.
"On the llth Of August, 1885, the Wood
| lawn Agricultural Society was organized, with
| = list Of nineteen members Meetings have
| been held nearly every month since. During the
| mast year seven active and two honorary mem
prrs have been added, making the full list ol
active members torty-three aud two honorary
| members.
The average attendance at the twelve meet
Jugs held the past year has been twenty-five
members, besides women and children. | need
not tell you what you all know-that We have
had a cordial welcome, aud generous repast
wherever We have met. Our meetings have
been harmonious, in discussing the various az
ricultural subj brought before the club. The
| reports of the several critical committees have
been iudciously made, allaying the fears Of
some, thai trouble would grow out Of these re.
ports. | think all will admit the beneficial et-
fects of healthy fear of the critics, In the
general Sticking up, and preparations so as
to obtain favorable report. Standing com-
mittecs have reported on houses. neat cattle,
cereals, ulanurcs and fertilizers. Various other
topics have, from time TO time, COME be
turc the club, and received careful consideration
The disease among swine last year called forth
the bitter experience of many OF the uIcmbcr>
who were prepared to respond when statistics
were called for FROM the Agricultural Depart
ment at Washington, III regard to diseases OF
domestic animals Sheep husbandry, the dog
law, the tcuce law, cattle breeding, the dairy,
condensed milk, cheese factories, the fodder
question, fruit trees, and the renovation OF OK.
hausted land, have each been discussed and
| the experience OF members lntcrchangcd.
The members Of the club have been alive to
the advance of civilization, science, and self
protection. We have invited the women to
join our society on the same terms as the
men Our worthy President has selected
and read, from time to time. extracts from
somc of the most popular aud reliable sclentlhc
published lectures on Agricultural Chemistry.
,l,,rh ,c or npI
with experiments aud Illustrations in chemistry
and magnitied optical demonstrations of the in
sect tribe also some Of the grand views OF ma
turc copied by the sun and brought to our Wow
without travelling thousands OF miles to see.
The claims of theNatoualC congress have been
brou. before Us, also the patrons OF huSbandry,
an organization for the Sct-protectoD OF farm
crs in their dealings with merchants and trades
men
1.-The past year has not been one Of unaoyed
! iny and prosperity. Thrice have we becu call
ed on to record the death OF those who have
| been accustomed to meet with us aud have
been a part of US One year ago, this mouth,
We were called to sympathlse with brother
whose wife had departed this life leaving HIM
to pursue his Journey alone. One who was ap-
pointed to express by Resolutions the sympathy
| of the club wa, the next called suddenly 10 give
an account, of his stewardship. Then the lie
long partner of our e>tmabe President was
taken 10 mansions prepared for her above.
! These remind US that We are all passing along
toward our journey end.
The growing season Of the year is drawing to
a c!nsc The unusual dry spring add summer
mouths created grave apprehcnslons ct failure
Of the corn crop-thc staple crop OF this sec
tion-ogether with the almost total failure OF
| -, 10, md ba pt
vegetables, was Encouraging indeed. But He
who rules over all has been mindful Of Us, and
with the bountiful supply Of rain seut has glad
| dcned all hearts aud made our farms to assume
spring verdurc, loading our valleys with corn
and covering our hills with pasture; thus CIV
ing us courage to 60 on doing what we cam
leaving the result to an Allwlse, All Powerful
| Governor over all.
The election of officers of the Society for the
ensuing year being next in order, the officers OF
last year we're reelected: President, ChaIkey
Dillingham;; Secretary n. W. Plerson; Ireasu
rer, r. F. Roberts.
Addresses being then called for, Judge Bran
| hall, of Fall Church, addressed the club on the
subject of manures aud fertilizers, advocating
the use of chemical fertilizers where there was
| not sufficient home made manure. In speak
| ing OF salt as one Of the necessary compounds IN
| these chemical manures, he denounced 10 strong
terms the imposition of a duty OF IS cts. per
bushcl on salt by the government; he cared
| not by what party it was placed there. Farm
ers, as body, should petition Congress next
| winter to repeal the duty.
Professor Otis Mason, of Columbia College,
Washington, made an earnest address on the
| importance of planting good seed and giving 1t
strict attention, not ouly ID the earth. but 10
the minds of the children as they grow up.
At this stage Of the proceedings Col. Daniels,
| of the State Journal, drove up with several
corn baskets filled with forty varieties of grapes
and several choice varieties of pears. Being
called on for speech he brought forward the
grapes and pears, saying that as he was tired
the best speech he could make was to present
them to the taste and judgment of the audi
ence, which offer was accepted with a will.
After these arguments had been disposed of
TO the satisfaction of all, +. f. Mason made
some remarks on the necessity of farmers being
more self-reiant.