The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-09-05

To the Editor q the State Journal:
The annual meeting Of the Woodlawn
Agricultural Society, was held at Wood
lawn mansion, the residence of John
Mason, Esq, on Saturday, the 3lst ultimo.
After the usual prelimnaries, such as
reading the minutes, calling the roll, &C.,
the report of special committee, appointed
at the last meeting of the club to ascertain
the cost and value of German potash as
fertilizer, was made by the chairman, w.
Gillingham, who stated that he went to
Baltimore and had an interview with the
Editor of the american Farmer on the SUBJ
ject, also several agents who had the arti-
Gle for sale. The cost of the article is
thirty dollars per ton in Baltimore. There
being great demand for it the supply is
short. 1t was recommended by the COM
mittee to take equal parts of guano, bone
dust and German salt, andapply broadcast,
about two hundred pounds to the acre, on
land exhausted by cropping and pasture.
A review of the transactions of the
society for the past year, was read by the
secretary, which was ordered to be publish
ed, and placed in the book of records.
The election Of officers for the ensuing
year being now in order, the officers of last
year were reelected. President, Chalkley
Gillingham; Secretary, N. w. Pierson
Treasurer, Il. Z. Roberts.
After the election of officers there were
several addresses made. Judge Bramhall,
of Falls Church, spoke first on the subject
of manures and fertilizers advocating the
use of commercial fertilizers where there
was not enough home made manures. In
speaking of salt as an important ingredient
in the compost of manures, he took occa-
sion to condemn in strong terms, the action
of the government, in placing duty Of
eighteen cents per bushel on salt. He
urged farmers, and farmers clubs, to petit
ton Congress next winter, to repeal the
duty on salt, as national benefit to agri-
culture. He also believed that in few
years, Washington would contain as large
a population as New York city does now,
therefore it would be good policy for every
farmer to set large numbers and varieties
of fruit trees.
Professor Otis Mason, of Columbia Col
lege, Washington, next addressed the audi
ence, on the Importance of planting good
seed, and giving it strict attention and care,
not only in the soil Of earth, but in the
hearts and minds Of the children who are
growing up around us.
At this time Col. Daniels drove up with
several corn baskets filled with 40 choice
varieties of grapes, out Of 100 varieties
which he has growing on his place at Gun
ston. lie also had several varieties of choice
pears. Being called on for a speech, he
remarked, that the best speech he could
make was to ask each one to eat of his
grapes and pears, giving the name of each
variety as handed out. This was allowed
by all to be very Satisfactory speech.
i. Il. Mason made some forcible remarks
on the duty of farmers exercising more
seli-rcliance.
REVIEW OF THE TRANSACTIONS OF
THE SOCIETY.
"Mr. President and Members of the Club !:
"We have come to the sixth milestone
of our society-our annual gathering
when we make the necessary arrangements
for conducting our enterprise another year.
AS prudent business men, we sho uld take
account of stock, review the past and ar
range for the future.
''On the 18th of August, 1866, the
Woodlawn Agricultural Society was or
ganized, with list of nineteen members.
Meetings have been held nearly every
month since. During the past year seven
active and two honorary members have
been added, making the full list Of active
members forty-three and two honorary
members.
'The average attendance at the twelve
meetings held the past year has been twen-
ty-two members, besides women and chill
dren. | need not tell you what you all
know--that we have had cordial welcome
and generous repast wherever we have
met. Our meetings have been harmonious
in discussing the various agricultural sub
jects brought before the club. The re-
ports of che several critical committees
have been judicously made, allaying the
fears of some, that trouble would grow
out of these reports. | think all will ad.
NIT the beneficial effects of healthy fear
of the critics, in the general "slicking
up" and preparations so as to OBJ
tain favorable report. Standing com.
mittees have reported on houses, neat cat
| tie, cereals, manures and fertilizers. Va
rious other topics have, from time to time,
come before the club, and received careful
| consideration. The disease among swine last
year called forth the bitter experience of
many of the members, who were prepared
| to respond when statistics were called fol
from the Agricultural Department at Wash
ington in regard to diseases of domestic
animals. Sheep husbandry, the dog law
the fence law, cattle breeding, the dairy,
condensed milk, cheese factories, the fodder
question, fruit trees, and the renovation o
exhausted land, have each been discussed
and the experience of members inter
changed.
"The members of the club have beer
alive to the advances of civilization, science
and self-protection. We have invited thu
women to join our society, on the SAM
terms as the men. Our worthy Presiden
has selected and read, from time to time
extracts from some of the most popula
and reliable scientific published lectures OF
Agricultural Chemistry.
"Another member has often entertained
us with experiments and illustrations il
chemistry and magniiied optical demonstra
tons of the insect tribe, also some of tn
grand views Of nature copied by the sun AM
brought to our view without travelling
thousands of miles to see.
"The claims of the National Congress
have been brought before us, also the pat
r6ns of husbandry, an organization for tn
self-protection Of farmers in their dealing
with merchants and tradesmen.