Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-01-24
For the Sentinel.
Farmers Convention.

/
take into consideration various matters of in.
terest to The Agricultural community, and to
discuss questions proposed by a Conference
Committee Of the different Farmers Clubs Of
the county. Earnest and animated debate
ensned, participated in by Messrs. Joseph II.
Bradley, Greenbury NJ Watkins, VIM. John
Thomas, Elisha John Hall, VIM. II. Farquhar,
Chas. Stabler, B. Rush Roberts, Chas Albert,
W. Winder Owen, Gustavus Jones, james S.
llallowell, p. T. Stabler, Wash'n Chichester,
Wash'n Bowie, William Phair, and other sue
| cessful and interested farmers.
The Chairman Henry c. Hallowell) opened
the meeting by stating, that the number of
| farmers in the United States far exceeded that
of all other trades and occupations combined
and yet less is done for them as a class, than
for those engaged in any other pursuit. This
results from their isolation, want of interest
in one another and ignorance Of the prlnci-
pies of cooperation. They are thus preyed
upon by unprincpled manufacturers and ira
ders, and subjected to every species of extor-
ton. BY coming together in such assemblies
as the present, they will be enabled to act
with that unity that gives strength.
Another object of our meeting is, that we
may advance still further in that path Of prog
ress in which the Clubs were very important
step. The farmer cannot afford to stand still
while the rest of the world is seetbing with
the busy life of the 10th century. Great ques-
tons loom up in the future which must be
considered and solved. The question of La
Dor, IFS compensation and needs the princi-
| Piles of cooperation as applied to Diaries and
Lanndries, by which the drudgcry of the ladies
Of our households can be materially lessened
the means of purchasing our Machinery and
Fertilizers at first hands without enrchng the
vast army of 'midde men cultivation and
threshng by steam these, and many other
subjects, must command the attention of the
intelligent agriculturist The farmer must no
longer move in the ruts worn by the " heels Of
Time, and distrust every new thing and every
book-learned" idea Some of the most sue
cessfu and money-making farmers of the pres
ent day are regular contributors to Agrcul-
tural Periodicals Ignorance and good farm
ing do not go hand in hand as some believe.
These very rcyiers Of new things and of Far
mer's Journals, are glad enough to avail them
selves Of the experience of their more enterpri-
sing neighbors, while they, themselves, are
like the old man who refused TO buy Wheat
Fan when first invented, because it 'was max
ing wind when the Lord had not ordered one
to blow.'
BY mingling together in Conventions and
Clubs, we become interested in each other and
in our calling, we feel its dignity and mpor-
lance and separate with an increased mental
activity that cannot be but vastly beneficial
The Secretary Dr. Francis Thomas, read
the minutes of the preliminary Conference and
it was decided by the Convention TO have an
annual meeting on the second Tuesday in Jam
| uary. Committees from the five Clubs will
meet in November of each year to propose OH
GERS and Questions. These will be submitted
TO the Clubs in December, and time will be
thus given for reflection upon the subjects Of
tered for consideration.
| After the reading of paper giving inter
esting extracts from the Minutes of one of the
Clubs, discussion ensued upon The questions
| laid before the meeting
LIST. Is there any practicable method of as
certaining which are the best Machines for
| farm work +?
This led to n very animated discussion in
which some not very complimentary remarks
were made about manufacturers of inferior
work, and the Convention recommended that
the Clubs should appoint Committees to make
careful and elaborate trials, embracing in their
investigations not only the working but the
durability of the Machine.
2nd. Can any means be devised by which
series of combined experiments on the part Of
the various Clubs can be carried on?
After an interesting interchange of opinion
a committee consisting of G. NJ. Watkins, w.
II. Farquhar L. J. Hall, Dr. Frank Thomas
aud Roger B. Farquhar was appointed TO take
the subject into consideration.
3rd. Has the Horse Disease left our horses
in an enfeebed condition +?
This question was proposed by the Vice
Chairman, Jos. 7, Moore who stated that his
carriage-horses were almost as unfit for duty
as they were during the epidemic. 1t was as
certained after general discussion, that the
horses that were overworked during the disease
are still delicate and that all of us should be
very careful 10 avoid exposing or straining
them.
4th. Should potatoes be put in the cellar
with the earth that comes in with them from
the field or separated from it as much as pos
sible
Some thought they kept better in one way
and some in the other, aud the general opin-
ion seemed to be that it made but little differ.
ence provided we could only raise the potatoes
9TH. Arthur Stabler drew attention to the
fact that the weight established by the Legis.
lature of Maryland for Oats is &c lbs. to the
bushel, While in Washington it is 80 lbs. How
can the discrepancy be remedied ?
Arthur Stabler, John Davidson, Washington
Bowie, Washington Chichester and Bowie Ma
grinder were named to bring the subject before
the District Legislature and endeavor to effec
a change.
Elisha John Hall offered a resolution which
was adopted, stating that as all accurate
knowledge depends upon statistics, the Club.
be requested to lay before each annual Con
venlion the amount of farm produce raised by
the members during the year, that we may Sc,
what real advance we are making in the i'm
movement of the soil