The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-02-01

W."
alton various matters ofinserest to tho az
CULTURAL community and to discuss ques-
ons proposed BY conference committee
{ tho different Farmers Clubs Of the cOun-
J. Earliest and animated debate ensued,
anticipated in BY Messrs. Jos. H. Brad |
~, G. NJ. Watkins, WIN. ]. Thomas, Il. J.
Iall, Wm. H. Farquhar, Charles stablcr
;. Rush Roberts, Chaa. Albert, W. W. |
owen, G. Jones, james 3. Hallowell, p |
T. stablsr, Wash. Chichester. wasA.
Bowie, VIM Phair and other successful
md interested farmers.
The chairman, I'll. c. Hallowells open
q the meeting BY stating that the number
United stasesfar exceeded
hat Of al other trades and occupations
and JET less Is done for them as
! class than for those engaged in any 9TH
u pursuit. This results from their isola,
lion, want Of interest in one smother, and
ignorance Of the principles Of co-opention.
They are thus preyed upon by unprincI-
pied manufacturers and traders and sub
jected % every species of extOrtion. By
coming together in such assemblies as the
they viii 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 progress in which the clubs were very
important step The farmer cannot afford
to stand still while the rest of the world is
seething with the busy life ofthe 18th CEN
fury. Great questions loom up in the fu-
ture which must be considered and solved.
The question Of labor, its compensation
and needs the principles Of cooperation
as applied to dairies and laundries, by
which the drudgery Of the ladies Of our
households can be materially lessened the
means Of purchasing our machinery and
fertilizers at first hands without enriching
a vast army of middle men;' cultivation
and threshing by steam; these and many
other subjects must commands the attention
Of the intelligent agriculturist. The farmer
must no longer move in the ruts worn by
the wheels Of time, and distrust every new
thing and every "book learned" idea.
Some Of the most successful and money
making farmers Of the present day are
regular contributors to agricultural period
icals. Ignorance and good farming do moi
go hand in hand as some believe. These
very revilers Of new things and OF farmers
Journals, are glad enough to avail them.
selves Of the experience Of their more en-
terprising neighbors, while they themselves
are ike the old man who refused to buy a
wheat fan when first invented because ii
twas making 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
importance, aud separate with increased
mental activity that cannot but be vastly
beneficial.
The Secretary, DR.. Francis Thomas, read
the minutes Of the preliminary conference,
and it was decided by the convention to
hold an annual meeting on the I'd Tues
day in January. Committees from the Eve
clubs viii meet in November Of each year
to propose officers and questions. These
viii be submitted to the clubs in December,
and time will be thus given for reflection
upon the subjects offered for consideration.
After the reading of paper giving in
teresting extracts from the minutes of one
of the clubs, discussions ensued upon the
questions laid before the meeting.
LIST. Is there any practicable method
Of ascertaining which are the best machines
for farm work This led to very anima-
ted discussion in which some not very CON-
plimentary remarks were made about man
ufacturers Of inferior work, and the Con-
vention recommended that the Clubs
should appoint Committees to make care
full and elaborate trials, embracing in their
investigations not only the working, but
the durability Of the machine.
End. Can any means be devised by
which series Of combined experiments
on the part of the various Clubs, can be
carried on2 After an interesting inter-
change Of opinion, Committee was APP
pointed to take the subject into considera-
ton.
Bird. Has the horse disease left our hor-
ses in an enfeebled condition. This ques-
tion was proposed by the vice-chair-
man, Jas. T. Moore, who stated that his
carriage horses we're almost as unfit for
duty as they were during the epidemic
Il was ascertained after general discus.
sion that the horses that were oserworked
during the disease are still delicate and that
all Of US should be very careful to avoid
exposing or straiuing them.
4th. Should potatoes be put in the cellar
with the earth that comes in from the field
or separated from it as much as possible
Some thought they kept better in one, and
some in the other ways and the general
opinion seemed to be that it made bui
little difference, provided We could onl,
raise the potatoes.
5th. Arthur Stabler drew attention 70 the
fact that the weight established by the
Legislature Of Nd, for oats, is rs lbs. "a
the bushel, while in Washington il Is 80
lbs Acommittee was named to bring the
subject before the District Legislature and
endeavor to effect change.
=