Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-04-19
WOODLAND Agricultural Society.
Reported for he Alexandria Gazette.


The April meeting of this association was
held on the 18th inst. OF Woodawn mansion,
the resdeucc Of Jonu Mason, esq. About one
huodred persons coogregeted 10 the old man.
sion, filing but small portion Of the spacious
rooms. The reVcrberalion Of the presidents
gavel at clock called the meeting to order.
with the President, G. Gillingham, in the
chair, aod N. w. Person, secretary. The nj.
nutes OF the pr, ccding meeting having been
read, the sui ct Of the day, msIures and ferti-
liz ,rs, was announced.
The committee appointed to prepare papers
90 the subject reported that the importance Of
the subj. required more time than they had
been able TO give to 1t, 10 order to have reliable
itatistics as to the cost of materials composing
the manufactured fertilizers of commerce.
They asked for anotber month to complete their
Investigations, which was granted them. Seve-
raj branches OF the sutjec were discussed,
especially that relating to the night soil OF our
cities. Some OF our members whose farms lie
upon the river back are using large quantities
of this. and lh;y asked how it should be applied
20 the crops. Those who have used this mate
rial Tor several yesis gays their mode of apply
log l.. Samuel Pullman said he had found the
greatest beoehJ from spreading 1t direct upon
the land 10 as Gear liquid state as possible,
after which il should be thoroughly worked 10
aod nix ID up with the soil. 81 composing 1t
with other materials snd leaving 1t auy great
length Of time before being applied to the crops
it lost large amount of its fcrtllizing proper.
ties.
Several articles were read from the Asricu.
turaI u apartment of The Baltimore American
% prepsricg night soil for u,iog on crops, and
90 fish churn' as manure.
The suggestion was made that We should
Combine together agslo aud purchase cargo
of fish churn as we did FIVE years ago.
Several members spoke favors bly, of the effect
of The pressed fish that was used at that time.
Some sald that the effect was plainly visible at
this time, where it Was used on very poor land
| five years ago.
COL j. NJ. Lewis was requested to make 10.
quiries 10 regard 10 the cost OF the article and
the meaus Of getting it here.
Johu Bacrger said be had spread course
stable manure this winter on bis meadow. leaV'
ing every eighth strip of land without auy ap.
pcatoo. The marked effect OF the applIca
ioo can be distinctly seen 10 the vigorous
growth Of the grass, plaioly dlstioRulshabIe as
far as the grass GIN be seen. 1t was suggested
that COW was the proper time to SOW plaster on
clover. Sow about obc or two bushels per
acre when the clover is Wet with dew or rain,
ADD The [ feet would be very marked, especially
90 sandy soils. By leaving strip Without any
plaster would show just how valuable lt was.
The Critical COu miuee reported 90 the farm
and surroundings of our host, few extracts Of
which are herewith given: The usg1hcencc
OF the Mount Vernon estate. with lis area oil
900 acres its miles OF double bitches 90
either side OF its road ways, the systematic ar.
raugemept Of its buildings and other improve.
meets are worthy Of emulation by members OF
the Woodlawn Club, except 10 the management
of bis dairy 10 which We t2tter ourselves that
many of our members ure far 10 advance oil
Washington. The grandeur of his estate GU
minated at his death. From that period il
gradually driited back to the dominion of the
Forest kiog. Continuous bad management
with unpaid slave labor bad it's effect 10 reduc.
ing its value to its lowest state, until 1917 and
'4S, at which time 20 white man lived on tbi:
WOODLAND estate. Imagination can scarcely
conceive more deplorabe condition than then
existed here. This building, with Others how
ever, remained monument OF PALMER days
At this time the large plantation was divided
up into comparative small homestesds, where
! every, laDCrer shared II Inc proceeds OF the
farm. To-day it's Iuxuriant meadows. its thriv
iog orchards, it's we'll titled fields, its commodi
Gus buildings and its happy homes bear tbei
testimony 10 behalf OF the change that has beer
wrought The halls and spacious roous of thi:
MANSION reverberate to the foot fall aud happy
voices Of those who have taken part 10 Wolkioa
out this change. Among them is our host,u hi:
eghtieth year, who by his indomitsbe Industry
aud perseverance, nobIy seconded by his wife
ADD family, have done their share 10 bringing
about this change, ADD have made the yard anC
barn around the house. model of neatness and
| beauty.
After partakiog of the usual beautifully pre-
pared viands furnished by our host, the Cut
arraoged to meet at the residence Of Col. j. NJ
Lewis, at Guostoo, on May l lth at D. ID.
The Critical Committee appointed were r
T. Roberts, p. H. Troth and n. W. Piersoo