Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-10-08
yyOOdIaWn Agricultural Society.

Eyoodlawn Agricultural Society.
Between eighty and ninety Of the members
and trcn;s Ct this association net at the resi-.
deuce of =. II. Troth, in Accotink, on Saturday
the 5 inst. President Gillingbsm 10 the chair
With n. W. P!erson secretary.
Af:er tic minutes of tho prccodi0g meeting
were read general conversation was lndulged
in, regarding the vitality Of seeds, especially
the seeds Of weeds; many kinds of weeds grow.
ing 10 great abunGsnc. after go almost total
absence Of several years, showing that it only
needed favorable season to develop the
aceds that have remained dormant in the earth
for years. The present season has been pccu.
lisry favorable TO an immense growth Of rag
weed on all our wheat and oct stubble
| The conversation naturally drifted toward the
great Agricultural Industrial Exhibition Just
closed. Macy suggestions we're made in regard
TO the management Of future fairs, ard some
| fault found with the premium list az it Vas pub.
shed this year. The secretary would take this
opportunity 10 sey publicly, that if any person
or persons will, during the next six months,
make list OF premiums or rules, and regula-
tons, as they think they should be arranged,
and will hand them 10 the Board Of Directors
before the first of April next, they will be care.
fully considered by them in making the next
annual list Of premiums and Of rules and regu
la.ions. Verbal suggestions may be forgotten
or may peVcr reach the persons appointed 10
arrange the list.
Ina cti!cll report was read By two Of the
Committee, one taking the stock OF the farm
the other the fields with their crops. a lew
extracts arc herewith recorded
ID 6ret ballad n thn cuiDn-OS hnrc
and % pigs-a mixture OF the Essex aud Berk-
shire breeds. The committee we're Of the opin
ion that there were moro than could BIO fed
profitable st the present price OF pork. Our
lost replied that he was satisfied they were
| Dro6,ably fed 90 wheat middllngs and rye
much more profitable than his poultry, which
CONSISTED, as reported, of a very handsome
hock OF Brahmas. The poultry house was
recommended as model house, worthy the
attention OF members Of the club. Among the
neat cattle mention is made of a superior bull,
of the Ayrshire breed. One which had strain
Of Durham blood they recommended should be
G3po9ed Of as being too sharp on the back to
represent that breed They also recommend,
that ia raising calves each Individual should
choose that breed which be thinks best
adapted for that braoch Of dairgog which he
intends to follow. The horses were represent
ed as good average work stock. A pair Of
young kcries they thought the lWOer vas
proud of. Ia the field they found our host
drilliog in wheat-some after oats and some
after cora-tbe ground prepared in perfect
manner not weed or a bush TO be seen.
Where barn yard manure had been applied be
drilled 10 with the wheat 200 lbs. Of Herbert
Brga1t's raw bore 10 the acre where DO
manure was used, 400 lbs. of bone was applied.
The drill used is one Of Western manufacture,
unlike any used 10 this section. The wheat IS
dropped 10 the track of Hanged wheels and
covered by forked arms which drag 10 the track
leye! land. Our host was unfortunate 10 select
i0g portion of his seed corn this year from
al early variety obtained from Micbigan. From
one bu,hel planted he realized not more than
one quarter CT crop, or, as he estimated It, a
loss Of about 200 bushels Several acres OF
potatoes planted on bottom land ia June were
very much injured by the excessive rains alter.
ward. About an acre planted 10 July on q
clover sod, on which was applied o coating OF
,nauurc, looked woII, but needed about two
more weeks to make q crop. GA q portion Of
Ii grass fields maoure had brcu spread dur!ag
| Lhn -uE!lnrr |! vas Ilery 10 the mocd OF
the committee whether manure SO applied
would not lose much Of its virtue By the Scorch
Jog heat and drying winds. 10 what was. a
few years ago. fine, thrifty orchard OF pear
trees. that insidcous disease, the "blight," has
destroyed nearly all except three varieties-the
Sckel, the Bartlett and the Duchess. S peel
mems Of the wild goose plump tree-whch are
reported as being exempt from the raVaces OF
tho cuEcuiio-wero suffering some from that
cause, but not as severely as other varieties. -
Eight quarts of Mod's white winter wheat
received from the Agricultural Department for
distribution, were assigned to +. L. Roberts
and p. H. Troth for experiment.
The Secretary was authorized to certify him
self or some one in his stead as delegate to
the Piedmont Fair at Culpepper.
The subject for discussion at the next meet
log OF the club, is the present road law.
The club will meet at Louis Gilllogham' 8,
Nov. oh. The critical committee arc John
BaIepgcr, w. Walton and T.. W. Blunt.