Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-05-16
WOodlawn Agricultural Society.


Reported for the Alexandria Gazette. |
The club met at the residence of Col. j. NJ.
Lewis, GuDston, Oh the ] lth inst. This being
on tho extreme southern limits Of our circle, it
was expected that but few members would be
present, but the distance did not deter many
from goiog, some driving eighteen miles. TO
reach the place others came bounding over
The biowy waves, Which. the strong northwest
wind caused to dash over the row boats, soaking
the occupants and causing fright to many q
limd enc. A small steamer also brought q
company of the Colonels friends from Wash.
ington, 80 that we had about the usual number
present.
President Gilliogham, as usual, occupied the
chair, With N. w. PiersoD. Secretary.
The chairman of the special committee to
report 90 fertilizers not being present, the sub.
ject was laid over until next month.
The critics report read as follows:
10 adequately describe the beautiful com.
manding residence OF our host would require
the graphic pen of Bayard Taylor or Mary
| Clemmcr. However charming this may be, it
is not the chief attraction Of the farmer, but the
renovation Of one OF the waste places of Vir-
| GINA domain, aud the practical demonstration
Of The capabilities OF the impoverished soil of
| the Old Dominion. is what interests those who
are required to gain their support from mother
earth. The farm of our host shows evidence
| Of great energy and perseverance combined with
40 intimate knowledge Of the wants Of plants.
and the care of fruit trees Another. and per-
haps the most Indispensable requisite 10 the
development of q new place. is plenty OF
| 'grecnbacks," or their equivalent Of the shin
ing metals. Every improvement gives evi.
denco of these having been used literally and
| judicously. Our host has started with the de.
termination to have the best breed of sWine 10
the country. His pens, occupied with forty or
| fifty shoats show some very choice Berkshires,
also some Vctorias that will vie in beauty with
any 10 be found any where. His coops of choice
fowls embracing fifteen varieties. kept in sepa.
rate enclosures for the purpose of retaining
their purity, show beautiful specimens. His
| pure bred Alderny cows add pleasing picture
to the landscape. We cannot say as much for
his horses. 10 this department we think there
is room for great improvement. His apple,
pear, peach and other fruit trees are very Wig
orous and we'll filled with fruit as far as Observed
From less than acre Of "Wilson's Albany
strawberry vines, two years old, the Colonel has
sent 10 market about 500 quarts Of berries the
past four days The long rows Of asparagus
and OF sweet potatoes, also OF melons, beets,
corn, &c., give promise of good return. In.
decd, the light sandy soil of this farm is pecu
iarly adopted to the raising Of early truck for
ms KIT, and in Tina will undoubtedly yield a
bouDtiiu return iOr the large amount OF ma
nures and fertile srs now b5og used. 1t is ust
| such specimens of Individual enterprise and
liberal expenditure of money that IS required
to make these lands compare in value with any
other section of the country.
The Colonel replied to the criticisms on bis
horses that there was no inducsment to keep
| 6ne horses until our roads were in better con.
dliou that the poorest horse the committee
saw was one that was left of a team that five
years ago be was offered $500 for. He con-
sidered low priced horses more profitable tor
| farm work.
The question was asked, Is sweet potato
| crop cXhausting to the soil
Some Of the largest growers replied that it
was one Of the most exhaustlng crops that was
raised in this section.
Several members reported the leaves Of their
wheat being badly rusted inquiriug if it would
iDjure the wheat?
IL Was Icpleu W lual IL wuulu uuuouuteuiy
iniure it 10 some extent, as the leaves were the
lungs Of the plant If these were diseased the
whole plant must suffer. but yet it was not as
bad as rust on the stock, which would destroy
the wheat entirely.
A communication, received By one OF the
members from a wool commission merchant in
Philadelphia, gave the present price Of wool
over four inches ia length st 90 to 80 CENTS il
rnder four inohnc N lan0th Ok m pa canfa The
cost Of freight and commission from hero would
be % cents per pound 4; bags for packing fur
nished by the merchant.
The next meeting Of the club will be held at
Il. Denjke's June Sth.
The critical committee are John Ballenger,
James Hunter, jr., and Lewis Dillingham;.