The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-01-24

orie.inaf Henrico .A gricultu raI Club now lip-
IN J are nressrs. JAMES LYoEss and 3. I'VE. HAx-
ART. THE club, ,ye repeal. ty It's efforts esfab.
lisbed au emulate md rivalry amongst mar
kesgardeners which soon made Richmond
markets amongst the very finest In the cotin-
try. Their meetings were the most delight
sul imaginable to tlsenlsel Ives, whi'e they en-
loved refined satisfaction in reading their lf'i
history in the varied family OF superb yege-
tables--in the eyes OF the potatoes, the heads
Of cabbagcs, the longitude and fairness Of
the asparagus, the proud bearing OF the arts
tocratic celery. and the general dignity and
independent appearance OF the entire family
that combined to crown with living green
the honors OF the CLUB.
We should omit to do proper thing were
we not to mention the name OF the ilustri-:
Gus editor Of the old Enquirer, Mr.. RITcHIE,
who was the life and soul Of the neycr-too.
much-to-be-veneratcd Henrico Agricultural
Club.
The new club, is a worthy successor OF
the old, and is doing credit to itself and
benetiting the cause OF agriculture. Its
meeting OF last week was at the house Oh
Mr.. CHASNfSG ROBINSON, and was one OF
the most agreeable. The main pointin the
transactions.relatiye to the business OF farm.
ing was an excellent dissertation on deep
ploughing by DIR. PURYEAR, the president.
This was admirable, and the Doctor was
asked to write it out for the FtGnter.
Briefly. the Doctor spoke OF ploushing as
to depth-a matter to be governed alto
sether by the condition Of the land to be
ploughed. Where the soil was shallow and
the pan poor and hard it would be better
not to disturb it, except to break the crust
with the subsoiler and thus permit moisture
to sink lower and be stored in larger
degree to meet the requirements OF dry
weather. Where the soil is deep enough
the ploughing should be deep, as 1t in
creased the foraging room Of the crop and
the store OF moisture for its sustenance in
drought. He spoke Of marked case that
came under his observation. An estate
with spacious low-groundS, upon river.
which had been poorly cultivated with shall
low ploughing until its production was very
limited, changed hands and good farmer
got possession Of it. He put four-horse
plough into the low. grounds and harvested
crops the like OF which had never been seen
in the vicinity. A well-broken and deeply
pulvcrized soil received benefit from moist
ure that could not be admitted into COM
pact and partially. cultivated land. Not
only the rains but the dews-the descend
ing moisture Of n;ghts-cntercd the
open soils. and the crops never failed 10
show the benefit OF them. While shallow
ploughel fields adjoining those that were
well rloughed were furnishing, they re-
manned fresh and flourishing, richly re-
wardng the farmer for his toll.
Or. PURTEAE, recurring to the policy OF
not turning up poor, hard soils, stated,
however, that the farmer might with adj
vantage pursue Il plan 70 deepen his soil
gradually by throwing up occasionally &
limited amount Of clIc so-callcd pan and en-
ricAing it by judicouS manuring, thus in
creasing the depth and fertility of his arabic
land.
This is too partial q statement to trespass
upon the interest OF the Doctors paper,
which will appear in tile Planter. Other
things were .considered-among them and
not the least interesting and gratifying was
the excellent farmers dinner laid before
the club for its discussion by Mr.. ROBINSON.
The cornerstone OF it was an excellent
home-cureu ham, TWO years old-the hnest
we have beheld this year, ii we except that
recently sent us by that champion amongst
bacon-cnrers,SS. W. FICKLIS, Esq, OF Abe
marie. That man is like mischicvous boy.
He loves to tease his friends. But, being
great horseman, he has found out, like
RAREY, how to gentleizc horse, and even q
cross relation; as we know one OF his hams
will make any man entirely subject to even
his whius. Yet, Joking aside, We pro-
nounce Major FICkLIS's ham superior
to any we have tasted, and yet this
is no reflection upon our young friend
ROBINSON, for ham may be really super
fine and yet not DC equal to FlcKL1S's. We
are carrying out The object of the society in
this .point, and shall be pleased to test the
success Of all generous emu!ators.
Finally. the day was most agreeable and
edifying. And it was not without share
OF advantageous lcrity. since an old far
mer's proverb says: ''All work and no
play makes JACK dull boy" And we take
occasion to commend most heartily these
farmers clubs to our friends al ia" coun-
try. They arc ialmenscly beneficial, both
socially and professionally.
----------------
Mr.. BLAINE is well enough TO speak III
the Senate, and SO GAIL HAMILTON begins
again to write for the Tribune Singular
coincidence.
The Portsmouth Enterprise Is out i'll a
new dress.
We have received pamphlet containing
the minutes OF the proceedings OF the
eiyhty-third annual session OF the Virginia
Annual Conference Methodist Episcopal
Church, South, held at Lynehburg Novem-
Der, 1877. 1t was edited by Rev. z. a.
PETERSON, who always does such work well.