Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-05-12
FARMERS IN COUNCIL.
Session of the East Tennessee Farmers
Convention at the Opera House.
Proceedings of the Second Day.

y
day morning. +.
In the absence of President Turley. who
accompanied the convention to visit the
University agricultural fara, the meeting
was called to order by Col. H. B. Yearwood,
one of the vice-presidents, and prayer was
offered by Rev. J. NJ. L. Burnett
The snbject of 1.-The Grasses, y which
was being discussed at the adjournment the
day before, was announced yet in order.
Rev. JIM. L. Burnett, of Cooke county,
begged permission to warn the farmers
against Burmuda grass, which had been ad-
vocated. He spoke from experience with
it in the far South and admonished them
not to touch it.
A. A. Barnes, of Knox county, said he
wanted some of, the Burmuda grass for
pasture on worn out hill sides and would
risk it. He had tried to get a set, but
failed
Mr.. Burnett congratulated him, and
hoped he would continue to fail.
E. G.. Edwards, of Anderson county, said
he had been experimenting some with Bur-
muda, but since hearing about it he would be
glad to get rid of it, and will ship it to Mr..
Barnes. He went on to speak of his expe-
riments with grasses, and stated that clover
is as sure king of this country as cotton is
further south.
Dr. Bond, of Knox county. asked if what
he had known as wire grass IS the Burnuda.
| The reply was in the affirmative. He ex-
pressed pity for Mr. Barnes.
NJ. j. PARROT, of jefferson county, gave
the result of his sad experiment with Bur
muda grass.
d I .-.,.4,.a.,-. e T-,o-- 1900, A--
gave a humorous account Of his knowledge
of the tenacity and durability Of the Bur
muda grass, which he pronounced splendid
for pasturage, but nothiug else.
S. Z. Howard, of Loudon county, closed
the discussion, touching on the Importance
Of sheep raising and a law for its protection,
and Burmuda grass, in connection with
sheep, for pasturage he proclaimed about
the only thing that viii reclaim some of our
worn-out hill-sides.
Col. John H. Crozier stated that he had
moved to have report from each county
represented as to the existing minerals the G.
| in, which is of such supreme Importance,
and he requested a call of the counties and
response as far as possible.
The counties were accordingly called and
responses given as follows:
Carter-C. C. Taylor reports abundance
/ OF IRON OF the pest quality.
Cocke-W. +. Morris, great quantities of
iron and gold in the Wolf Creek region. A
barita works, costing about 800, 900, has
been in operation, but not now There is
also silver quartz to some extent.
Jefferson-John NJ. Meek, plenty Of iron,
zinc, lead and an abundance of marble in
great variety; also, roofing slate, which is
| being worked.
Anderson-E. C. Edwards, the greatest
abundance of iron ore, a good quality of
zinc IN. portions some lead 2 GREAT ah11nd
ance of coal, which is inexhaustible, and
some salt
Hamblen-C. f. Carriger an abundance
of marble in great variety, iron ore, some
lead and zinc.
Blount-Dr. Bond, an abundance of iron,
copper and marble, the latter being of the
very finest quality and in great variety. and
being well developed; also mica and slate,
and salt is being talked of near Maryville.
Seyier-B. M. Chandler, iron, marble and
silver, but no development.
Monroe-J. NJ. Heiskell, gold, lead mar
BILE and an abundance of iron ore
McMinn-D. A. Browder, don't know
what is there, some iron ore, perhaps, but
not in quantities to be available.
Polka super-abundance of copper was
reported.
Morgan-E C. Edwards coal in endless
quantities, and also iron ore.
Loudon-S T. Howard, lead, iron and
a superior quality of marble.
Rhea-S. L. Howard, plenty of iron an6
coal
Hamilton Plenty of coal was reported
Unicoi-C. E. Carriger, the finest deposit
, OF iron ore IN the country, at the EInbre
vile works.
Knox-Jno. H. Crozier, reported tina
there was some iron and it had been manu-
factured; that there was large quantity o
J zinc; that marble of very superior quality
and variety, and inexhaustable quantity
that there were some ten or fifteen quarrie
in the neighborhood of Knoxville now be
) ing worked and others were being opened
| almost monthly.
(Which is the most profitable stock fo
farmers to raise?" was taken up as tn
next topic, and the discussion was opene,
by J. B. Stokely, of Cooke county. H
said for alluvial soils the hog will brin
( more and quicker money. On up land
cattle. horses and mules will be the mos
profitable. On still thinner lands shee7
pays best, but on the ground where nothini
but Burmuda grass will grow he advocate
geese. A farmer ought to keep diversit
of stock, but if limited to one kind for prof
he would take mules.
John NJ. Jones, of Monroe county, agreet
E with Mr.. Stokely that mules are most profit
able, unless it is possibly Short Horn cattle
Col. John FL. Crozier, of Knox county
said there are two members. at least il
the convention, who don't think question
has been thoroughly discussed unless the
have say in it. He referred to himsel
and Col Jno. NJ Meek. They always diff
. fered, however, he said. As for himself
, Col Crozier said that he is only Il theOreti
t cal farmer having no farm himself. AS fo
g his friend Meek, he said, is a practica
: farmer, but has strong prejudices agains
D fertilizers, drills, cabbage, &c.
a Col Crozier pronounced sheep the mos
profitable stock of all others. He would pu
his foot on the dog law spoken of; we hav
no use for it, he said. He stated that
farmer could buy 1000 sheep for $3.50
employ an old man and a small boy a
v shepherds, and herd them as of olden times
r 1t will not cost over 25 cents a head, h
said.
! Col John NJ. Meek, of Jefferson county
Il :, said, for once, he could agree with his frien
g Crozier, On the sheep question, but IS stl
IS against him on the cabbage. Our market
.- are changing, he said and instead OF th
9 South exclusively, the North, East and Wes
IS are looking this way for mutton and beef
g and we must prepare to furnish it. We nee
s dog law, he said and none but shepher
q dogs should be kept. He also advocates
il Berkshire hogs, the ''Percheron horse
brought here by Col. Martin crossed wit
common stock and Short Horn ca+tIa