Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-10-07
woop1AwN AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
fPeported for the Alexandria GAzETTE.)

WOODLAND AGRI CULTURAL SOCIETY.
reported for the Alexandria GAzETTE.)
The regular monthly meeting was held
on the 4th instant at the farm house of Mrs.
Rebecca Balenger CORTLAND Lukens was
chosen chairman and n. w. pierson Sec
rotary.
A circular was read from the Farmers
Assembly, held at Charlottesville August
14th, 1884, inviting all agricultural societies
of the State to send delegates to an adjourn
ed meeting to be held at Richmond, October
2Sd the object being to effect permanent
organization.
On motion, n. w. Pierson was appointed
as delegate from this society, and was also
appointed to attend as delegate to the State
Fair, to be held at Richmond at the same
time.
Before proceeding to the discussion of the
question for the dsy-the culture of wheat
committee of three was appointed to pre-
pare memorial of respect to the memory
of our late President, r. f. Roberts, aud
report at this meeting. Said committee
were D. p Smith, John Ballenger and n.
W. Pierson.
For the purpose OF obtaining valuable in
formation to lay before this club, the late
President addressed letter some time ago
| t. Roger B. Farqubar, whose farm IS near
Rockville, Montgomery county, Md, asking
several questions in regard to The extra
ordinary crop of wheat reported to have
been raised by him the past season. The
reply to this communication is as follow:
Rock SPRING.
R. F. ROBERTS:
! Dear Friend--My yield of wheat this year
| prccedeuted $50 fur rs know when the amount Of
land is considered, and the result OF combination
OF circumstances that might not occur again with the
about it sol will begin an answer to thy questions by
giving correct statement of the yield rs aseertancd
| ancr having the land surveyed. Twenty-eght aud Il
half made 1876 bushels average OF III bushels
aud lob per acre; 53 acres, including the above made
. 100 bushels average of little over iU BUSH
els per The land is red clay, including a
| great many white flint stone and rock The
2sM acres where the largest yield was made WAS
mostly sod, acres of which had been moved for
five years. sixteen had been moved three years
and The other five and half in pasture last
summer and newly cleared pine land
| Commenced blowing the sod the 18th of July with
Ward pillow and jonier, run heavy log after plows
crop and where the oldest stiff sod double-shov
clled and narrowed again, getting the land i'll very
nice filth.
The sod field was drilled in on the 10th and llth OF
October with Futz wheat ut the rate of bushel and
three gallons per acre. In this connection will add
that had put log chain on the drill teeth 20 keep
them in some hard land wsre drilling previously,
careeSSy not II. This was sOWil
deep and did not up well and looked thin and
badly through the full and winter The field had new
been lined so applied thirty bushels of stone lime
| per acre i'll September.
The fertilizer was of my own mixing 6o0lb Of South
| Cnrolina rock; tU bone ash 6oOb tanknge 2uth
kainit applied nj the rate of Oib per nearly
| ~ we could estimate. This mixture cost home
about SO per ton, s7sO per acre and think of this
large proportion can be charged against the improve
| ment of the land and the future hay crops.
great deal Of the wheat lodged before ripenng and
made very difficult to harvest, and of course there
1 WA rrent waste
The 25h acres included in the 5225 was corn ground
wheat stubbe plowed and drilled in with the same
| amount of the same fertilizer.
! have been perhaps explicit in answering thy
questions than expected but results, TO be of val
am so interested i'll everything i'll connection with
farming that glad to to be able to add my mite
| for the benefit of others, Thy Friend.
| RIB. FARQUHAR
The subject Of wheat culture was dis
cussed at some length, come having already
put in their wheat, but the large majority
could not do so on account OF the want of
rain to enable them to pillow.
The next place of meeting will he at A.
w. Harrsons, November |. The critical
committee are: John Ballenger, S. Pullman,
and B. Barton.
The critical report for the day was read
by the chairman, d. p. Smith, as follows:
| To the Hyoodiawn Farmers C2"J:
| dSNllcme0. 1bur cOUHlltlee, appointed by our
late lamented President, being tho last of his Of
| fetal acts in connection with this organ Zation,
! enter upon the duties assigned them, with far
| different feelings than usual on snch occasions.
| 1t brings very furcibly to their minds the cx-
IRENE mutabilty Of all things pertaining to this
earthly existence. They fully realize that it is
| the last time that they ever respond to that
| voice which is now silenced forever. Burdencd
| by these solemn reflections, we WILL to the best
of our ability, proceed to carry out the wishes Of
him who can never again preside At our meet
| ings, nor cheer tho social board with his genial
smile and ever welcome presence. Another con-
sideration of equal, if not greater weight, tends
still farther to deprcss onr feelings on this occa
| sion When last we assembled here in our organized
capacity, were most cordially greeted by one
who has also been called to his eternal rrposc
But justice to tho living, and respect for the de-
parted impel Us on in the duties which have de-
volvcd upon
| The farm of our hospitsbe hostess
consisting of two hundred acres, when
| it came under her control, had been
| FOR long period managed, as you are
I'll aware, by one, who was regarded by lis
| as model farmer And We are happy to be able
to say-without subccting ourselves in tho least
to the imputation in bestowing unmerited COM
mendatons-that his mantle. unimpared in its
| texture, has descended upon his widowed spouse
The farm is now and has been for some years de-
| voted to general farming, but the production of
milk for the Washington market is q leading
| feature.
The committee on memorial then pre-
sented the following, which was adopted,
with the request that the secretary present
a copy of the same TO the family of the de
ceased, and also procure as many copies Of
the paper in which the report will be pub
lished as will be needed for sending 10
friends in other places:
Since our last meeting, this society has lost its
worthy presiding officer by sudden and over
whelming disaster which calls fer pause in our
deliberations that we may express our regrets for
his loss and siucere regard for the memory of bis
well.flled life, his many virtues, and his good
example, and mingle our sympathies with those
more closely united to him in family ties and
affection In the decease of Robert F. Roberts, this
club has losS a most earnest and efficient leader
and guide in all matters relating to the
advancement of agriculture. This community
has lost one whose example of integrity,
unrIphtunss and strict upowarvinp udb