Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-01

DELEGATES TO THE VIRGINIA FARMERS ASSEM-.
BLYTHE DROUGHT AND THE CROPS, ETC
This society met at the house of g. H Snow.
den on the 25th inst, ID. p. Smith In the chair,
n. W. Pierson secretary. In spite Of the swell
tering temperature of 1902 in the shade there
was a fair at ndance, with some visitors from
Alexandria and Washington. The eneryatiny
effects OF the weather were apparent in the
manifest reluctance to grapple very vigorously
with any subject under discussion. The COM
mittee sent To Fairfax Court House reported
the election of e.. Lukens and Gen, w H F.
Lee as delegates from this county to the Farm
ers assembly at Richmond. Two farmers from
each magisterial district were nominated for
the county executive committee, those from
Mt Vernon being n. w. Pierson and c. Luz
kens. These are Tor confirmation by the state
executive committee. N w. Person w Gill
hnghan and w. Walton were appointed TO
einbOuy the views OF this club as 10 needed
reforms IN the interest of the farming commu-
nifty, TO be presented by our delegates to the
state Farmers assembly. Prominent among
these are an improved road law. the efficient
COLLECTION OF the taxes, together with the
prompt and positive sale OF all delinquent
lands, and liberal provision for the support Of
the public schools.
The question was suggested for discussion:
ihe best use for farmers TO make of their
leisure time. some thought that IL could be
probably spent liz improving the roads The
Clearing mp OF renee rows and bitches was also
suggested There was one member, however
who entered his earnest protest against any of
these methods for the employment of leisure
Time ne said he would not call that leisure il he
had 70 go out and cut briers and bushes or be
dragged on the road 90 work when he was tired
out with his farm labors; no, none of IL for him:
IL would be harder work for a man to get him
out on the road than 10 go and do the work
himself II was thought, however that IL the
road taxes Were efficiently collected and judi
ciousiy applied that the roads could be kept in
good order. Z. Lukens read an article by Charles
Barnard entitled, "Will il pay?" wherein he
alluded TO the 20 neral complaint that farming
or the tilling of the soil would not pay. He ex.
planned how much nature did for the tilier OF
the soil; how very large the increase was on all
cultivated crops If properly cared for and Ii ii
did not pay there was something wrong in
Denmark" &c. This did not elicit very much
comment, but was thought 10 be q little too
much 'coleur de rose" There was much sound
sense in IL, however.
A cany ass of the wheat crop, as far as IL had
been threshed, showed an average of IL bushels
per acre, which was better than had been an
tcipated. Probably more OF the good crops
have been threshed than the poor ones. Oats
are nearly an average crop; hay about one
third, and the prospect for corn about one-half;
1t is wanting rain badly. Springs and streams
are very low. There has been but about pa
Inches Of rainfall in the last twelve months
whereas the usual average Is 40 inches pei
ennum. The next will be the annual Getting,
BIZ ail-day picnic at the Woodlawn mansion, on
the 22d OF August. Valentine Buker and Court
land Lukens are TO procure speakers for the
occasion. q.