Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-12-16
THE CHANGERS.
The Second Days Proceedings-An AT
ternoon of ReasoR-speeches anc
Bssays.

Bbsays,
The Delaware State grange held an
open afternoon session yesterday, and
the rooms were filled with an intelli.
gent and interested audience. After
the call to order, Master Thompson
called upon j. j. Rosa, of Milford, to
read an essay. Mr.. Rosa responded
and read most admirable paper upon
the duties and qualifications OF voters.
An invitation was given for free
discussion Of the merits of the essay,
when Rev. j. g. Willis took the floor
and warmly and eloquently endorsed
every proposition laid down by the
essayist. He directed the most of his
remarks TO the necessity of the people
being sober and educated. They should
not only be sober when they vote, but
be sober before they vote and after they
vote and shoa d remain 20.
"The farmer feeds them ALL" was the
title OF most excellent and pleasing q
piece OF music rendered by o choir OF
farmers cons and daughters, led by
William A. Tallsy, Of Brandywine
Hundred. A violin was beneficial
addition to the music. The choir music
was q very pleasing part OF the after.
noou's program.
''Should woman vote" was the topic
of an essay by Mrs Ettis NJ. Dilworth
Of Port Penn, Past Lecturer of the State
Grange. Mrs, Dilworth took no decided
stand either for or against women vot
ing, but gave the arguments advanced
on both sides, so that the audience
might have q free chance to criticise IL
In both ways. She was evidently more
afraid that the female rex would suffer
more from the associations of the cleo
tion polls than that the other seq would
be elevated and made better by it. In
the south especially she thought society
would be more injured than benefited
by it, as the educated ladies OF that
section would hesitate to 20 to the polls
and become mixed up with the mass Of
cOlorsd women that would be brought
there.
Ii there were to be no more wars she
thought women might then vote, but as
they could not take the field as soldiers
1t was question whether she should be
invested with the power to settle wars
by her votes. Her essay was listened
to with the greatest attention, and was
frequently applauded.
Native Plums" was the subject of
an essay by j. W. Kerr of Dentop, Nd.
Compared with the preceding essays it
lacked general interest, but intensely
interested fruit growers. Mr. Kerr
cultivates only plums that are indieen.
Gus and adapted to the soil and climate.
He divided them into separate species
called the "Chickasee" and the "Ameri-
cana" These were again subdivided
into varieties, the peculiar;ties of each
being fully described.
The right kind of pollen for the bios.
SONS was an important Ingredient in
plum culture, and Mr. Kerr showed
exactly how the pollen should be regu.
lated to secure prolificneSs and perfec-
iion. He found the peach stock pre-
ferable for grating and budding. The
native piums were not injured by the
curculio. The body of the trees bore
the puncture of that insect, but the
trees seemed to be proof against lis
power OF injury. He had nei2hbors
who had done better, but he had suc
ceeded this last year under unfavors-
BILE circumstances In realizing o profit
of 5000 an acre from his native pluuns.
which was much better than cnltiyat.
ing corn at the prices now obtained.
Rev. j. s. Willis said this was really
one of the most useful essays read. he
knew more about plum raising now
than he ever knew before. He thought
he had the "Goosensck" variety with
cut the proper pollen, as he mad poor
success. He intended now to try Mr..
Kerr's plums. He tried grapes but did
not succeed, but he thought there was
something in these plums.
'The Delaware Fruit Exchange" W as
the subject of an essay by A. NJ Brown
of Wyoming. The success OF the ex.
change exceeded the most sauguine ex,
pectations of It's friends. The prices
for fruit obtained by the exchange were
from % to 30 cents a basket more than
at ary other point. 1t also insured
bstter selection Of fruit, and through 1t
the railroad arrangements were such
that frnit was delivered in Chicago
with but one handling as quick as In
Boston and other Eastern cities.
The limits of the Exchange have
been extended during the past year by
the establishment Of branch offices at
Laurel, Delmar, Smyrna and Clay ton,
In Delaware, and at Chestettcwn, Fair
lee, Kennedyville, Still Pond, Betterton
and Barnards, in Maryland,
David j. Murphy, of Newark, In
few words set forth the advantages of
farmers sending their sons to Delaware
College TO receive the benefits of the
extra agricultural course prepared for
this winter, and at his request Professor
+. ID. Chester was called to the floor to
fully explain the advantages of the
sourse. The professor said the course
would commence January 9th and
last eleven weeks The grade for
the course had been lowered to suit
boys who would como In from the pub
lie schools and who had good knowl-
edge OF the elementary branches, while
the grade in other departments had
been made q little higher, the average
being the same as before, Mr. Chester
spoke Rt considerable length In favor of
an agricultural education. The whole
cost Of the eleven weeks course, in
oluding board at S. per week, would be
about $43.
At ths request OF number present,
Thomas N. Williams, Superintenden
of Public Schools Of the STATE, was
asked by Master Thompson TO make o
few remarks. Mr.. Williams responded
aud made a stirring five minutes
speech. He compllmented the intelli-
gent audience he was addressing upon
the interest they manifested In the
cause of public schools. Mr.. williams
said the State Board had beeu discuss
Ing the proprlety of introducing an
agricultural course Of studies In the
public schools, movement which he
heartily advocated and recon- m ended.
The open nesting was then dismissed, ,
when the Grange went into score: ses-
sion, and the following officers were
elected to serve for tAe ensuing year:
Master, A. N. Brown, Wyoming;
overseer, John Heya, FELTON,; lecturer,
j. Q. Higgins. Delaware City; steward,
w. z. Peach, hermaidi ehsplain, j.
w. Day, Wilmington; treasurer, F. Il.
Riggin, Laurel; secretary, Wesley
Webb, Dover; ceres, Alice r. Brown.