Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-02-20
Agricultural Matters on the virginia
Side.

MEETING OF THE WOODLAND CLUB.
Reported for THE EVENING STAR
The February meeting of the woodlawn
Farmers club was held at CORTLAND Lukens' on
the 18th instant, President Pierson ia the chair.
The subject for consideration at this meeting
Upon what production of the farm has the
greatest profit been realized the past year." was
promptly grapped with, though rather reluct-
antly, by many present Each one was called
upon for his views, and d. Buchanan responded
for T. w. Blunt.
John BaIlengers' reply was oats, because he
lost ne least on was corn his impression OF farm.
Ing for the past year was evidently not very
rose colored, and the same view seemed to be
concurred In by q majority, as developed before
we were through with the subject
DAIRYING AS PROFITABLE AS ANYTHING.
Most Of those who were engaged in dairying
either milk or butter, seemed satisfied that il
was as profitable as any other mode of convert
ing their produce.
oats that yielded quite WELL and he kept an
account OF all the expenses; the result was, he
cleared about s2.75 on the crop, besides the
straw. He felt rather sick over 1t, but some OF
the others thought he did well, as he gave him.
self credit for So per day tor team and driver
while at work upon it, His wheat crop he con-
sidered the most profitable, as il was exception
ally good for last year.
c. tukens had a good crop OF oats, and also of
corn; the latter had coat OF lime applied TO the
]. w. Roberts said his crop of lambs was the
most profitable, considering the amount OF cap
President Persons best hold was poultry and
fruit-James Hunter strawberries and poultry
c. Lukens read from Fdrm and Home some
extracts from Commissioner Colman remarks
at a recent convention upon the dairy interest
showing that the best farms, the best buildings
and the best bank accounts were to be found in
the dairy regions.
We then dritted into rambling discussion of
the general SUI ject Of farming, and as TO how
We were to know what the profits were on many
crops, the keeping Of accounts, &c. Several
stated hat they had tried TO keep accounts for
while and then gave IL up In disgust; one
that he was busted" and did not know il. so
he thought the sooner he got back into that con-
dition where ignorance is bliss the better for
him.
In summing up, it would seem that no rule
can be established as to what crop is best to
grow. One year this may do best, and another
something else. Better go on with a regular
system OF rotation of crops which seems best
adapted to ones soils and surroundings, keep
pegging away-"root hog or die" as expressed
by one Misunderstanding TO preserve a conteuted
mind, which Is said to be n continual feast. IL
appears to be time when nearly every one is
inclined to think his neighbor is getting on
better than himself, or that some other business
is paying better than his, as exempified by the
reply to the anxious enquirer for the best roa
70 u certain place, which was that he might
take either road, and before he had got there he
would wish he had taken the other one And
this brings 10 nina our 1rrepressible clerical
friend who was at the last meeting. He started
from Alexandria tor this meeting and took the
wrong road, got into a swamp flooded with
water tntermingled with ice, and but Tor some
timely assistance would scarcely have reached
here, but he finally succeeded and again enter
tanned as with some OF his experiences as to
prices Of hay all the way from the salt marshes
Vt the Atlantic seaooard 70 the borders o, the
Rocky mountains, ranging from 50 to $3.50 per
ton, and the fabulous cost OF mix, lager and
whisky In the miuing regions Oh Colorado; also
about the way they have 10 lrrigate The soil out
there 70 have any thing grow.
THE REPORT OF THE CRITICAL COMMITTEE
by reason Of wintry weather. Was rather brief
but alluded to the farm buildings being In their
usually neat and attractive condition, with "A
stock VI seven horses. thirty COWS and EeiIers
ten hogs and some sheep, well housed and
cared tOr, the ewes being rather too TAT for the
near approach of Landing time.
As OuItei-makiug Is u ieauing interest, the
cows are principally Jerseys, aud il is expected
soon to nave the stables fiiled with thoruu. Ia
breds. Owing TO the short hay crop OF iast
summer the usual custom OF feeding the cows
all they will eat OF the best OF hay had TO be de-
parted from, and instead they have had Tor
bulky food, ensiiage, corn stalks aud cut oats,
amount OF meal and bran the production OF
butter has been very satisfactory, CONSEQUENTLY
he will probably have more nay to seli than Ii
he had made = full crop. Tue farming uten-
sis were housed for The winter anu new and
convenient hen-house was commended TO tue
notice OF the members.
Next meeting will be at A. w. Harrison's on
the 1Slh OF March. subject for discussion:
"WhaL zeo iarm and wat s. stefn OF IMAM
agemeat h best adapted 70 tins locality"
CRITICAL committee-C Lukens, r. w. Blunt,
aud Atles Thompson.
W ar, rwcu. - o>~r.sn~r