Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-02-19
wooDLAWN AGRICULTURAL CLUB.
Reported for the Alexandria Gazette

CRcpor,ed for the Alexandria Gazcttc)
The February meeting Of the Wcodlawn
Farmers Club was held at Courtland Lu
kens'. on the 18th inst. President Pierson in
the chair.
The subject for consideration at this meet
ing, upon what production of the farm has
the greatest profit been realized the past
year," was promptly grappled with, though
with evident reluctance by many present
D. Buckman and T.W. Blunt thought their
hay crops were ahead John Ballinger said
oats had paid him best, because he did not
SOW any. He thought he lost the least on
corn Of any crop he did cultivate. His i'm
preston of farming the past year was evil
IDENTIFY not very much rose cotored, which
Same view seemed TO be entertained by
majority as developed before we were
through with the subject. Most of those
who are engaged III dairying-either milk
or butter-seemed satisfied with the returns
as compared with other methods of convert.
ing their products.
j. n. Gibbs, said no put in ten acres Of
oats and kept account of all the expenses
connected with il, and the result was that
he cleared two dollars and seventy.five
cents on the crop, besides the straw. He
felt rather sick over it, but some Of the 9TH
ers thought he did WE'LL as he had credited
himself with three dollars per day for team
and driver while engaged in the work.
Wheat was his most profitable crop, as it
was exceptionally good for last season.
G. Lukens had good crop of oats, also
of corn; the latter had Il coat of lime ap
piled to the land before planting. J. W.
Roberts said his crop of lambs was the most
profitable, considering the amount of cap
ital invested. President Persons chest
holt" was poultry and fruit. James Hunter,
strawberries and poultry. G. Lukens read
from Farm and Home some remarks of Com
missioner Colman al recent convention, in
relation to the dairy interest, showing that
the best farms, best buildings, and best bank
account were to be found in the dairy re-
gions. We then drifted into arambliug dis
cussion of farming in general, and 40 To how
we were to know what the profits were OH
many crops, the keeping Of accounts, etc.
Several stated that they Tad tried to keep
accounts for while but gave il up in dis
gust,-one member remarking that he fol
lowed it up until he found he was busted"
and didn't know il, so he thought the soon-
er he got back to that condition where zig
summing up it woad see:a nat no rule can
be established rs 10 what crop ia best to
grow One year this may do best: and an
other year something else. Better 60 on
with q regular system Of rotation Of crops
which seems best adapted to ones soil aud
surroundings; keep "peggng away" root
hog or die" as expressed by one member,
trying withnl to preserve contented mind
nh it,e ~ t,,, al
1t appears TO be time when nearly every
one is inclined to think his neighbor is get
ting on better than himself, or that some
other business pays better than his, AS ex-
emplifed somewhat by the reply to the anx
ious inquirer for the best road to q certain
place, which was that he might take either
one, and before he got there he would wish
he had taken the other. And this brings to
mind tho experience of our irrepressible
clerical friend who was at our last meeting
and who started from Alexandria for this
meeting but took the wrong road, got into
swamp flooded with water intermingled
with ice, and but for some timely assistance
would hardly have reached the place; but
he finally succeeded, and again entertained
US with some of his experiences as to prices
of hay from the salt-marshes on the Atlantic
seaboard to the borders of the Rocky Noun
taius, ranging all the way from eight to one
hundred and fifty dollars per ton, and the
fabulous prices of milk, lager and whiskey
in the mining regions of Colorado; also
about the way they have to irrigate the soil
out there to have anything grow.
Tho report of the critical committee, by
reason Of wiutry weather, was rather brief,
but alluded to the farm buildings being in
their usual neat and attractive condition,
with stock of seven horses, thirty cows
and heifers, ten hogs and some sheep, we'll
housed and cared for, the ewes being
most too fat for the near approach oil
lambiug time. As butter making is lead'
ing interest, the cows are principally Jer-
| seys, and it is expected soon TO have the
stables filed with thoroughDreds. Owing
to the short hay crop of last summer, the
usual custom of feeding the COWS all they
will eat of the best hay had to be departed
from, and, Instead, they have had for bulky
| food eosilage, corn stalks and cut oats straw
and it is found that with the usual amount
of meal and bran the production of butter
has been very satisfactory consequently be
will probably have more hay to sell than il
| full crop had been made. The farming
utensils were housed for the winter and 9
new and convenient hen house was com
meuded to the notice of the members.
Tho next meeting will be at A. W. Harsi
sons on the 18th of March. Subject for dis
cussion, ''What sized farm and what system
| of management is best adapted to this 10
cality9 ?" :,
Critical committee-C. Lukens, T. w
Blunt and Miles Thompson.
! W. GILLINGHAM, Secretary.
| - n roNo cOTTON cEED MEAL