Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-09-17
WDODEiWN FARMERS. CLUB
(itcpor;cd for the Alexandria GAZE


The Woodlawn Farmers Club met ut J.
W. Blunts on the 11th Of September, Pres
ident pieraon in the chair
The reading Of the minutes of the pre-
vious meeting introduced the "Fulcaster"
wheat again, and the members generally
were averse to trying new and high priced
seed at the present depressing juncture in
wheat growing. Several objected TO the va.
riety because it was bearded. A. w. Har-
rison asked il it was worth while to grow
wheat at all. c. Luke2s queried whether it
paid to raise anything. Before the club re-.
covered from the effect of these knotty qucs-
tons, J. W. Roberts asked if we could af-
fore not to raise wheat. That seemed to
disorganiZe the reflections again, and gave
rise TO n multitude Of remarks, so the sec.
retary failed TO discover Thether the grave
question was settled at all, as drift imme-
diately followed into that phase Of the sub
ject relating to the proper preparation Of
the soil for wheat, and an article was read
recommending thorough stirring Of the
soil before seeding to the depth that it has
been plowcd. This aroused those who IA
vored Il compact and solidifed seed bed for
wheat, when Valentine Baker suggested
that perhaps the party referred 10 did not
plow any deeper than he did, which was
three or four inches, SO this lead fail
ed 10 pan out anything definite. 1t
was then suggested that the member who
raised the best crop this season tell how
he did it. John Balenger being the fortu-
nate one, stated that his best field was
wheat stubble plowed twice, light coat of
=. !, u. M hnf, ~
plowing shallow The wheat was drilled in
with about three hundred pounds of phos.
phate to the acre He used three different
kinds of fertilizers, but saw little difference
in the yield, which was about So bushels per
acre. He had another field after corn that
produced about q bushels. The subject of
roads was touched upon and an article rea-
tive thereto read from the New York Iii.
bunc The importance of good roads was
strongly urged, and it criticised so sharply
the roads of New York State that it aroused
one member, who is native thereof, and he
declared that the writer could not possibly
have ever been i'll Duchess county. In Illi-
nois State convention had been beld TO cou
slider this road subject, and among The reforms
recommended was county superintendent
| of highways. A committee, consisting ofC.
Lukens, l.. Gllinghaln and The secretary,
was directed 10 procure from Major Hino
a copy Of the road law for this county that
was prepared last winter and report it to
the next meeting with such changes as they
might deem advisable.
Courtland Lukens, who had Just returned
from the Williams Grove Fair, in Pennsyl
vana, called up the subject Of lime again
and suggested that We make an effort tc get
| it from CockeysviIe, Maryland, as railroad
| communication with that place was quite
| direct Chas. 5. Taylor, jr., who WAS pres
ent, having business relations with the
freight officials of tho n. c. r. r., kindly
| offered TO ascertain the best terms for trans
portation. The report Of the Critical Com
mlttee was read, showing that the barns
were bursting with the heavy crop Of hay,
| besides number of stacks that were scat
tered over the farm (the result Of the use of
oyster she'll lime). There had been mark ed
Improvement since the last club held here,
and as Mr. B. had nearly gotten through
with his struggle with bushes and stumps
on the home place he had added about 70
scres more of wilderness 10 his farm,
and was losing no time in clearing that off.
The stock was reported as looking well,
though not as much on the place perhaps as
might be kept to advantage. There were
not as many potatoes planted a. usual by
reason Of the wet weather, but those grow.
| ing looked healthy
| The next meeting will be at Mrs. Rebec-
ca n. Baleuger's on The 9th of October.
| W GIJJINGHAM Sacretary