Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-03-23
Woodlnwn Farmers, Club.


Reported for the ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE
The March meetng OF tbo Woods avn
Farmers Club was held at the residence Of
Walter Walton on the 10Th inst After
reading the minutes of last meeting and dis
cussing them a. W. Harrison asked, When
is the time to SOW clover seed ?n John Bal
leneer said il was recommended to SOW on
the lsst snow if you could find out which it
waa He said his practice was to SOY Us
soon in the epriug as the ground was suffi
oiently settled 10 walk on without miring.
The question was asked whether it was best
to plow for oats or merely to stir the surface
with gome kind Of harrow sufficiently to
form u seed bed-several who bad Lied the
latter plan were not pleased with tie results
weeds grew in the oats and the land
turned up very coddy when plowed after
harvest. Wien the critical report WAS
called for it appeared that no written report
had been prepared, and q discussion eneued
as to the propriety Of dropping the reports
for awhile as the psemises of nearly all the
members had been reported upon several
| times and it was becoming somewhat mon.
otonous, go upon the motion OF A W. Har-
rison the practice of appointing critical
committee was suspended fer one year and
a question box is to be provided TO take its
place to some extent. The critical commit.
| tee was requested to make verbal report
| upon any matters that were noteworthy.
| In response 10 this ii was stated that the
COWS were looking very we'll and some fine
calves were noticed also, two ltters OF
Young pigs just at the right season TO be
made profitable. A windmill and tank
had recently been put up, which
furnished O supply of water for the
house and barn. The next thing
claiming their attention, was fine "Radi.
ant home" and some easy chairs in the sit
| ting room.
The query was put as to the advisability
of sowing cow peas for hog feed Taylor
Blunt reported that he bad grown some one
season and considered they were the cheap
est feed that could be raised for hogs and
sheep. They will do we'll on either light or
heavy land-1l to II bushels per acre is the
quantity to sow. As to the propriety of SOW
ing them to turn under as green crop, the
difficulty OF covering them was alluded to
when it was stated that the u5e Of rolling
cutter obviated this.
| s. H. Buckman asked which was the best
grass for permanent pasture, the answer
was 'red top for vet or heavy land and
orchard grass for dry or light land.
in. Gibbs asked how it would do to'sow
timothy seed in the spring on wheat.
| John Ballenger said he had tried it and
failed to get stand. There is much risk.
A wet spring it would answer, but if dry,
| failure would result.
The following was then submitted and
passed unanimously
RESOLVED, That we regard the admnistra.
| ton of Commissioner Colman as faithful
and earnest endeavor to advance the inter-
ests of the farmers of the United States in
all that pertains to agriculture, and espe'
cislly in his rigorous warfare in eradicating
the plenro.pneumonia disease among cattle,
and that the secretary be directed to send 8
COPY of this resolution TO e1-Secretary Col
man.
3. E. Mason then read the following pa
per:
Fello,O Members:
The secretary reports me as using pretty
strong language at our last meeting After
examining the auditors report and consult
ing other sources, have concluded to offer
no apology, but endeavor to make good my
case. Taking Loudoun as the banner coun'
ty l find her total State tax In 1887 was
$5S,471.74 of which only l $40 per cent
was returned delinquent; her criminal ex.
penses were sS1S.27. The tax of Fairfax
was $22, ,71247, her per centage ofdelinquents
amounted to IA $40 per cent her criminal
expenses were $934S0. Fauquier S42, ,S40.4 AZ
with delinquency of $40 per cent. and 8
criminal expense of $509.90. Now compare
these counties with some in the southwest
where are deposited immense treasures Of
mineral wealth and where northern and
foreign capital is pouring in by the millions.
The county of Buchanan has tax list oil
s2,5O9. .92 with delinquency of So 4.10 per
cent. and a criminal account OF S3,0ol Is,
S5O5 more than the tax she collects. Being 8
rough wilderness region, she is not perhaps
a fair comparison, but what must we think
of her moral condition when her criminal
expenses are so largely in excess OF her tax
| list? But take the county OF Washington
and she is said to be one of the best grazing
counties in the State, with the hourishine
towns of Goodson and Abingdon within her
borders and her total tax is SlS,l2o ~, the
per centage of delinquencies on which Is
90 6 10 per cent, and her criminal expenses
were 81 $50 so. AS an average between the
two counties named take Wythe county; WE
find her tax to be SIT ,584 l3, her delinquent
account 5 40 per cent, her criminal ex
penses So 355.47. As another illustration
will take the county OF Augusta and not in'
clude the city of StauntoD; her total tax !;
s51. .543. 60, her loss by deinquente is only
5 1-1O per cent. and her criminal expense:
amount to s3,117 50 or S2,299.55 more
than Loudoun. Surely Loudoun stands
preemuent in moral as well as a hnancia
popt of view. The State Auditors reports
NAV not be very entertaining reading, bu
to those interested in the future welfare o
the State they are decidedly instructive and
present matters in light that requires
prompt action. On delinquencies, why
should Loudoun collect to within $40 pc