The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-10-24
Meeting Fishersvil1e Farmers Club.

October 18th, 1889.
The Club was called to order, vice President
Hanger in the Chair. Following members were
present: p. T. Burkholder, C. B. Coiner, j. s.
Caldwell, I. HI. Cox, DR.. S. H. bold, w. A. Freed
J. A. Gilkeson, f. II. Gilkeson, H. A. S. Hamil-
ton, DR.. d. w. Hanger, Edwin Harnsberger
J. r. Kemper, G. W. C. Kames, Mai Absalom
koiner, NJ. L. Leonard, Jas. E. OFT, j. W. Paul
W. Is Patterson, j. r. Patterson and Geo
Schnuckef. Minutes last meeting read and
adopted. Mr., Paul reported some fertilizer and
seed purchased that had not been settled for
and the club took action upon the matter The
Secretary reported he had gone to New Hope
last Saturday, and organized club there with
David Beard as President and MI. Brewer Sec
rotary. Dr.. Hanger moved that committee be
appointed to confer with the Chesapeake & Ohio
railroad Co., in regard to providing sheds to
store hay under when cars cannot be had at
Fishersville Depot. Maj. Coiner, Capt. Coiner
Dr.. Hanger and J. r. Kemper, appointed on
that committee and instructed to report at next
meeting. The discussion Of the question, 'What
shall we do with our straw was then taken up.
Col. Shields, of the Spectator being present, was
called upon for his views. He responded by
saying she had come here for WOOL and did not
want to be sheared." That he had devoted a
great part of his life to farming, and he was net
entirely satisfied as to what was the best method
to dispose OF our surplus straw. Had spread it
over the fields; also allowed it to reduce to
manure. DR.. Hanger said we should determine
whether we should use it for food or fertilizer
The chemical analysis showed it to be about as
good as common hay, and he had wintered his
horses ON straw and a small ration Of corn, and
sold his hay, but it's impossible to use all as
feed. Thinks it best to sell it at 1928 per ton net
as about Ak tons straw would purchase ton
commercial fertilizer which would go over 10
acres. Straw could not well be hauled out in
winter as the ground was then too wet and the
straw frozen together, and in the summer
months the farmer had other more important
work for his teams and hands. Mr.. Burkholder
said the question was very important one, and
the straw was of great value. To.market straw,
a lot of it is not in condition to bale. 1t should
be used more literally as bedding. Top dress
the poorer places. If the straw and hay is all
sold, he thought it would impoverish our lands.
Dr. Hanger asked Mr.. Burkholder if he knew Of
any section of country that had improved more
than this in the last fifteen years. Said he had
not, but he thought the Improvement was due
more to the use of fertilizers and clover than
any other cause. Maj. Conner Thought it best to
hold to the old customs, spread it upon the
ground and make it into manure. 1t pays best
to apply it to sod fields, commercial fertilizers
can be more evenly distributed upon the wheat
fields. 1t amounts to almost nothing, if allowed
to rot down. Dr.. Hanger-Would you not rath-
er have one ton commercial fertilizer than AZ
tons straw Maj Koiner- Don't know, but that
would, as | consider commercial fertilizer one
of the greatest blessing we have had since the
war. Some lands that | know, not far from
here, were SO poor they would not produce any
thing are now raising beautiful crops Of wheat
and clover, know Of very poor piece Of black
oak land, that has been put in wheat Il years
and produced good crops, now has album
dant crop of grass upon 1t. 1 think it would be
as well to select our smooth fields for wheat and
continue the crop from year to year.
Col Shields said he knew Rockbridge farm
er who fed all the straw he cured and used the
remainder i'll top dressing his wheat and grass,
and had made very good farm from very
poor one by this method. Dr. Hanger said he
had top dressed oats with good results. Mr.
Bmkholder stated that he, in company with
Capt. Conner, upon invitation Of Mr.. Kingsberry
had visited Harrsonburg and inspected a
Hedge fence, and were very much pleased with
it. All further business was then tabled and a
motion to adjourn adopted,
c. II. conner President