Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-02-15
Weodla.,m Eermers. Club.
Reported for the ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE

WGOdlawis E'ermers' Club.
Reported for the ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE
The February mcc'ing of - sH5odia@n
Farmers Club wss held ut the residence of
Courtend Luken5 on the 9th instant, Pres-
dent Pierson iu the chair 4 circular letter
from the American Road Machine Company,
received by one of our members, was read,
and IL was suggested that it be referred to
the road commissioners. This brought out
discussion as 10 the state of the roads at
this time, considerable talk was INDUCED in
about the condition Of the road from Bur
rough's store to Hunting Greek bridge, and
tue road commissioners were treated to &
dose of public opinion in the matter.
A. ". Harrison read couple Of satirical
articles from Washington papers purportiDg
TO be reports of the meeting OF the Wash
in2ton Farmers Club" composed Of such
representative farmers as j. &. Bsiue, Don
Cameron, Senators Quay. Butler and lot
more OF such Sgorthies. wherein the pFiDci
pal discussion was Of the estabes aud drilb-
aoles. This amused the members consdera-
bly, untiI Courtaud Lukeus called attention
10 some extracts from the rep0it OF state
Commissioner Whitehead, wherein it was
recommended by q committee Of the board
OF agriculture as means for the encourage
ment of immigration, that the delinquent
lands be cold, bought in by TIE state ana re.
sold to actual settlers al cost.
E. E. Mason opposed this plan as tending
to multiply officials and make lot more
soft places for loafers. He finally admitted
that something ought 10 bs done, but he did
not know whether it would be right to eu-
courage immigration TO this apparently God
forsaken State. He said the whole thing
wanted veDtlatiug badly, ard somebody
ought TO Indulge in some plain talk, The
general sentiment was in favor OF some pro
vision for the immediate sale of the delin
quent ends, that they might bear their
share of the burden OF taxation
The critical report wns read by a. w.
Harrison as follows:
"As the club has met at Mr.. LukeDs' sew
eral times before, and critical report read
on each occasion, the members OF this ciuD
and the public generally are well aware OF
the successful mode Of our hosts farming,
so it is hardly necessary 10 writeat length on
this subject, but we will mention some otthe
| improvements we noticed as we looked over
| the premises, the first aud most prominent
| of which is q new building near the house
With large water tank on top oft, and upon
examination we End it TO be an engine house
containing a small engine which is used Tor
pumping, churning, etc. This house is large
enough to admit the large churn, the butter
| worker and several tables and benches, 10
fact all the paraphernalia required 10 good
sized dairy. Leading from this house
we find pipes running In different
directions. One empties into trough
in the pasture field, another Into trough IN
the COW ward, another near the feed trough
| in which the mess for the COWS la mixed,
&C., making it very convenient in feeding
and watering the stock, also one into the
house. We also noticed, near the hog pen,
8 new COW house which we think has beer
erected since our last meeting here. Being
in the stable at feeding time We found high
and iudcous feeding which We should sag
contributes largely 10 Mr.. Lpkens' success
The upper part of the barn ia well filled
with hay aud we saw several stacks OF corr
| fodder near by which s evidence that thing:
will be well taken care of, even if "wintel
should linger in the lap OF spring" a
noticeable feature Of the barn aud granar5
Is, the floors are kept perfectly clean, there
by leaving no waste TO be tramped up ano
thrown out. Our host tells Us that sheer
raising has not proved profitable this yeal
as the sheep have not done nearly as vel
as usual. The wbest and grass look well
Owing to the mild winter there is goot
deal ofoats in the former which we suppose
will be q disadvantage if we do not have
cold weather enough 10 kill it. Our friend
bejng one of the older and more experienced
members of the club we ventuFed 10 ash
him for few points 10 writing this report
he said he had no point to give Us, but hst
one request to make, "that we do not try t
make him out the best farmer in the commu
nity, and if We find any flaws to pick them.
We have done our best to grant his reques
and if he does not find any flaws we hope h
will excuse us as he has no one to blame bu
himself"
Our host being asked why his sheep hat
not proved profitable said he thought n
bought rather too late. He began feeding
them with cob meal and they were soon los
ing wool and did not thrive, This seemed
to be running through tie whole flock. III
was afraid they had the scab, and he hat
sold them nearly all of, as he was no
much acquainted with the disease mention
ed. he asked one of the members who ha
had some experience with sheep to look
them and report his opinion. He did s
and said it did not look like scab as th
wool was growing again In places. Th
opinion prevailed that they had bee'
housed rather too much for the mild weath
or we have had through the winter. Yer
much corn meal, especially if fed alone, VA
rot advisable. a change of food was re
J. ", Roberts found that continued feed
ing of corn produced costiveness. A chang
of food gave immediate relief.
T. W. Blunt advised mixing little su
phur and copperas With the feed.
The next meeting will be at Walter Wa
tons on the 10th of Msrch. Critical Con
mittee-Lewis Gillingham, s. 81. Buckma
and Harry Piersnn