Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-03-06
Woodlawn Farmers Club
Reported for tho Alexandria Gazette.

TIE March meeting of the WoodlaWo
Farmers Club was hsId at the residence cf
Walter Walton on the frat instant. Presi
dent Pierson heing unwell John Ballenger
occupied the chair. After the minutes were
read some further discussion was had upon
the irrigation question deferred from last
meeting. Soma thought no encouragement
should be given 10 Inc proposition of bring
ing more laud that is now unproductlve into
competition with that already in cnltlVa-
ton, assuming that farmers are now suffer-
log from the effects of overproduction. This
opened up the whole subject OF the prostra.
ton of the farming interests. A member,
whose sylvan home is near the classic
shores Of the Ipsawasson, read & paper
which he had started TO prepare on tnst
,opic, but had not seen his wsy clear to I'M
ism il. There were numerous causes por-
tray ed without any effective paDncea being
evolved His wealth ofintellec;ual resource
was 10 some way Eampered, or we Would no
doubt have been favored with remedy; in
fact, ii was hinted thai Morpheus got she bet.
ter of him before the nd was reached. a dis
cOssion OF very wide range folowed-the
middlemeu wers duly overhauled for the
absorbed, while some thought we could not
pet along without them. We had g gentle
man with Us who bad been prominent
,ue mbsr of the order of Patrons of Hus-
baudrv. aad his aid was invoked. He ex-
% ained the working of their business sys-
jem TO some extent. They had failed to
satisfactorily solve the problem as rule.
He thought the RochedGle plan Of co opera.
tion was worthy OF trial. Some OF the
oranges in Maryland have been quite euc'
cessfnl in their efforts 10 benefit the farmers
com posing them. One Of our members who
is now engaged with grange agency ln
Washiugton, gave some account OF the bene-
fetal operations of that establishment. 1t
wss faaly concluded that the matter of
irrigation of arid lands might be left with
tho people of those States aud territories in
which they lie, provided the general gov
eminent does not make any appro
prations for the purpose. AS being
iu the line of investigation of the
subject under consideration, there was
handed TO the secretary to read q circular
issued By the Practical Farmer, contain
ing extracts from the December report of
the statistcan of the Department of Agrl-
culture, in reference to the establishment of
Syndicsts agricoles in France. which ap
pear to be producing very beneficial results
there-an organization somewhat similar to
the oranges in this country.
The secretary read a letter from Senator
Moore in response to one which had been
forwarded to him relative to the conjempla
ted legislative reforms in the matter Of as
sessments and collection of taxes, etc. There
were also some public docaments on the
table for distribution, forwarded from Rich
hr-S
CORTLAND Lukens offered resolution re-
questing members TO bring their agricultu.
raj papers to the meetings for
the purpose OF exchange, which was
approved as was also a resolution
requesting the county authorities to so
| enlarge and improve the buildings at the
county poor house as to accommodate all
that apply for aid, to the end that all assist
area to outside poor may be dispensed with.
This elected quite q spirited discussion, in
which number of instances ofabuses in the
present system were cited, and the action of
the club was unanimous.
The idea has prevailed to large extent
that it is cheaper to support the poor scat
tered about an ag heir friends, but there is
well grounded belief that O change as is
proposed will result in much saving to the
taxpayers of the county.
The next meeting will be ct the residence
| of T. W. Blunt on the 5th of April.
W. GILLINeHAM, Sec'y.