The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-09-27
THE FARMERS INSTITUTE,
CLOSE OF THE GATHERING AT
CHATSWORTH

The weather at Chatsworth yesterday was
as disagreeable as could well be imagined.
An all nights rain had thoroughly soaked
the ground, and the morning found cola
drizzie slowly but continuously falling,
which with the lowering clouds made the
scene at the farm drcary one.
The success. however, Of the meeting OF
the Institute Thursday had been so great
tina; at least as many people as were present
then brayed the ugly weather and muddy
roads yesterday and assembled NJ chats-
worth at an early hour. Even the iadles
received so much valuable instruction, and
were so highly entertained on the day pre-
yious that, nothing daunted by the falling
rain and the heavy appearance OF the SKY,
they were out again in full force, and well
were they paid for their effort.
Mr.. Absalom kOiner, president OF the
BOARD Of Agriculture, had been called to his
home and could not attend. so the meeting
was called 10 order by Colonel Norman
smith, n member Of the Board, al ll'40
The choir rendered the old hymn, Grown
Him Lord OF AL" which was joined IN by
the audience.
CAPTAIN oRRIs A. BROWNE.
Colonel smith then introduced Captain
orris A. Browne, of Northampton, as one OF
the Board OF Agriculture, and as one oil the
largest truck farmers in the state. captain
Browne spoke mainly in the interest OF
trucking. and impressed his hearers with
the importance Of keeping posted on the
markets of the country. He strongly urged
that land should be heavily iertilized,
and he warned the farmers not
10 oyer-work the lands. He said land could
no more stand too many crops than morse
could stand 10 be worked all day and ridden
all night. But" he said, "therc is no use
of raising truck unless you have the facili-
ties 10 Get the stun To market. | believe
the Virginia farmers could get rich raising
sorgum and making IL into mOlasses and
sugar" His speech was short, but TO the
point. and was well received. The choir
then sang from the Gospel Hymns, "IH
Stand by YOU"
MIR. JAMES BEIwOOD.
Chairman Smith next introduced Mr.
James BelwoOd, of Chesterfield. who spoke
on tie subject of "Sheep Ilusbandry.' MI.
Relwood is Canadian, and has only been
in Virginia short while. During his re-
marks he read "A well written paper on the
subject. "Sheep are called he SAID. tine
animal with the golden tread. Where
sheen are kept the soil is always good.
Sheep require less attention than almost
any other animals. The price Of wool in
Richmond is nearly twice as high as the
Canadian price, and the quality OF the Viz
Cinia wool is much better. The texture OF
The articles manufactured from II Is very
much superior 10 that made from Northern
wool, and we have the easiest access 10 the
largest markets.
s'ln regard 10 the most popular breeds OF
sheep would say that for long decades the
Merino are think, the best.
1.-The COtswold are also good and grow
very large, with long, silky wool, often
fourtppn inches in length.
The Leicester is smaller animal, Dut
have many admirers, and the Dorset horned
sheep produce a splendid quality OF staple
wool.
.sTbe mutton OF the Southdowns and
Shropshres are the most popular and they
are the scavenger of the farm and yield two
dividends yearly-wOOl and lambs.
.sMy ShrOpshires have paid me in the last
two wears $50 per cent, and flock OF COM
mon sheep have Melted me over 100 per
cent.
me will never go back.
alt il true that if YOU can afford TO 90 to a
large expense. there is money in the dairy
COW, but for the poor man, sheep husband
ing. | believe, is salvation. The most OF
the lands of Virginia are adapted TO sheer
raising, but oh, the ever present dog Al
this point, Colonel Smith stated that the
last census showed that there were NOR,
dogs han sheep in the United States, and
Major Mann Page suggested as remedy
that shepherd pups be put in the sheep pei
and raised up with the sheep
After Mr.. Belwood had resumed his seal
the chair sang bringing in the Sheaves.'
MAJOR GAINES REMARKS.
Major Gaines then arose, he said, TO en-
dorse every word of the paper read by Mr.
Belwood. He said it was true that sheer
could be kept almost without shelter an'
without food The Major said that on
sheep 10 each ten acres of this poor Liant
wouid certainly paw. "There is one trouble
about the dogs. That is, that every dog ha
vote You can't get a man in the Legs
lature who favors dog law. They Wi
vote him down every time
MAJOR II. e. ALNORD.
Colonel Smith then introduced MAO
Henry +. Alyord, president of the Marylan
Agricultural College. Major Alvord SAT-
he had "started to Richmond over twenty
five years ago, but that for reasons know
to some present he failed to get here
Speaking of paying the taxes on his iarn
which he now owns in Fairfax county, h
said that he believed in paying taxes enoug
10 nav the State debt and 10 keep up Tn
schools and roads" Applause.
81 believe" he said, that this meetln
and every other such assembly adds 10 IN
value of every acre Of land in the state
His subject was "The Present status of III
Ensilage Question" He said 81 have 70
the last ten wears made ensilage, and mad
it from almost every plant that animal VII
eat" "Silos can be made from any buildin
material and even ditch may be used 10
that purpose" They may be aboy
ground or under ground or partl
each way, but they must be alright an
frost-tight. think several small silos bet
ter than one large one"
"A silo that will prove sufficient can b
built for from - cents to - for every TO
capacity"
"If the silo is not air-tIght il must he we
covered and heavily weighted ON TOP, :
that the pressure will exclude the air.
ANY vegetable matter can be preserve
as ensilage As rule, all stock on tn
farm prefer ensilage TO any other feed. .
good ensilage can be made OF half broom
sage and half black-eyed pease."
ais there any other way you can us
your broom-sagei'
'sThe cost OF preserving crop as ensilag
does not exceed the cost of buying it. In
dian corn makes the very best ensilage, an,
il can he made at the extreme for - pc
ton, and has offer been put up for 81.
ITO make good ensiage do not GROVE
your plants in cultivation"
Professor Alvord's address was one full o
the most valuable information 20 farmers
aud was listened TO with the most intens
he had finished speaking by different gen
tlcmen, and much information on the sub
ject was brought out.
Captain Frank Cunningham was present
and AT the close OF Major Alv0rd's addres
he sang "While the Days Are Going BY,
and during the intermissiOn that FOLLOWED
entertained the party with several produc
tons.
AT | 80 o'clock the chair was yacate,
and an intermissiOn Of an hour declared.
The ladies of Laurel Hill Methodist fnI
FOur-Mile Creek Baptist churches, had, a
on the day before, made provisions, anC
that in "A capital manner, for the sustenta
ton Of the physical man, a unity of spiri
seemed 10 prevail and mirth and good chez
were the centre Of each of the many group
VIII Oh occupied almost every portion Of III,
large barn.
PROFESSOR W. h. ATWOOD.
AT 1880 O'Clock in the afternoon, the hOul
NJ ,psa haxftpO GLANCED