Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-11-21
The FARMERS j!

The Farmers Institute of Berkeley
Co. met in the Court House Tuesday !;
called to order by Pres. Noll.
mental Station, Morgantown, spoke
of the purposes of the meeting. He
compared the present fertility of the
soil with what it was in the virgin
purity how best to bring the soil to a
point OF fertility commensurate with
what 1t should be F; reviewed the acts
of Congress establishing agricultural
colleges, &C.; urged the farmers to take
advantage of these opportunities
study, think, talk and act,-they
would be able to live more prosper
ously and inteligently. The farmers
have made some progress in improv-
ed machinery not experiment
with science and brain work to i'm
prove the soil. Mr.. j. I. JaBney SUBJ
siituted on Beet Culture instead of J.
w. Bishop read letters from agricul-
turists of various States and institu-
tions,-al spoke favorably of the in
dustry. Mr.. Bishop advises planting
au acre or so as an experiment. Prof.
Atkinson and DR.. Myers followed on
greatest difficulty to be to keep down
the weeds and get the beet plants
started advised raising the smaller
beets of one pound weight plant 8 in.
apart aud rows 3 feet apart. In the
afternoon samples Of corn and grain
were examined and considered, and
farmers asked to bring samples for
the Station. Mr.. John II. Janney
spoke on cultivation of small fruits
and gave his experience he had fail
ed in raising Strawberries in too strong
fertilizer and planting on clover sod
advocated preceding the crop with
other crops, keeping ground loose and
mellow. For raspberries use fertile
round On northern exposure, Use
bone potash and nitrate of soda; plant
8 feet one way and from % to it. in
the row. lie gave his experience
with other fruit and spoke of the ac-
ton of the Pa. Legislature on the sub
ject Of the "yellows." DR.. Myers
spoke on picking, packing and ship
ping fruit and recommending ashes
as a fertilizer northern and southern
exposure discussed. Miss Adah Dodd
read an interesting essay on "Rural
Life and Rustic Simplicity" Mr.. A.
Clohan took up Compulsory Educa-
ton and advocated such laws when
| teaching became a science as well as
others. Mr.. Janney spoke against
compulsory education, robbing the
people of their inherent rights by
compelling them to accept something
forced on them by law. Several 9TH
er speakers took up the question and
discussed it pro and con. J. w. Dodd
advocated the organization of a Berke-
ley Co. Fair Society. In the evening
there was very interesting session.
Wednesday Col. johnson spoke on
Horticulture, how, when and where
to plant. Mr.. Lupton gave his ex-
perience of spraying With London
PURPLE lb. to 100 gallons. DR..
Myers advised growing all crops,-if
one fails another yields and the farm
ers always have something TO sell;
sheep industry may be safely made a
speciality. MIR. Hall Wilson spoke on
the cultivation of grain and grass
turn down clover as the chief fertil-
izer for wheat, fall blowing best for
corn. Maj. Chas. Stuckey read an es-
say on sheep husbandry. MessrS.
Beard and Janney discussed the
causes of land depreciation. Colonel
Johnson wanted more patriotism and
less partisanship; opposed to class
legislation wants a free field and a
fair chance for the farmers. Mr.. j..
w. b. Evans was the able secretary.
THE HERALD wishes it could give
the proceedings in full.