The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1891-11-20
BERKELEY FARMERS.
COMP .ETE PROCEEDINGS OF THE
COUNTY FARMERS
INSTITUTE.
ADDRESSES BY DIR. MYERS, PROF.
ATKIsON, COL. JOHNSON, AND
DISCUSSIONS on NUMEROUS
IMPORTANT TOPICS.

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The opening day Of the Farmers In
stitute, of Berkeley county, was not a
favorable one, but there was however
a good number of farmers in attend
ance. TWAS nearly eleven o'clock before
the meeting was called to order by the
President, VIM. T. Noll Mr. j. w. B.
Evans, the secretary, was also present,
and took very active interest in the
gathering. Col. d. D. johnson spoke
on the aims and purposes of theinstitute-
He compared the pointof fertility of soil
with what was its origin purity, and
how best to bring the soil up to the
best point of fertility. He reviewed
the act of Congress appropriating funds
and establishing agricultural colleges.
He advised the farmers to talk and
act. The Colonel's talk was full of
meal for every farmer in the county
and those who failed to hear his re-
marks missed more than any days
work.
Mr.. J. T. Janney was substituted on
sugar beet culture by j. W. Bishop.
He read good many interesting let
ters on the subject, including one from
E. W. Hilgar, of the University of
California, Henry Alvord, of Mary
land, C. A. Gassman, of Massachusetts,
all of whom spoke favorably of the
industry. Mr.. Bishop made a few re-
marks advising the planting of an acre
or two of beets by the farmers as an
experiment.
Had the rain not interfered there
would have been o. much larger attend
ance at the institute as the farmers Of
the county are becoming considerably
interested on the subject of beet sugar
culture Various other topics that are
~of interest and value to the farmer
will be talked over.
The programme this afternoon and
tomorrow will include the following
subjects: Sheep, Maj Charles
Sticky; Dairying, John Lamon I;
Should we have Compulsory Educa-
ton, A. Clohan Market Gardening,
R. c. Burkhart. Second Day: Grain
and Grasses, Hall Wilson; Orchard
Culture, D. Gold Miller Why is there
Depreciation of Farm Values, D. A..
Beard; Farm Accounts, J. W. B.
Evans Cooperation in Farming, II.
M. Turner Leaks, G. ]. Seibert.
Several ladies have prepared pa
pers on "The Home" Farmer
Wives" " Horticulture" etc.
The WORLD yesterday gave the pro-
ceedings of the farmers Institute up
to the time of adjournment for dinner
At the afternoon session there was a
much larger attendance than in the
morning, as the farmers had HAD time
to reach the city. Many of them
brought with them fine specimens Of
apples, corn, squashes, pumpkins, etc.,
which were exhibited at the Institute.
The first topic taken up in the after
noon was small fruits including straw
berries, currents, raspberries and other
species. The subject was very nicely
handled by Mr.. J. T. Janney and fur
nished many ideas that the farmers
will find of value in the future.
Miss Adah Dodd read an excellent
essay choosing as her subject
Rural Home and Rustic Simplicity"
The reading of this essay was one of
the most interesting features Of the
afternoon session. She covered the
ground in a very original way and
made some very pertinent suggestions.
The discussion that excited the most
interest and which took up much Of the
time of the afternoon session was
"Should we have Compulsory Educa-
tom The discussion was opened by
Mr.. Alexander Clohan and he was fol-
lowed in turn by Mr.. j. T. Janney,
Col. d. D. johnson, Prof. Atkison and
Prof. Howard. They entered into this
discussion with much spirit, and while
the majority were in favor, others OPP
posed it.
AN EVENING SESSION.
Last evening quite number of far
mers and citizens gathered at the Court
House to hear two interesting lectures