Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-02-24
Meeting of FishersviIie Farmers
Club.
FIsUERsvIILE VA Feb'y ~ 1892

FIsHERsvILLE, VA, Feby %, 1892.
| At a meeting of this Club to-day, the follow
ing members were present-Dr. D. w Hanger,
Chairman; ]. W. Churehman, B. F. Hide
brand, A. A. Jones, Dr. NJ. C. Hildebrand, F.
NJ. Bell, Secretary, H. A. s. Hamilton, A. H.
McCue c. B. Coiner, W. A. Freed, T. S. Cecil,
Maj A. Koiner M. L. Leonard, J. d. Coiner,
J. D. Miller, ]. D. Black and J. r. Kemper.
Minutes of last meeting were read and APP
proved. Mr.. McCue reported he had not set
tied the Clubs portion of the cost of Hall
furniture, but was ready to do so as soon as
amount was ascertained. The creamery ques-
ton came up for further discussion. Mr.
Hamilton said he had no speech to make but
he thought one of the reasons for the failure of
creameries, was the lack of suitable COWS in
the first place, and poor encouragement on the
part of the patrons who furnish the milk. He
knew OF one creamery at Roanoke run by a
northern man that was successful, and they
paid sufficient price for milk and cream II,
encourage the farmer to furnish it promptly
and in quantity. Most creameres paid ONLY
q cents for cream, while he had been Offered
70 cents by the Roanoke party. 1t costs as
much to keep poor COW as good one. fThe
| cost is about $500 per year. and thai viii
| bring most cow-owners in debt. A COW that
will make los per week, will give $50 profit
per year, and one that will make lbs per
week, will give S45 profit per year. The skim
| milk offsets the milking. To get the best prices
for butter, you must sell it by contract and
produce an even quality all the time
Capt. Coiner-What do you consider is the
best breed of cows?
Mr.. Hamilton.-The Jersey was the butter
breed and Holsteins for milk
Mr.. McCue.-Which is the best COW for gen
eral family use?
Mr.. Hamilton.-I think the Jersey is the
best for milk and butter In Kentucky and
West Virginia, the Jersey was becoming more
popular than heretofore, and l think every
farmer should have some for family use. The
grade Jerseys will give more milk than the
pure blood.
Mr.. Bufkholder was invited to give his views,
and he stated that some years ago he had
thought OF establishing herd of fine Jerseys,
but had only few and was satisfied with the
experiment. He had high grade COW that
made 10 lbs of butter per week. The milk
was very rich. In selling cream to the Waynes-
boro' Creamery the price received was not
satisfactory as his cream, produced from we'll
fed Jerseys, was not credited with any more
butter than some cows he knew that were not
fed grain at all. He had found the creamery
tests were not accurate. He did not think a
creamery could be run at profit unless the
quality of butter was superior and sold at spe
cial prices.
Mr. Hamilton thought it might be done by
soliciting trade in the cities. He was receiving
letters every day from city people, wanting to
be supplied with butter at coed prices. He
could sell all the cream he could produce,
at price that was more than 30 cts for butter,
and he could not supply the demand.
Maj. Koiner thought we should fully in
vestigate the causes of failure, and from Mr..
Hamilton's, and others statements, that we
could produce the cream here, and he thought
the main cause of failure was that the patron
age received was insufficient to run the cream
cries to their full capacity, and, consequently,
they could not pay better prices for cream.
The sheep question came up for discussion
as follows
'Why are not more sheep raised in this
county?"
Capt Coiner said he had been in the bust
ness for a number of years, and that he
found it very profitable, and his farm had
gradually improved under the business, and
he proposed to continue it. He thought there
was prejudice against sheep, and the con-
slant menace from worthless ours was the
OF, Univ for Il ne on
gage in it. The officers were very derelict in
their duty III assessing and collecting taxes on
dogs. Not half were assessed and fewer still
from which the tax is collected.
DIR. Hanger thought, like Capt. Conner that,
some thought sheep would impoverish land.
He had been in the business for fifteen years
and his farm was more productive now than
ever The chemical analysis shows that we
remove less Of the necessary ingredients of
the soil in selling off sheep than most any
other crop.
DIR. Newman's speech before the Bedford
City Institute on sheep-husbandry was read
by the Secretary.
Mai. Koiner thought DR.. Newman had Civ
en- us a good suggestion as to interesting our
farmers in sheep, and in that way the men
ace of dogs would be abated.
Mr.. McCue stated that his experience with
sheep was very satisfactory, and he had great
ly improved his farm. He found by keeping
his flock in the mountain during the Sum-
mer it was virtually equal to getting a new
flock every year; and if there was any objec-
ton, it was they would get too fat.
Mr.. Leonard reported the clover seed bought
and delivered.
Orders for Spring fertilizers were then plac-
ed in hands of Committee.
The question for next meeting, 3rd Satur-
day in March,
rs it expedient to set aside from year to
year, certain fields for wheat, instead of plow-
ing up our grass lands as now practiced.'
The Club then adjourned.
j. r. KEMPER, D. W. HANGER,
Cor. Sec'y. President.