Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1894-01-25

each inhabitant. He said that corn is
cultivated to kill the weeds and to stir the
soil. Weeds do harm by consuming the
plant food, shading the ground and evap-
Grating the soils moisture. The soil
must be stirred to loosen the soil, to let
in oxygen, and to make the soil readily
assimilable by the corn. Experiments
show that the corn roots are mostly to
4 inches deep, and that root pruning is
bad; so that while deep cultivation is
better than no cultivation, yet shallow
cultivation is vastly better than deep.
The effect of cultivation is to make
mulch of soil which catches and retains
all rainfall Frequent cultivation in dry
weather is absolutely essential. Tables
showing the results of years of expert
ment proved each assertion made.
Some four hundred people attended the
evening session. Hon. A. T. McKelvey
urging Cultivation of the Social" said
that man is by nature social being and
that the continual exodus of young men
from the farm is due largely to his desire
for social advantages. He said that we
should have better roads, that in roads
we have made no progress in hundred
years, and that all old road laws should
be swept away. He thought, too, that
we should have more oranges, more de-
batting and literary clubs aud more sing
ing schools. Mr.. McKelvey gave most
vivid description Ofthe famous picture,
Breaking the Home Ties" He was
followed by Prof. Hunt, whose carefully
thought out lecture presented many start
ling facts and original ideas showing the
need of the farmer for broader educa-
ton. c. G. Mitchell, of Martins Ferry,
entertained the audience with several re
citations.
Friday mornings session was under
the control of the ladies, and was the
banner session of the Institute. The hall
was filled. DIR. Alexander offered prayer,
and Miss Name l.. Giffen, as President,
welcomed the ladies in pleasant and
well delivered address, saying that what
ever helps the farmers daughter and wife
helps him, and suggesting that these ses-
sions were as profitable as any other of
the Institute. Mrs. S. G.. Collier read
Whlttier's Maud Mnller," and said that
in the 10Th century Maud will not rake
the hay She will patch her dress if it is
tattered, and wear shoes and stockings.
sba ,,,iU ooab ond iron hv olanfrioitv opd
the dog will churn. She will 60 shopping
on tram cars. She will be a woman of
high living and high thinking. She will
never marry lump who sits doing by
the fire over pipe and mug. If she can't
find real man she will have a small farm
of her own and run it herself. At the
end of this bright and sparkling address
the women sang $50 say we all of us"
and no man ventured to join in.
Mary L. Blair's paper OH Happy Peo-
Pile" overfowed with wit and fun and
sound advice, and was given generous
applause. Mrs. r. j. Alexander read an
interesting paper to the point, and sug-
gested that hereafter the wOman's ses-
sion should be in the afternoon. Miss
Dorcas Nichol, Miss Mamie r. Shannon
and Miss Lacy B. Hartley, gave enter
tanning recitations; and Miss Mollie
Simms, of Wheeling, and Miss Eva NJ.
Grimes, of Flushing, though not on the
program, presented rscitations which
were received with interest and great
applause. By request. Mrs. Collier sang
"Sweet Charity" and 1.-The Song that
Touched my Heart"
In his practical talk on "Potato Cul
ture," after noon, Jonathan Cash said
that nnderdrained clover sod plowed in
the spring, should be used for potatoes.
He used no commercial fertilizer. Me-
dium- sized potatoes should be used for
seed, and should be cut few days
before planting. Plant with eye up, and
two inches deep, and afterward twice
cover with an inch of dirt; should be
worked twice week; dug just after har-
vest, and kept in salt barrels in the cellar.
Mr. Cash raised last year 68 varieties of
potatoes, and he puts the Early Rose at
the head of his list, followed by the
Crown Jewel and the Early Triumph.
Geo. M. Wise here took up the question
of how to reduce our local taxation. He
showed that since '7S, while values of all
kinds had been decreasing, the tax levies
have been increasing. and attributed this
result largely to carelessness. He thought
during this time the cOunty's funds had
been mismanaged, and pointed out a
number of items of expense during the
past year, which in his opinion could
have been largely reduced. He thought
that the Commissioners should hang on
their door placard bearing the legend,
"No more bridges will be built in Bel
mont county for five years" William
Alexander said that the trouble is in the
ignorance of the people on the subject of
taxation. How many men have exam
ined the subject of our local expendi-
lures and taxation? Taxation laws are
unequal and unjust. "We have not, as
people," said he, "the sand to look after
our own officials" He advocated the es-
tablishment of township organization
to look after the matter, to keep the run
of receipts and spendings, and to inform
the people on the subject.
oJames F. Anderson said that local tax
alton cannot be reduced. He said that
the thing to do is to stand up for your
rights and give them attention. He as
serted that for the past two years candi-
dates for Commissioner had been incom-
petent men, yet they had been elected.
He thought that politics should cut no
figure in the election of county officers,
except Representative.
DR.. Bashford, President of the Wes-
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