Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-04-19
WoodIawn Farmers Club.

The April meeting of the Woodlawn
Farmers Club was held at J. y. Gibbs's
on the l-ith inst, President Harrison in
the chair. The minutes of last meeting
were read and approved. James w.
Robert; opened the discussion by a re-
ference TO an article in the Baltimore
american wherein the outlook for
wheat growing in this country was con-
sidered the opinion being advanced
that the available area in different parts
of the world-notably in the Argentine
republic-adapted TO wheat growing
was so largely increased that the farm
ers of the United States should turn
their attention to other crops. This
brought out lively discussion Of the
subject of the present condition Of the
country in all its bearings. Major Hine
thought that careful examination Of
statistics would show that although for
some years back the increase in arabic
lands had been much greater than the
advance in population and that Score
tary Morton had also said that we could
raise three times as much wheat in this
country as the people could consume,
nevertheless, the fact remains that now
the conditions were reversed-that the
population was increasing faster than
the wheat area. That there are reasons
TO suppose the glowing accounts of the
desirability of South American lands
for wheat growing were put forth to
help raise the value of the Argentine
goods, &C., sc. Several OF our mem
bers seemed to DO in good talking con-
lition and having prolific theme it is
question whiher monograph could
have kept up with them, so the secre-
tary did the best he could in the way OF
making use Of his head and ears for
that purpose and grinding it out again
after ne got home.
The acting secretary at the last meet
ing seemed to think that as it had voted
some time back that we were oil pros
porous, there was not much to be said
on the subject of how to better our con-
dition, but, if my photograph serves
me right, that sort oftalk was not much
INDUCED in on this occasion. In cast.
ing about to know what it was best to
do if we were TO stop growing wheat,
more or less despair in mild form was
manifest. w. H. Snowden was pres
ent and hackeled the bakers for
their treatment of suffering humani-
ty. paying the farmer about one
cent a pound for -four and charg-
ing four to five. In fact he could
not see for the life of him how the
farmers were to live and pay their
debts. E. f. Mason was in right good
trim and grew eloquent over the situa
ton at times. He said it was best not
to be changing ones system Of farming
every time this or that crop was not
favorable, but keep right on just about
the same gait; what was down this
year might be up next, or words to
that effect. He did not say root-hog
or-die, but that is about what he meant.
An article in the Country Gentleman
was alluded to in reference to raising
corn without after cultivation. a good
crop had been grown by carefully pre-
pairing the soil before planting and then
seeding crimson clover with the corn.
1t was thought this would not do as
rule. illusions were made to crops Of
potatoes that had been grown without
cultivation by mulching heavily with
straw
Nextmeeting at Dilworth Buckmap's,
May 10Th. w. GILLINGHAM, Sec.