The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-01-02
THE PROPOSED
FARMERS CONFERENCE
ANOTHER STRONG LETTER
FROM Mr.. 3 II. WARNER ON
THE SUBJECT


Has Resulted From Institutes IN
Other States, Etc
Washington. b. e., December 29th, 1903
To The Free Lance:
am glad 70 notice that you are keep.
ing alive the project OF holding u Farm
ers Conference ! made the suggestion
becAuse Am a firm believer in the won.
derful possibilities OF the South, both as
To- lucation. climate aud soil FOR long
time | have been impressed with the TACT
that people who reside IN territory form
erly cultivated by slave labor have lsird
to make farming profitable. not only be-.
cause OF encouragement and want 81
capital but because they have understood
that the soil OF the West was lar more
inviting in the way OF producing profits,
and 80 did not earnestly enter into the
proper development OF their land
visited the farm OF MIR. 6eOrge Pursis
some weeksago and WAS 80 much PLEASED
with il that wrote an article Tor north
ern papers, which was quite extensively
copied MIR. purvis has taken land
winch was regarded a. almost worth.
ess. located near Fredericksburg and
for which he paid very small price By
intelligent farming aud the OUTLAY 81
some money he has multiplied the value
| of his investment three or four times and
he told me that the crop yielded him last
year eight per cent. on his investment,
and 81, 800 additional.
OF course | am aware that very lew
farmers havecommsnd Of ~ much money
as MIR. Purvis. nor have they his expert
ence and practical ideas he 10, there
fore. in a position TO do Il great deal Of
good by passing around bis stock Ot in
telligence he can do this IN no other
way a. well a. by meeting his fellow
iarmerA in conference ] do not al all
agree with MIR Puryis In what he says
about Farmers Institutes lie makes
the statement that Farmers Institutes
never have aud never will do any good
20 community, because they are con
trOled. a. rule. by those who wish 10
show their eloqnence on subjects they do
not understand, and whose visionary
theories IL would he Impossible & PIT
into successiu practice anywhere
/ There ore in the different States Of the
nion many farmers who are Able 10
|
from the actual benefits they have de-
rived from Farmers Institutes These
Institutes have been held in Montgomery
county, Maryland, certainly for more
than fifty years The section around
Sandy Spring in that county IL the most
fertile and valuable In the State. The
farmers frequently meet IN cOhirren' hear
addresses IRON those who are well posted
on agricultural subject listen 70 papers
carefully prepared as tOdiiierent methods
OF farming The development brought
about by these meetings nae been mar.
velogs.
Different farms are visited by commit
tees appointed by the Institutes, aud re-.
ports are made 70 subsequent meetlugs
IA 10 conditions Of the land and different
methods OF tiliing the roll and producing
crops Those who attend these meet
ings are practical men, and would 10
he satisfied TO listen 20 empty orgtOTy or
impractical suggestiOns They are way
above the eyeFsge grade OF farmer, and
the Improvement IL largely the result Of
their own enterprise in the direction in
dicated
am rather surprised that MIR ru-vis
winds up 80 intelligent letter, In which
he urges the cultivation OF enterprise and
public spirit by saying that he hss neither
time nor inclination 20 take up the ub
ject with the Agricultural Department
Surprising everybody expressed them.
selves in similar manner, Aud was sat
ished with giving advice 70 Others a. 10
the progress that ought 70 be made
where would we land hope SIR. pur
Wis will reconsider and feel that with his
prosperity and influence be 10 one OF The
very first men that ought To put his
shoulder To the wheel and help make II
turn around 10 q lively way.
have just received an account -
Farmers Institute held II .,so,absnoa
county, Pa WIZ formerly lived Az
'usr- seems to be growing interest Ia
the matter, submit il for publication,
a. it will be suggestive
The frat Esrme. institute ever hrld
here convened at Grange Hall on Non-
day last
The roads were bad for travelling but
Chairman Brodhead and +. A Davies
Of Montrose h. W. Northrup OF & en-
burn, Laeka Co. and Iachsrish Cure, q,
AmassA, were on band at the opening
exercises al | ! o'clock A NJ. Mr. Brod.
head spent the morning ssssion by few
well chosen remarks. Introducing the
speakers. Mr. Nofthrup then spoke Of
the dairy COW, giving his own experience
in he selection and care OF the dairy. lie
concluded his practical remarks at twelve
o'clock when the Institute I'D OaFbed IN.
ill 1870.
The afternoon session opened with a
large ettenS4nee The chairman intro
ducvd ~ the 6rst speaker for the after.
noon Mr. Cure who spoke on "'Ihe prac-
teal use Of commercial fertilizer He
gave the commercial value o. iPrtiiz.rs.
and how each farmer could tell by the
analysis OF e ,sFtilfler how much il
should coli Mr.. Cure's address elected
mGRy question. which be answered very
satisfactorily
Mr. Horthrup then spoks on THE eH-
haustion and reclsi3ing OF the soil.
Frank A. Dayies spoke on Potato Cul-
ture" Eis address treated on the soil
preparation. marking and planting, cul-
tivation and marketing siis address
was practical, and was astened to with
great interest institute then adjourned
until 700 oVloes.
TAs evening session was coRAeDced
= by the opening OF the Guestloa box, after
, which Chairman Brod dead gave his Tine
and practical eddssss on THE Care o
the Horee'a feeth and Feet" Mr. North
rup followed with talk on the ''Siio'
its construction and how esscatlal il i
for the present day ts-ssmg. Mr.. Cur
: then gave an address on Education o
: the Fs;asrs Child" followed ny ~
addFess by +. A Davies on "Consoiida
=, ton OF the Rural Schools.
:. Mr.. Cures address showed how essen
a tial it was for the farmers oil this day Z
4 be educated, and MIR. Davies fitted hi
. subject very nicely on Mr. Cure's ,.
1 showing that there was bnt one pIaet
= cal way. and that by having the school
= consolidated, thereby ssoFding bette
4 facilities for eiueAtinR. Mr. Davies Il u
, trated By Allowing that the farmer neve
\ gruubHd to pay ioF the change from Oh
"A sickle to the reaper and binder, becaus
m competition required IL; why should
grumble to have better facilities 20 teac
his boy how TO run that machinery
Northrup and Chairman Brodhesd eac
m made few closing remarks. alter whiC
or the meeting adjourned.
~ Never was there a more appTeciati'
I, audience. and the royal welcome extend'
ss the speakers showed the cordial chara
teristics OF these progressive farmers.
About twenty-five young men al
-. women handed in their names 10 take