The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-03-22
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. TUESDAY, MARCH 22. 1904

| n I hIillfIH lOhNfhAiDh III llt Ilifuht ~
Sandy Spring These meetings are al
ways largely attended by old and young
from far and near, and bring out large
number OF short, spirited talks from the
many learned, practical men who are
always present. Cooperation among
farmers here has been continuous and
successful not only in buying and selling,
which with us has its limitations, but in
controlling the conditions surrounding
the home life 4 delightful atmosphere
peryades the community.
Good cooking and bright attractive
homes are considered necessities. The
director Of Farmers Institutes at tirst
thought that AZ we had 80 many
ways Of getting Information we did
not need the institute AK much
as farmers in other parts OF the
country where no clubs or oranges ex-
isted He tried hard, successive. years,
To get up meetings at other points, but
reluctantly reached the conclusion that
where there il no local organization it is
useless to try To get up successful in
stitute Unless the clubs pave the way
and awaken a desire fOr progressive
ideas no amount OF advertising will
bring the farmers together.
When the institute was held in or near
Sandy Spring. however, we always have
had not only good -iz d crowd, but a
highly intert sting. instructive meeting. !
Through the combined /, ,tlIence Oi clubs, |
oranges, institutes, Xperimental stations
and creamerles al improved system OF
dairy husi andry with inten~iye methods
i. becoming general. An improved roia-
tiOn Of crops for dairy farms has been
developed On rich land near the barn
and sllO we grow four crops in two
years, corn and cow peas for sllage,
wheat, turnips and crimson clover.
Alfalfa Is being tried and 10 some parts
OF the State is proving great boon.
After arriving in fredericksburg and
talking with Mr.. A. T. Rowe, the idea
was deyel Jped that here il centre Tor
formed organizations that offers bril-.
liant prospects for the future, if only the
right course be pursued. You have,
surrounding this pleasant city. four
counties, SpOtsylyania, King George,
Stafford and Caroline, in which are good,
solid, intelligent farmers, who come To
town every week. Let each farming cen
tire having radius Of not more than
three or four mile form aclub Of II or 10
congenial men, who will agree 10 meet
at each others houses 10 supper once a
month, and the thing il done Farmers
when once brought together on a farm
can not help talking aud can not help
learning enough from each other TO pay
for the loss Of time. Then have con
vention at fredericksburg at which local
farmers are expected to do mOet OF the
talking 10 organizing a club, tits neces-
sary TO be careful to start with good
men and require unanimous consent TO
admit a new member We find by expe-
rience that H. or at most Is is the best
number 10 compose q club. Politics and
religion should never discussed at CLUB
meetings and moderation and temper
ance should be considered essential 70 the
preservation Of good order.
These are unwritteD laws, which cus-
tom with us has made natural, and
much valued part Of our social system.
SHEEP HusBANDRY.
This subject was treated by Mr. Roger
B FarQuhar, a successful farmer OF Mont
gomery county, Maryland. MIR. Farqu.
| har said among other things:
Sheep carefully handled are profitable
stock Why is it that 80 few are kept2
The answer is dogs. untaxed ours, which
are not recognized as property, but still
; have the protection of the law. For II a
dog is shot, except in the net OF killing a
sheep, the owner Of the dog, not the
owner OF the sheep, has RECOURSE to law
for damages. The only way to get a
good nights sleep when we own flock
of sheep, is TO put them in dog proof
pen at night. They do not thrive so
well under this in hot weather, as they
choose the cool of night, at that season.
to graz. Bells are great protection,
having saved my flock from serious dam.
age Il number OF times. ! keep bells on
abol { ne.third Of my flock, and good
size bells at that As compared with
dairying, the work Uf attending to n
flock OF sheep is light and more agreeable
Herbs and turnips are valuable for feed
in the winter Many sheep are lost in
severe winter for the want Of this kind OF
laxative food. This winter we fed ensil
age once a day in addition to the he.bs,
with crushed corn an1 brand sprinkled
over it. Glover hay is also fed at times,
As to the breed, prefer Southdown and
Shropshire crosses securing lambs for
winter market, the ewes must be kept in
good condition all the time and not al
wed to get too fat lt used to be the
custom to have lambs large enough by
Easter, but now they are wantel all
through the winter.
In addition to feeding sheep well, lambs
must be taught TO eat from two to Ihre
weeks old. Have pen for them pre-
pared with openings that they, and not
/, the sheep, can get through. To teach
them to eat, put little brand or
sheled corn in a shallow trough. find
they will eat turnips cut up fine bfore
anything else Ia my stationary pens
are single stsnchions, in which the ewes
neck can be fastened TO prevent her from
killing the lambs which may be pot with
her. In this way | have made ewes,
whose lambs have gone to market, take
a twin lamb who was not getting
enough from it's mother. To verify my
statement that sheep are profitable, !
give my last years account:
DR..
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