The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-05-14

naIuct 49, NAY Az
Compiainings amongst the farmers.
causes for which are generally easy 10
( find now torn on the short hay crop
and the labor conditions. which. per
| haps. are worse than ever before. more
Of the iaboring class Of both races being
disposed 70 seek employment elsewhere
than has been commonly true. The
German clover Is an almost universal
failure, and the long dry weather in the
eerly spring has greatly diminished the
promise for red clover. The wheat so
far has presented a fine appearance,
though a few planters see signs Of dis
eRse in their stalks and leaves.
The promise for fruit, with the ex-
ception Of apples, was probably never
better. The question as to many
orchards and detached trees will be
how to protect the branches beneath
their excessive burden of fruit
The excessively high cost of bacon
and lard comes at time when many
Of our people found IL impossible to
provide against the necessity Of buying,
because OF the impossibiity of getting
shoats to pen. The difficult and some
what expensive means of enclosing
hogs for breeding purposes, so as TO
prevent ranging on other people s
crops, has led many to abandon the at
tempt 10 raise their own pigs, habit
which now results in there being few of
them 10 be bought.
The sheep industry, which a few
years since appeared TO be growing
popular and very remunerative, seems
now TO awaken no enthusiasm or even
afford any satisfaction. With one man
the Encouragement arises from the
destructiveness of ours, with another
scant pasturage has caused leanness of
lambs and of purse, with another the
trouble has been that no fence would
curb the flock's leaping propensity,
while still another complains that his
stock has run out" and lost its pro-
ductiveness. One farmer tells me he
treats his sheep with motherly care, as
if they were babies. and | note that he
has abundant lambs and gets tip-top
prices for them.
Ii is evident from observation, as one
travels our roads. that the harvest of
colts here is a large one. They are
much in evidence from the age of a few
DAYS to the three-year-old. often TO be
seen harnessed for the first time.
The Southern Baptist Convention,
which this week meets in Baltimore,
will call hence nearly all of our Baptist
ministers in the Meek, and next Sun
day but few of our pulpits will be oc-
cupied. This would be of small moment
had not so many rainy Sundays of late
prevented stated services and post
poned other important church work.
On the 5th Sunday and Saturday pre-
ceeding, the n. n. Baptist 5. 5. Con
vention will assemble with Coan church
in Northumberland. Ii is anticipated
that the meeting will be well attended
and full of interest. Pastor Driscoll and
his hospitable church will act the par,
of hosts to the convention, which IS a
guarantee that the body will be enter
tanned heartily and graciously.
Mr.. VIM. Bagby, of Stevensville.
clerk of the Circuit court of King
and Queen, was a warmly greeted visi-
tor at Warsaw for several days last
week. His daughter employed in the
High School there, perhaps, chiefly at
tracted him. Her name is Olive, but
the opinions expressed of her and her
work are golden. Mrs. Mary kreite
and her mother. Mrs. Phillips, OF
time mingiing with host of Warsaw
friends. who found great pleasure If
their company.
Mr.. Emmett Settle no longer serve.
behind the counter at Templeman' $
having given up his position there fo'
sake Of farming. for which he ha.
marked aptitude.
Mrs. Len Healy. Mrs. William Sissor
and Mrs. J. W. Diff have been enjoy
ing of late a prolonged sojourn witt
kindred and friends in Washington
The latter having endured long anC
wasting illness. IL is earnestly hopeC
may find the change helpful to her full
recovery.
The good roads project has so far
materialized in the central part OF
Westmoreland as 20 give US four mile.
of broad, well rounded, well drained
road from Nomini to Templeman's. II
Halley's comet has any virtue or bless.
ing in its tail for this locality may il
shake it benignly over our sadly lacking
highways. G. W. B.