The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-03-24
HE FARMERs' CONFERENCE
AND BARBECUE


at the fair grounds was not rendered.
This was deferred until the afternoon,
at which time several hundred farm
ers and their families went to the
grand stand and were addressed by a
number of speakers The meeting
was pronounced success and much
good was done. 1t is safe to say that
more will be planted and better titled
by those who were there. The spirit
of the gathering was good and all
were in high hopes of improvement
along agricultural lines.
The colored band was in evidence
and added to the pleasure Of the oc-
cassion by rendering several selec-
tions.
The meeting was called to order
by Grand Master of Odd Fellows for
the State of Florida, G. A. Sheehy who
told in strong words the meaning
Of the call. Rev. Dr. barrow invoked
divine blessings.
1t was hoped that Mayor Robertson,
Hon. r. F. Rogers. representative
elect from Marion county, ex-Repre-
sentative, Hon. L. S. Light, Editors
Harris and Bittinger would speak in
the afternoon but as the farmers were
not in until after the hour named on
the program, these men SO deeply in
terested in the development of the
agricultural interests did not return.
Rev. w. A. Wilkerson of Fleming
ton, made stirring and practical
address. He told of what he had done
on seven acres, and urged those pres
ent to greater activities. He owns
over 200 acres of land and has his
farm well stocked He told of his
experience in saving potatoes by put
ting in a barrel a bucket of potatoes
and then a bucket of sand In this
manner potatoes may be kept for, two
years. Seed corn may be kept from
weevils in the same manner.
Rev. Johnson spoke of the import
ance of farming and gave some very
apt biblical reference that bore on
the subject.
Rev. Stephen Brown, a farmer
from the Martin section, thought the
crops needed were corn, cotton, pin
dars, sugar cane and such other
things as find near markets. He. told
of his experience as trucker and
stated that it had wrapped him in
debt, but that he was now doing
straight farming that had no such
risks as vegetable farming had His
advice was well received.
Capt. s. r., Pyles. one of the lead
ing agriculturists and most success
full farmers of Central Florida gave
splendid advice to those assembled
He advised those present to stick to
the soil. work with those that had
farms until they could buy homes for
themselves and to make their homes
comfortable Captain Pyles said his
own home was "a Heaven on Earth. :
It was all that it could be and he
made it beautiful and prosperous to
keep him happy. Captain Pyles gave
most friendly and wholesome advice
which was loudly applauded
]. ID. McDuffy of Ocala, was in
troduced as the largest colored far
mer in the state. He owns now Over
600 acres of land upon which he has
many barns, tenant houses and Other
farm equipment. In addition he own:
number of houses he rents in Ocal:
and Jacksonville and livery business
and a general merchandise store. 4
dozen years ago he owned nothing
He said that when a common lahore
he stopped a wagon to buy some pc
tatoes and the man charged him L
cents quart. The idea came to hin
that such prices for potatoes woul
make man rich. He rented tn
next season three acres and mad
some money, the nxet season he In
creased and has done so till he is nov
rated as one of the largest true
and general farmers in the state. H
advised those present to stick to tn
farm and to be careful about Ieavin
the country to come to the city. H
would take great pleasure in tellin
any that would come meaning bus
ness, how to grow any crop that wa
a profitable one to him.
Rev. L. C. Griffin. another preache
farmer. made rousing speech. H
had preached for many years and no,
that he was getting old. he sometime
thought that branch forsook him bu
the dear old farm upon which he live
is just as good to him as ever an
yields abundantly and makes no com
plant. He cited the scripture tina
encouraged farming and said Christ
Solomon and others got their hes
figures from the activities of the farm
er.
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