Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1852-01-24

cultural science. Sons Of our sister States
have extended 10 this branch Of industry
their fostering care with the most benc.
fetal results and why should Virginia re.
fuse to Join IN this march Of agricultural
progress Voluntary associations and in
dividusl skill, unaided BY tho government,
have already tested in different sections
Of the commonwealth tho practical eff
cheney Of agricultural science in reclaim
ing cur wasted and worn.out lands, and in
making bur own soil more productive
This science is no longer an untried eS-
pertinent. The increased value Of the
laHds lying in the Tide Water district. as
exhibited BY the returns Of the recent as.
sessment, vindica,es the science, and an
pesls strongly to yen for aid and eRcour-
agement IN its behalf. In 1919 the lands
in this district were valued in the aggre-
gate at the sum af s7l ,496,997; and in
1888 at $50, ,7Ol, ,G53 20s, exhibiting de-
crease in value, during rhe 10 years that
iniervensd, 10 the enormous amount Of
$40, 02,9i3 79A. And yet those came
lands were recently assessed al the sum
OF S77,964,574 SO, showing an increase in
their value during the last twelve years
Of Si1260,52l 3l4.
This remarkable nni gratifying change
in the value Of these lands canuot be al.
tribu,ed, 10 any great extent, 10 benefits
resulting frcm works Of internal improve.
ment; for thus far these Improvements
have been chiefly confined to ether ections
Of tho State. And in vain will we look
fora solution Of this problem, unless we
remember that for several years past, the
entsrprising citizens Of this section Of the
State have been devoting themselves with
commsndable zeal 10 ihs subject Of ag.
ricultural improvement; and by proper
application OF compost, matl, and other
manures, and the use Of other means which
u knowledge Of this branch Of sduraticn
has placed at their command, they have
redeemed sRd made productive and valu.
able. lands heretofore worn out by an i'm.
proper mode Of cultivation, and conse.
quently abandoned By the farmer as worth.
less and unfit for agricultural purposes.
The proprieiy ot governmental action
on this subject has at dilsren, periods
forced itself upon the attention Of your
predecessors, but no general system has
at any time been devised Tor It's promotion.
| Ia the session 1889 and 40 Board Of
Agriculture" was established, which fail.
ed Of success in consequence Of the fac,
that il, a mistaken spirit cf economy no
means were supplied to d-iray lis sxpen.
ses. Al tue las, session Of the General
Assembly an act was passed authorizing
the appointment Of m agricultural com
missioner ami chemist, and assigning to
him duties Of most important and inter.
es,ing chanc,er. From this, much 'prac.
tical benefit was anticipated BY the friends
Of the measure. But the Legislature ad.
jOurned without electinga commissioner,
and no othrr mods was provided for his
appointment. Il IL known thS, the lahers
Of rour present session will be complca.
ted and arduous; il, therefore, il shonlo
be found impractical TO devise and perfect
any more general and permanent scheme
for the advancement OF agricultural science
| would respectfully recommend the elec-
,iun Of an agricultural commissioner in
pursuance Of the act above referred 10, and
suggest the propriety CT amending said
act SO as 10 authorize said commissioner
to establish agricultural socisties in such
counties as he may visit in the discharge
Of his duties.
The subject Of primary and free schools
has for many years, more or less, occupied
the attention Of the Legislature; yet the
practical operation Of the present system
shows tha, il is inefficient and radically
defective. These defects have been SO fre.
quently pointed cut, that it is unnecessary
10 rcitrraie them here; but, in view Of the
additional revenue that will accrue TO tho
educational fund under provision OF the
ncw constitution, it is believed that new
energy might be impaired 10 this branch Of
onr State policy, without detrimeIt to any
other interest. beg leave, therefore, to
call your attention 10 this subject, and
ask for II that consideration its importance
demands.
1t will doubtless be gratifying TO you to
learn that the higher schools and colleges
throughout the commonwealth are in a
prosperous and improving condition.
| transmit herewith the annual reports
Of the rrCiar and visitors Of the University,
and Of the bosrl Of visi,srs of the Virginia
Military Institute. which represent these
institutions to be in a very flourishing con.
dillon, and ask for them your respectful
consideration. Provision has heretofore
been made for tho maintenance and edit
cation, in each oi these institutions, Of one
ysung man from each senatorial district in
The State. The number Of districts having
been increased, ii might be well to con.
sider whether provision should not be
made for the accommodation, and the ne.
ccs'ary means provided for the supper, Of
a proportionats increase in tho number
thus 10 be educated; and beg leave 10
call your earliest attention 10 this subject.
Tho annual reports Of the board OF Wis.
itors Of the Deaf, Dumb and Blind Tnsti-
tuition, Of tho Eastern and Western Luna.
tic Asylums, and Of the adjutant general
are herewith submitted for your favorable
netice.
The bank returns herewith cOmmunica.
ted, exhibit a sound and healthy conii.
tion Of these institutions.
The annual repor. on the Peni;en,iary
exhibits tho manufacturing operations as
profitable 10 the Stats. The balance on
manufacturing account was s6,076 II. and
after deducting the commissions Of the a.
gent and expenses Of the store. 3676 70, !
tho nett balance was 49, r309 97. The rro.
fits, however, have fallen of, and the a.
pnni yyas nhia IN nav Ell mn intn the tys,.