The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-11-02

lue iIlccllliS WIS Cdlleu W OTucI ny tiic
President of the Society, Mr.. L. L. Harvie,
at whose request Mr.. Z. G. Ruffin read the
following report:
PRESIDENTS REPORT
Geatlemea-The Executive Committee Of the
Virginia State Agricultural Society congratulate
their constituents and brother farmers upon an
other meeting of the society, and another Fair,
which has opened under the favorable auspices OF
good weather, full attendance and an exhibition
of more than the usual high standard of excel
lence.
the whole unfavorabe, yet the attendance of the
farmers on this occasion manifests an undated
zeal in their calling, and leads to the hope that
at the meetings to be held every evening during
the progress of the Fair, discussion among your
selves may suggest some remedy or alienation
for the evils which have afflicted MS. 1t is in-
portant that something be done TO put ourselves
in condition TO freight the many lines of railway
which are built or building over the State, and
add the inducements of successful tillage and
pasturage 10 the other which now invite hither
an immigration, checked ut present by the politi-
cal condition of State and the malign efforts and
Misrepresentation of interested parties and sec
tions.
AS n mode of improving our agriculture, it has
been deemed important by the Executive Commit
tee 10 assert a claim in'behaf of this society to
Yirgnas quota of the land fund donated by act
OF Congress for the purpose of promoting agrf-
culture.
This was done before the General Assembly
early us January last, and again, the Legislature
having failed to act upon that question at all du-
ring its late session. in April last, a resolution
was adopted, appointing u committee to renew
the application before the next General Assem-
bly,.
The same committee has charge of plan that
has been suggested to form an Agricultural Mu-
scum
The ordinary trials of ploughs rs held at the
Fair Grounds during the progress of the Fair
have never been satisfactory to any of the par
ties interested. To correct this defect, inherent
field trials of ploughs in the four great divisions
of the State, under published rules, and upon q
plan and principle which would secure satsiac-
tory tests of all such implements TWO such
meetings only were held, and at one of them
(Amelia Sprngs) only one manufacturer entered
for competition. The manufacturers themselves
seemed indifferent 10 the steps that had been ta-
ken 10 redress the grievances OF which they COM
planned, though the large attendance OF farmers
showed their interest in the matter.
At the last annual meeting OF the society the
committee found that the Legislature had passed
an act in regard to the enclosures i'll effect repeal
ing all the beneficent legislation OF the General
Assembly ut the session of 1866, and imposing
afresh upon the farmers a burden from Which
they had but lately been relieved after years of
remonstrance
As no time was to be lost the committee did
not wait for the action of the society, but adj
dressed itself at once to the enlightened mind of
Gov. Walker BY that means the passage of the
law was prevented. At the next session II sub
committee of the Executive Committe waited
upon a Committee of the Legislature and induced
il to abandon the idea of further action during
that session. Without going into details, it may
here be stated that, upon the pro fdrina OF one
county, it was estimated that the tax of en-
closures, wholly unnecessary i'll many counties of
the State, would amount TO nearly Ten times the
assumed annual profits Of the farmer, or one
third OF the value ofthe land or twelve times the
value of the stock to be fenced ont. Perhaps no
more striking case can be presented of the value
of agricultural societies.
Ii such institutions could be induced 10 cooper
ate and act in harmony, the services they could
thus ltnitedly render would be incalcuable. Such
union has from the first been great aim of the
State Agricultural Society, but it has failed for
reasons too complex to he stated here. The
present depressed condit o the State seemed
a favorable opportunity to make another effort in
this direction, and the Executive Committee
adopted at a late meeting series of resolutions
inviting all the other societies in the State, and
also the representatives of The mechanical inter-
ests to send delegates to this meeting of the
ciety to confer upon some plan of State assoca
ton 1t is to be regretted that the committee has
not been notified ofany response to their invita-
tion. Perhaps If the society itself should request
some such action on the part of its younger sis
ters all over the State the proposition might be
more fayorably received 1t is respectfully sug-
gested that if any step is taken in this direction
It should include all the mechanical and manu-
featuring interests of the State. They are all
bound up together, and one cannot thrive if the
other languish. There is nothing Incompatible
in the union, as has been practically exhibited
over and over, and with the happiest results, in
other States.
The general arrangements Tor the Fair, incllid-
ing the rules and regulations, and the premium
lists have been published in pamphlet form, and
need not be mentioned here further than to say
this With the amplest means it is impossible TO
please all the very effort to avoid complaint in
one quarter will produce it in another. But
when the means scant, the task is doubly
difficult, and those who work gratutolsly for the
public rely upon their good nature and their
good sense To consider how far the will to DO
much and to reform much is impeded by funds
almost too meagre to do anything at all. The re-
mort of the treasurer, which is herewith present
ed, properly examined and certified, shows
balance on hand on the 30th september last of
IL, ,346 49,
Respectfully submitted.
On motion of Mr.. S. Bradford, the report
was received and adopted.
Mr.. Harvie then adjourned the Society,
and having called to the chair Judge II.
N. Watkins, announced that the meeting
was resolved into Farmers Assembly.
The chairman announced "lmmigrationo
as the subject of discussion for the night.
On motion of Mr.. Bransiord, gentlemen
from other States present were invited to
participate in the proceedings.
The chair announced that the subject
selected for discussion was immigration,
and that he was ready to hear from those
who had anything to say on that subject.
Mr.. Thomas K. Branch being called up
on to say something, took the floor for
few minutes, but declared that he, too,
was ignorant of the whole subject, and de-
sired Colonel Frank G. Ruffin, of Chester
field, to give the meeting the benefit of his
study and experience the subject.
Col. Ruffin treated the subject at some
length, and with considerable ability. He
thought that one Of the very first things to
ha done was To make DrOViSiOu for the re-