The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-11-30

6tructive and encouraging lessons to Gu de
us. England, who pers sted in training
only her upper classes, after fairly gaining
nne.tenths of the premiums OF the London
Worlds Fair, found at the Paris EXPOSE
ton that the sceptre had passed from her
hands and that she got about one-tenth OF
the prizes.
The nation was aghast, and Parliament
SGT her wisest men. in science as well as in
practical matters, to ascertain the causes oil
the decadence. With one voice the an
swer was the nations of the continent had
outstripped England by educating the
hands as we'll as heads of the people, that
the richly endowed technical school, had
revolutionized the industries of the world.
England has hearkened to the lesson. We
too can and must profit by it.
One mode Of impartng practical instruc-
ton is obvious. The trustees have pur-
chased beautiful farm. In January they
will appoint Professor of Agriculture
and Farm Manager.
When the operations Of this farm shall
have been well begun, and even from its
very first steps, it will afford lessons OF the
utmost value for the students Of farming.
To aid at least for few hours each week
on farm where are presented the best
system, the best buildings, equipments and
implements, the best stock and dairy, the
best fruit, fences, drains, &c., will be les
son not only of the utmost value for the
student, but one of which he will gladly
avail himself.
1t has been said that to exact labor will
keep away and drive away students. No
regulation requiring labor yet exists, but
it can be stated with confidence that Of the
material which now makes up the students
of the college, there are few who would
not gladly turn their hands to moderate
tasks which they knew would really pre-
pare them for greater success in the busl.
less from which they have come and 10
which they intend to return. The farmer
who sends specimens of his stock, the
fruit.grower who sends fruit trees, the
maker of agricultural implements who
sends his machines and tools, will not only
help ON good work and win thanks and
formal acknowledgements for his bounty
in the annual publication of the college,
but he will bring what he has to sell to the
knowledge of large number of young far
mers. deeply interested, who will carry the
knowledge and the need of them to many
homes.
The mechanical interest ia subordinate
to the agricultural in Virginia and so, for
the present, it must be in the college. But
even before we can establish any work.
shops, the buildings, fences, repairs, &C.,
it will furnish some instruction and prac-
tce and, as ought to have been said about
the farm work, not practice only but COM
pensation will so be found for the smarter
and more Jealous students, who can make
their work worth more than the cost OF
supervising and directing it. Our neigh
Dor State of Kentucky has done much
more than this, and encourages US to hope
that we may emulate her example.
At the Agricultural School in Lexlng-
ton there is steam driven shop for the
manufacture of agricultural imple-
ments, self-supporting and furnishing not
only instructions to all, but support to
some of her students of mechanics.
Several students have gone to this school
from Montgomery county, and one who
carried with him but $50, and never re-
ceived any further help, spent three years
there and by his hard work paid his expen-
SEES, brought away $3.50 and was able at
once to earn $3.50 day in the railroad
shops of Central Depot on the Virginia and
Tennessee railroad.
Mr.. Minor requested the gentlemen of
the Convention to interest themselves Ill the
constitution; to investigate its claims to con-
fidence, and then to carry news OF it back
to their neighbors. Many appointments
are vet vacant, as has always been the expe
riences of the Military Institute and the Uni.
versity of Virginia, but like faculties of those
institutions, the faculty of the Agricultural
and Mechanical College are prepared to give
appointments, in place of the counties not
applying, to students who may seek them
from the counties who have already secured
appointments.
Colonel Daniels, of Fairfax, expressed
great qualification at the interesting state
ment made by Prof. Minor, and moved
that the subject of Agricultural Education
be referred to select committee OF three,
who shall make report thereon at a future
day.
The motion was unanimously agreed to,
and the chair appointed the following gem
tleman to constitute the committee.
Colonel Edward Daniels, Fairfax; Ed
ward Drumgoole, Brunswick; j. IL.
Prince, Southampton.
THE SUBJECT OF FERTILIZERS AGAIN.
Mr.. Holmes, chairman of the Commit
tee On Fertilizers, appeared before the
Convention and stated that the committee
thought it had discharged its duty in me-
morializing the Legislature on the subject,
and that it did not expect to have to make
any report to this Convention. 1t was not
prepared to make any at this time.
Colonel Ruffin thereupon submitted the
following:
Resolped, That the Committee on Ferti'
lizers be discharged from the further con-
sideration of the subject of fertilizers.
Resolved, That committee of five be
appointed to memoralize the Legislature
and request the passage Of what is com
monty known as the lien law.
These resolutions opened the whole ques
ton Of fertilizers, and gave rise to lengthy
| discussion.
Colonel Ruffin considered fertilizers to b.
indispensable-particularly in one condition
but not more so than other things. Vir
ginia consumed before the war so, 900 tons
Assume that quantity to be consumed now
if it is inspected and warehoused, then tn,
tax thereby incurred by comparison will
similar charges on tobacco, to-wit: $l.7i
per hhd-average weight 1900 LBS
1918 per ton; or at $50 value per ton o
fertilzer-S4.50 on the hundred dollars 9
value or liz times the present land Ia
on the 800 value. At this rate OF charg