The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-05-27


MEETING OF LIrE-MRABHRs OF THE VIRGINIA
STATE AGRICULTURAL SoClETY.-In pursu.
ance OF resolution adopted by the EXecu.
tive Committee Of the Virginia State Agri.
city on the 10Th day of April, a general
meeting of the lfe-members of the Society
was held in the old dning-room of the Ex-
change Hotel last night. ...-.
Among the British settlers who were pre-
sent were II. j. Farrer, honorable secretary /;
Peyton Johnston, treasurer; NJ. NJ. Blacker,
w. j. Clinch, D. Buchanan. DIR. Freeman,
of the Executive Committee of the British
Association of Virginia; +. Harper, Twelve
trees, Farmville j. Wallis and J. W. Heb.
dilch, Buckingham; Colonel Scott, Caroline;
DR.. Anderson Fressenburg. F. G. French,
and G. Chaderick, Amelia; j. w. Mcclure,
Alexandria; II. J. Bebb. honorable secretary
of the Chase City British Society Major
Boland, England; G. Clay, Esq, Scotland
Captain Cook, Troy, N. Y; j. A. II. St. An.
drew, Chase City; Major-General Barton,
Norfolk; and many others.
The meeting was called to order just be.
fore 8 O'Clock by President Knight, who
stated that the object for which the meeting
had been called was not such that it would
bc necessary TO have constitutional quorum.
One of the objects. continued Mr.. Knight, is
q compliment to the British friends Of the
Society who are present in Richmond at this
time to celebrate the birthday Of her Majesty
Queen Victoria. He also deemed it an of)-
perfume moment TO renew the pledges
OF fidelity to the objects of the Society. He
could see no just ground why every farmer
in the State should not become liie-members
of the Society, and in this connection he
hoped his English friends present would be
induced to unite with the Society in foster
ing and advancing the agricultural interests
of the Commonwealth Of Virginia.
After cordially welcoming the British set
tiers present, Colonel knight introduced
Professor Pratt, of Washington and Lee
University, who, he said, had been invited
to address the lfe-members upon an interest
ing and important subject to the farmers.
Professor Pratt gracefully welcomed the
Enslshmcn whom he saw before him, and
then proceeded to address the meeting upon
the subject Of the philosophical and ecOnomi-
cal use of fertilizers. The former, he said,
is manufacturer who must use greater skill
than Is REQUIRED in any other branch of manu-
factory. or the men who enter into trade and
commerce o. per cent. fail, while those en-
pseed in ordinary manufacturing rarely fail.
The whole subject Of fertilizing is con-
fined to the root of the plant, which is en-
tirely under the control Of the farmer, and
in order to make the best application of the
fertilizer it must be made at the root. Phos-
phate of lime, potash, and ammonia he be-
lieyed to be the best commercial fertilizer,
and he thought the farmers should purchase
them and none other; but he deemed it an
important matter for the farmer 10 ascertain
what fertilizer his crop pneeded. The farmer
| who uses soluble manure will get his money
back the first year. Just so much of this
soluble fertilizer should be applied yearly as
the crop will take away.
The speaker next proceeded to say that
since the year 1860 the enterprise OF Charles
ton. S. c., had established tour miles from
that city seven large acid-chambers-more
than can be found in any other manutactu-
ring city in the United States; more than
Rait;more or Philadelphia, the greatest man
ufacturing town in the Union, or any other
of the great manufacturing cities in the
limited States. The speaker cited an instance
of a farmer in England (Mr. Dixon) who in
one wear, recently, used twelve thousand dol
lars, worth of commercial fertilizers soluble
fertilizers.
What would Virginia farmer think OF
spending $4,000 in fertilizers in one year
MIR. Dixon, who published this statement,
afterwards bought $1,000 worth. Do you
suppose he would have spent all this money
unless he got it back!
MIR. Pratt next made statistical statement
of the increase in the quantity of CONNER
cjal fertilizers manufactured and sold, to
show that it is to the interest Of the farmer
| to use them-tbat it pays, and that the far
| mer will, in the end, be suitably rewarded.
He thought that the farmer in buying COM
mercial fertilizers, should know first what be
wants and why he wants it; what he buys
and the price he pays for it. If good fertli-
zers are purchased it will pay the farmer
we'll.
marks Major r. W. N. Noland offered reso-
| lution of thanks to the distinguished gentle
man for his very able and interesting lecture,
and requested copy for publication
| Adopted.
Mr. A. H. st. Andrew, on behalf OF the
| British settlers present, thanked the mem
bers of the Society for the invitation extend
ed TO them, and assured the Society that it
was the desire of the settlers to cooperate
with the Society as far as possible; that they
are anxious to be identified with 1t, anc as
sure the Society of the kindly feelings in-
| culcated by the settlers.
| Several gentlemen explained that they hao
been led to believe that this meeting was IN
tended to be convention of the farmers OF
The resolution under which the meeting
was called was read to settle the question.
Mr.. Hebditch, one of the British settlers
present. who had been in the State for hVe
Years. thanked the Society for the kind invl
tation to meet the Society, and urged the
;mportance of taxing dogs with view o.
enabling the farmers to raise sheep, ana thus
imnroye the impoverished land ID the State
Another Englishman said that he thought
that if each farmer would provide himscl
With strychnine, many of these worthless
curs might be gotten rid of.
Major Noland: Yes, sir; carry poH o.
strychnine pills in his pocket; give one tt
| the dog. and one to every other politician
and the good effects will be seen in shor
time. lLaughter.]
MIR. Hebditch presented the following
which was agreed to:
Resolued, That this Society, at the request
of the Numerous and important bouy OF bri
tish settlers in this State, desire to urge upon
the Legislature of this State the necessity o.
passing q law imposing tax upon dogs to
protect the interest Of sheep farming, tC
which branch of agriculture the English set
tiers of Virginia think the State peculiarly
adapted, and to which many of them are now
turning their attention with great earnest
ness and at great expense.
Adjourned at 11:20.