The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-01-23
DISPLAY OF OUR PRODUCTS.

Among the most valuable means of call
ing attention to the wonderful variety and
richness Of our agricultural and mineral
products is, their annual display at the great
fairs of the country. The Western states
have wisely made appropriations of money
to secure it. Practical experience proves
that it is impossible to secure full and
complete collection, properly arranged,
if left to individuals. Even the agri-
cultural societies are unable to get
it done with their scanty means. No
more worthy or legitimate appropriation
could be made Of few thousand dollars
annually than to promote this object. Let
the Legislature provide the means, and
designate commissioner to collect and
arrange our products, and expose them
for exhibition at the leading fairs of the
country. This would be most powerful
auxiliary to the work Of securing immigra-
ton of the best character. AT the annual
fairs last year, both at home and abroad,
our display was wretchedly meagre and
did the state great injustice. AT the
Anniversary of the American Pathological
society last year held in Boston, we saw
the prizes carried away by new states
which have no claims whatever beside
Virginia to pre-eminence as fruit-growing
regions. Even with the trifing develop
ment of our fruit interest, we could
have made far better showing
than the successful competitors, if full
collection could have been made. With
our lofty mountains and table lands, our
sheltered valleys, and varying slopes of
matchless soil, and our mild-tempered
tide-water region. we can produce the
most wonderful variety of fruits in the
highest perfection. Our display Of pears
was equal TO the best, and single plates of
peaches were never surpassed; but all was
done by two or three private exhibitors.
Exhibitions Of fruit are especially attrac-
tive to the class of people whom we wish
10 invite here, to-wit: those who
come here TO make homes for their fami-
lies. In the minds of this class, those
conditions of soil and climate that tend
to make home attractive, and fill it
with comforts, outweigh the chances Of
mere money-making. The visible evil
dence of our advantages in that regard
will generally 60 farther than any ver-
bal exposition, however emphatic. 1t is
therefore especially desirable that our
fruits should be most thoroughly COL
lected and most perfectly displayed at
the Northern fairs, including Canada.
We would also add our vegetables,
grains, grasses, dairy products, minerals
and specimens of our timber from
the forests. In all these our exhibition
would equal that Of any other state, and
impress upon every beaolder sense of
the surprising richness and variety of our
natural resources. These collections
properly handled would benefit the state
hundred times their cost. They should
be accompanied by circulars briefly mar
rating the advantages the state offers to
settlers.i
The action Of the state in this matter
would be warmly seconded by individuals,
and no doubt by the transportation COM
panies everywhere. The only expense
would be incurred in packing and transport
tation and reasonable compensation to the
gentlemen who might require it. We
think, however, that some Of our well-to-do
horticulturists will devote their time gratu-
itously for few weeks if the state would
move in the matter. We earnestly COM
mend this subject to the attention of the
Legislature.