The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-01-14
the Order throughout the State. We shall

through Its columns become better acquaint-
ed and be brought more in sympathy With
each other. It's regular visits will increase
our interest In the Grange by keeping Us
constantly advised of Its progress. / do not
propose to discuss the advantages of an Or
gdn or the plan upon which one shall be
conducted, but to ask that it receive such
consideration at your hands as its import.
ance demands.
I call your attention to the necessity Of
taking some action by which your State,
district, and county subordinate Oranges can
be cheaply Incorporated. 1t would afford
protection and security to the property of
the Grange, and patrons would be indemni-
fed against any loss in their business trans
actions with their business agents.
Among the subjects that will claim your
attention there is probably none OF more
practical importance than that of CONNER
cial fertilizers. The amount of money an
nual!y expended by the farmers of Virginia
in their purchase, and the extent Of fraud
which is being practiced upon them by
SPECTATORS in the sale OF worthless COM
pounds, is startling and alarming. Still, /
feel confident that commercial fertilizers
will be largely used by our farmers not
withstanding all the frauds practiced upon
them. feel satisfied that successful agricul-
ture in our State can only be attained by q
liberal use Of an honestly made superphos-
phate, sold at reasonao BILE ,Ia.es. I claim it is
a duty we owe ourselves and the Whole
agricultural interest Of the country to at
tempt some means of reforming the frauds
and abuses of the trade in these articles.
lam aware this subject has received much Of
your attention in your subordinate Oranges.
Fro,t,ti,-o Tommittpp have 6ignnsp6
of this subject in its sessions, and have
taken steps, as far as they could, to protect
you; but they had no authority TO inaugu-
rate means to entirely relieve you. And
if they had, they woulG have been unable
10 pledge your cooperation and support,
" hich would have been necessary to have
insured success. bat were confined 10 their
labors to making the best terms they could
with existing manufacturers to furnish you
their own superpho:pnates, made by their
own formulas, trusting and believing when
YOU met in annual session you would give
this great subject the consideration its i'm
portancc demands.
] return you my sincere thanks Tor your
prompt and timely relief rendered the de>tl.
iute and suffering DlSB1 bers OF our Order IN
Louisiana. Little do we know the suffering
and grief that was turned to giadness in those
destitute sections OF our southern country
bv the timely assistance rendered by our
Order. Again are we called upon by our
destitute and suffering brotherhood in Ne
brasha, caused by the ravages Of the grass
hopner. Many sections of the State were leita
perfect waste. Without timely aid none can
tell the suffering Of those people during the
present winter. | know you will be swift
in discharging so holy il duty, and iu so
doing exhibiting the truth OF holy Scripture,
when it declares it is more blessed to give
than to receive. Such acts of brotherly kind
ness will commend our Order to the patriot
and philanthropist.
The year just closed Qhe first of the Order
in the State} has been one OF organization.
1t has taken almost our entire time. With
thorough organic iti0n our business rela-
tions would be more easily adjusted. Now,
to you, gentlemen, the chosen representa-
tiyes of the Order, is assigned the duty OF
shsping and pei ltecting our business rela-
tions. This is an important and responsible
trust. In your hard. is the destiny of this
Order in Virginia. With you 1t rests to be
seen if agricultursts can form cooperative
associations. The Order is looking anxious.
ly but with confidence. and hope you can,
and in your wisdem will, inaugurate some
system of agricultural reform that will work
their own sustenation, and instil new life and
energy throughout this old and great Com
monWealth. Patrons, believe We can. We
have already much 10 encourage Us in this
great work in which We are engaged.
NV confidence is unshaken and Increasing
in this Order. Upon the agricultural pros
perity of the country rests all true natural
prosperity. A more enlightened and higher
development of agriculture does not only
benefit the agriculturist, but throws cor
responding benefit upon all other trades
and professions. l firmly believe this Or
der, with the blessing Of Providence, is
destined to do much towards renovatingand
restoring society, and purifying the political
atmosphere of this whole country. Already
is seen sectional prejudlces receding under
the influences OF its enlightened rays. If
we, as agriculturalists, identified in one
common interest, unired in one common
brotherhood, knowing no North, no South,
no East, and no West, and 20 forward
in our cooperative strength with an
honest purpose of retrenchment and reform,
and be true TO ourselves and the obligations
we have taken, no one can tell the career OF
usefulness that awaits this great Order. Then
let me. in the name of our Order and the
great interests you represent, invoke your
earnest attention TO the business before you.
Report Of Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee made lengthy
and able report. 1t urges the procurance OF
charter from the Legislature for the State
Grange. reciting the advantages which will
accrue therefrom; notices the appointment
of certain business agents; states that the
or {-urnIipa hac a1nnfe RI
the agents appointed in Richmond, Norfolk,
and Petersburg; states what has been done
in the matter Of an organ fer the Order, and
gives general review Of the business done
by the committee since the last annual meet
! ing and the business arrangements for the
| future.
/ The committee state in regard to
FERTILIZERS.
The question how the farmers and plant
| ers of Virginia can be supplied with reliable
and eticacious fertilizers on the most reason
able terms is one that has given the commit
| tee great deal of trouble.
| One of the chief difficulties connected with
this subject grows out Of the tact that We
have in this State that diversity Of soil, cli-
mate, and production which makes necessary
a diversity OF lertiliziag elements. Hence
we find that in some sections OF this State
| fertilizers have been introduced and are held
in high estimation, while in other sections
they do not produce any valuable results.
But in making careful survey of the whole
| field it will be found that there are just
| five elements. or combinations Of these ele-
ments, which seem te be eiicacious as arti-
| fetal fertilizers in the production of crops.
These are lime, plaster, potash, phoSphoIic
acid, and ammonia. The two first OF these
arc abundant and cheap in all OF our mar.