The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-03-01
wEsr VIRGINIA FARMING.


WEST VIRGINIA FARMING.
A Letter from "a Practical Agricultural
CONFERENCE.-The Use OF Fertilizers amt
the benefit Of an Agricultural College
CLARKsBURd, w. Va, Feb. 20, 1880.
Editors Intelllgencer.
You have kindly and approvingly pub
lished my communications respecting tax
ing dogs, to raise fund 10 compensate
owners OF sheep, for sheep killed by dogs
for which please accept thanks.
Now, that there appears to be gooG
prospect Of our people engaging extensive
ly in sheep raising, 1t becomes important
that an abundant supply OF food for them
should be provided, and that involves the
great question of successful farming and
production. 1t has been said, for a long
time, that "he who causes two blades Of
grass TO grow where but one grew before, ID
entitled to great reward" ] think that
it plainly appears 10 the ambitious seeker
OF such reward, when he examines
our system OF farming and grazing, that
he has rich promise Of success, should he
zealously direct his efforts to obtain the
highsprize. We have some good farming in
our State, butt think that the candid mind
must admit that 1t is not very abundant.
If we are going to SO encourage the
raising OF sheep as to increase the num-
Der, from six or seven hundred thousand,
to some twenty or thirty millions, there
must be great increase in the quantity
OF food produced. have been making
some experiments, and am satisfied that
by tho liberal and judicious use OF fertl'
iizers that our lands now under cultiya.
ton ought to produce double the amount
that they now do OF eur great staples,
grass and the cereals. The few expert
ments that have made are very satistac-
tory, and tend to verify, what have just
stated, viz. that our staples should be
doubled; but l rely less upon my own ex.
periments than upon the experiments Of
others, that We have so well authenticated
have reference especially to the reports
OF the several State industrial colleges,
which have RECEIVED the national endow'
ments granted by Congress under the act
OF July 2, 1852, which reportsare published
in the annual reports from the Depart
ment OF Agriculture. These reports are
very interesting and instructive and should
be read and studied by all persons engaged
In agriculture.
/ regret to be compelled to say that the
reports from our State are very unsatis
factory; perhaps as much so as any other
State In the Union. The Congress oil lSO:
seemed to have felt that the National gov
eminent had done but little to advance
The interests OF that class OF It's citizens
engaged in agriculture, upon whose suc
cess the prosperity and advancement OF
great people SO much depends. The en-
dowment conferred by the act referred 10
was intended, to have established, In eael
State, a department for experimental agri
culture. In many Of the States, 1t will bt
seen by the reports, that the design @
Congress has been eminently successful
| II Is shown by the reports that skillill anC
well directed labor, II properly carried out
will iproduce a wonderful revolution II
lthe,agricuitural products OF the country
Most Of the institutions referred TO have
farm OF 30 10 300 acres to demonstrate VIVA
| can be done by proper husbandry. somt
of the States have two OF these institutions
Virginia has two-the ono ut Blacks
burg, Montgomery county; situated In {
country somewhat similar in soil and eli
mate to our own. The reports from tina
institution show, that by the use Of tht
proper kind and quantity OF fertilizers or
land, good soil will double the quanut!
OF wheat; that the proper quantity 9
wheat 10 be sown to the acre !sone bushel
that one bushel will produce more thar
a bushel and hall; and that q hall bushe
viii produce more Than two bushels.
y could refer to many Of these report
N sustain my proposition, that we shoul
double the products on our lands and tina
iudicious use OF fertilizers greatly cor
dnces to that end and amply compensate
for the additional labor and expense, =.
was forcibly struck with the statement, i
letter TO me, made by the Hon. ohm W
Grantham, OF Jefferson county, that ier
filters could be used to greater adyanta1g
IN land OF good soil than Of poor. Il
saws that good soil generally contain
the elements for producing the stalk 2
straw, but frequently needs the essentlt
| element for producing the grain or oerr
OF the wheat. a.,
NV object in commencing tnls cVL
munication was 10 call the attention
our farmers and graGlers to the advantage
NJ using fertilizers. Our people, eSpeCla
" In The good old county OF Harrison
have liattared themselves into the belt
that nature had done all that was neCe'
ssTv in ne formation OF our rich soil On
that little was required on their part =
have abundant crops. | hope that tnf
will feel the necessity OF aiding nature
developing our great resources. partlct
larry urge upon our farmers for their ow
satisfaction, to attest the advantages an
great profits arising from the use Of iertil
Ses. From every quarter OF lho state
hear that where experiments have Dos
made there has been quite success:
/ have not had the pleasure OF visitit
Morranlown since the University was G
tablished there. IhaYe heard with plea
nre that il was q success as an education
institution, as to literature, art and 81
7 ences; but OF what has been done for q
. riculture, the great object oil tho endo,
ment BY Congress, l have heard but littl
7 trust that the object OF Congress
making the endowment has not been ov
LOOKED; that II an agricultural departing
ID has mot been already established the
II that il will be shortly. The faith Of I
i State / presume Is pledged 70 that, q
g our farming interests should nave !
benefit OF itat once, especially Oh inc