Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-10-23
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Tho Virginia State Agricultural So.
cicty held its annual sneeting last night
in tho Senate chsmbcr-Coloncl Robert
Beverley, president, in the chair {;
George W. Mayo, secretary. A quo
rum IVES present.
The following report from the Execu-
tive Committee was read and adopted ;
10 me Life-Mem5ers Of the Virginia
State Agricultural Society:
Gentlemen,--It gives us pleasure to
report 10 you increased interest in our
work, AZ evidenced by the splendid ex-
hbition at our present Fair, cquslling,
II not excelling, any ever held upon our
grounds.
From the depressed 60 J'tiOn OF az
riculture in the State, together with the
disappointment in the attendance
Aof the President Of the United States,
we had good reason 10 apprehend dis
'couraging exhibit and financial loss.
whereas the former was the largest and
finest we have had. and the receipts
from the gates. alone for two days.
amounting 20 sj.SG2.i3, prove that
the Fair Of 1885 ~ a financial success.
We have an abiding faith that the
great interests - 49, -....''....,. shich are
&c rams u al others, sust COMMAND
the attention u our people and will In
the end receive the consideration and
influence TO which they are entitled.
The employment Of expert Judges from
without the State in the stock depart
ment has proved most satisfactory, and
will tend 10 remove suspicion Of par
TALLY. and thereby increase exhibits
and also elevate the value Of our awards.
With the prospects Of a much larger
attendance on the Fair-Grounds to-mor-
row than is usual upon the last day of
the State Fair, we feel that we NAV
safely congratulate the Society upon
the results Of their efforts, which give
promise Of increased popularity and
prosperity in the future.
ROBERT BEVERLEY,
President Executive Committee.
COLONEL BEVERLEY REFLECTED.
General Wickham : take it the sue
cess Of the Fair proves conclusively
that the present president is the most
suitable person for the position, and |
therefore nominate Colonel Beverley,
who is successful farmer and a most
excellent executive officer, for reelec-
ton as president.
Colonel Beverley was unanimously re-
elected.
MIR. 5. Wexford Corbin was unani-
mously elected third vice-president.
The following gentlemen were elected
members Of the State Executive Com
mittee; DR.. NJ. Q. Holt, of Surry
county g. j. Sale, Of Essex; R. w.
BuIk. of Augusta; and A. r. Vena-
bic, Of Prince Edward.
Colonel Beverley thanked the meet
ing for the honor conferred upon him,
and in doing so stated that there was a
bright outlook ahead for the Agricul-
tural Society. He urged that each
member do his best to make the next
Fair excel any heretofore held. He
then introduced to the meeting the Hon.
Norman j. Colman, Commissioner of
for the United States.
Mr.. COlman, after some pleasant al
lusions to the fact that he had had an
with the president Of the
Society that he was not to be called
upon to make speech, said that he
had only been able to examine portion
Of the exhibit, but that revealed an ex-
hibition which was highly creditable to
The Agricultural Society and to the
farmers of the State.
THE PRESIDENT.
In referring to the absence Of Presi-
dent Cleveland Mr.. Colman said that he
knew Of the Presidents desire to visit {
Virginia, and he felt sure that only the
most pressing duties had prevented the
attendance of the Chief Executive. lie
knew that President Cleveland was in
hearty sympathy with the agricultural
classes, as his record as Chief Execu- ,
i've of the State Of New York. which
was entirely satisfactory, proved.
THE EXHIBIT.
Speaking of the exhibit in detail. '
Commissioner Colman paid high COM i
'liment to that Of fruit. He had been :
fruit-grower for the last thirty or Y
orty years, and during that time had !
attended most Of the meetings of the II
genealogical societies and various fruit \
'rowers' associations, yet he had never e
zen finer production Of apples than +
vas TO be found at the Fair Grounds. b
The speaker then went on to show c
hat State which could pro- I.
luce such fruit ought to take :,
measures to furnish sections where
I could not be produced. He thought
hat the condition Of agriculture was n
uch that moro attention must be paid p
o more than two or three crops. In y,
'ther words, Virginia must raise some b
hing besides tobacco, wheat, and corn. y"
'rass is king, after all, he said, and =
10 commended the epigram to the at {
ention of Virginie's farmers. Grass pI
Tould enable the soil to recupe-
ate; i would pseyent its surface r.
ON peifg washed away by sweeping OF
forms. Upon it catt.e and stock could GI ~
Q raised'so return the vitality to the !
N and to supply the near markets ~
th their beef. In Washington he q
nd S35 per cent. more for beef than a re
st. Louis, and his butter came from /
'asconsin sand Iowa. The profits ~
is'7g frem the demand for these pro.
lets should be kept in our own sec s
IN. No better evidence that stock -
uld be raised here successfully was 4
eded than the exhibit which the So.
ty had provided on its Fair Gsounds.
TIT HOME. IL
Mr.. Ceiman closed with an elo-
ent appeal for the home. He urged Tn,
Importance Of making the home at
ctise to the vile, the sons. aud 81
'ghters. fhere would then be 20 s sss
ore to leave them fer other sections. r,
advocated the adosnment of home DC
b lawns and trees and flowers. and II,
planting Of orchards of every 4
{ TO meet the demand OF ssss
iestic economy. lie asked for gree
ntion and protection 10 the az ana
rch and che school-house in eyerv FIN