Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-04-18
STATE AGRICULTURE.
FIRST MEETING OF THg NEW BOARD
AND ORGANIZATION THEREOF.
Steps Taken in Behalf Of the Farming Inte-
rests-virginia Agricultural and
Mechanical College.


Office of the Commissioner at IL M. yes
terday, and the following members were
present: w. 7. Sutherlin, Il. V. Gaines,
s. Wexford Corbin, o. A. Brown, James
J. Beale, Normand Smith, George W.
Palmer, and Thomas Whitehead, Com
missioner OF Agriculture.
After some informal discussion it was
decided to take recess till 4 o'clock, at
which hour the board would proceed to
the election of president. At 4 o'clock
the board proceeded to ballot for presl-
dent, aud Hon. A. Koiner, OF Augusta,
was elected.
1t was resolved that this Office be for
term of two years W. L. Sutherlin was
appointed president pro tcmPore.
BYLAWS.
The following Committee on Bylaws
was appointed MestrS Koiner, Gaines,
and Whitehead.
On motion OF Mr.. Smith the subject
OF immigration was taken up for the
action of the board and was referred 10
committee, and Major Sutherlin was
made chairman OF snid committee and
Messrs. BroWna and COrbin added thereto.
CHEMICAL.
The chemical business OF the depart
ment was referred TO the following COM
mittee Messrs. Brown, Palmer, Gaines,
and Koiner.
Mr.. Gaines moved that the Chair APP
point a committee on the collection and
distribution of seeds Agreed TO. Messrs.
Bealo, Corbin, and Mallory constitute
the committee.
FARMING INTERESTS.
Mr.. Brown moved that committee
he appointed 10 take into consideration
the general farming interests of the
State. The Chair appointed Messrs.
Smith, Brown, and Corbin.
Mr.. Smith moved the appointment
OF committee on printing and publca-
cations. Agreed to. The following are
the committee: Messrs. Koiner, Lyman,
and Beale.
Mr.. Corbin moved that Messrs.
Whitehead, Suthcrlin, and Koiner be
appointed a committee ondistrlbution OF
appropriations.
Agreed TO.
The Commissioner of Agriculture WAS
authorized end directed to continue the
conduct of the department IN the same
manner as he has heretofore, and is now
conducting it, until the next meeting OF
the board
BUILDING.
Major Gaines offered the following:
RcsoIued. That q committee of three
be appointed by the Chair whose duty 1t
shall be 20 select building for the use
of the Department of Agriculture, which
shall be conveniently ana suitably To-
Gated, and to report to nm adjourned
neeting of this body. Said committee
shall also see the Governor and Register
of Land Office and ascertain why the
rent of said building should not be paid
az provided by the act establishing the
Department of Agriculture.
The resolution was adopted, and the
following committee appointed; Messrs
Gaines, Whitehead, and Smith.
AL the above committees were in
structed to report at the next meeting OF
the board.
The board adjourned to meet at the
Exchange Hotel at 81 o'clock.
EVENING SESSION.
The Commissioner Of Agriculture was
directed to pay MIR. Gaines, the chemist
of the department, S235.90-the same
being in payment for apparatus and
chemicals furnished the department by
Mr.. Gaines.
After quite a lengthy discussion the
matter of fertilizers was laid on the
table.
The board adjourned to meet at s
o'clock 2. NJ. on Monday, May l4th
next.
rhe Experimental station and the
Omcers Thereof
The Board of Visitors of the Virginia
Agricultural and Mechanical College, at
Blacksburg. met last night in the office
of the Superintendent OF Public Instruc-
tion for the purpose OF considering
various matters in connection with the
experimental agricultural station pro-
vided for under the Hatch congressional
bill. There were present at the meeting
Messrs. W. II. Staples tpresidingl. G. T.
NNWteE, y. II. ny Lc- ~ -. i UAA AbN4At
]. D. H. Ross, Joseph NJ. Barton, j.
Hoge Tyler. and DR.. John l.. Buchanan,
ami j. A. McGilvray secretary.
The principal topic discussed was the
choice of director OF the station and a
chemist. A number of testimonials were
considered, although it is said absolutely
that no formal applications are in hand.
Prominently mentioned for the director
ship are a. c. Peatherstone, Of Bedford
county, United States Ststistician for
Virginia, and Julian Pratt, of Augusta.
If neither of these is chosen, it is be-
lieved that the board will go outside Of
the state for a director. 1t is no easy
matter to pick up man who can I'LL the
position-to find one who has practical
education in agriculture as well as a
store of good theoretical ideas on the
subject.
In fact the duties Of the Office are not
clearly defined.
The board was in session till late
hour, but took no action.
IL will meet again to-day.