Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-10-31
THE LANDS WE TILL.
HOW CAN THEY BE MADE MORE PRO-
DuCTVE!
The Board of fAgriculture Discuss Measures
Looking to this General
Purpose.


upon 20 take action upon several measures
for the good of our agricultural people.
The State Board of Agriculture yester-
day discussed many plans for improving
our farming service. They will meet here
again on January 7th and present memo
rails and bills to the Legislature looking TO
changes in the laws with reference to the
sale and tax upon fertilizers; some atera-
tiOns in the laws providing for keeping the
public roads in order are also likely to be
recommended.
YESTERDAY MORNINGS SESSION.
The Agricultural Board met again yester
day morning.
The committees having under considera-
tion the report of the Commissioner of
| Agriculture were not ready to report.
Major Gaines offered n resolution pro-
viding that these committees be continued
! aud that when the board adjourn 1t do so
to meet November 18th He wanted 10
| give ample time for the consideration of
matters of 30 great importance to our
I farming interests.
WHEN TO MEET AGAIN.
A great deal Of discussion took place at
| this point. Some Of the members wanted
| 10 adjourn to meet on January 7th and
/ others wished 10 remain and complete
/ their work and have measures ready TO
present TO the Legislature at its assembling
/ in December.
Mr. Koiner said he thought il unlikely
| that the General Assembly will be ready
for solid work before January. December
will be taken up in dispOsing of Office
seekers. and when the two houses reassem-
/ bic after Christmas it would be very op--
perfume time for the board TO meet and
see legislators in person and impress upon
| them the needs of our agricultural IN
| torests.
JANUARY THE TIME.
| II was finally decided to dispose Of the
| report of the Commissioner at the present
/ meeting and assemble again on January
7th and draft memorials and bills for pre-
! sentatiOn 90 the General Assembly.
Major Sutherlin offered a resolution
| which he afterwards withdrew providing
/ that the Commissioner furnish the board
! ut its next meeting with copies OF the laws
! of the several States regulating the sale
and tax on fertilizers. Also the public
road laws of other States rs far as may be
i Ieemed necessary.
WEATHER BUREAU.
Major Gaines offered resolution that
! the President of the board appoint COM
| mittcc 10 prepare memorial and bill 70
/ the Legislature providing for the ostab-
! lishmcut Of weather bureau IN connec-
/ ton with the Agricultural Department.
This was laid on the table.
| EXPERIMENTAL STATIONS.
! Major Gaines also offered a resolution
: providing that the Legislature be request
"a TO establish subsidiary experimental
stations in the different divisions OF the
State To be operated IN connection with
and in subordlnatIon to the station NJ
Blacksburg.
/ This WAS also laid on the table.
HORTICULTURE.
Mr. Smith presented report from tho
! Committee on Horticulture. In 1t the Com
! missioner Of Agriculture is directed 10 in
/ auire as 10 what kinds Of fruit and what
/ particular varieties are best adapted 10 the
soil and climate Of each coanty IN the
i State.
/ Att o'clock the board took recess until
4P.M.
| BEADING THE REPORT AGAIN.
! At the afternoon session the report Of
Commissioner Whitehead was again read
+ and the subjects treated of acted upon So
Z rid1'ln. Two hours were spent IN consider
/ ing this paper. and ut o'clock recess
was taken until ..
The report is a very lengthy document,
and when the board adjourned 1t had ex-
aIilnfu anu dlbllitfl dbpuh hhAA VI IT,
NIGHT SESSION.
At the night session the board heard the
remainder Of the report OF Commissioners
Whitehead. and it was adopted after some
CllCht amendments.
Tho report Of Judge Grattan, the immi-
grafton AGENT was also adopted, having
been amended in few particulars
An extensive report from Messrs. Browne
aud Corbin. the Committee on lmmigra-
tion. was read. IN tins paper are given the
many advantages in soil, climate, and the
resources Of Virginia 20 persons seeking
homes here. The committee also suggests
that it will be well 10 seek aid from the Le-
gislaturc to send an immigration agent 70
Europe.
TO GATHER STATISTICS.
i The Legislature is also requested 10 pass
q law 10 REQUIRE the commissioners OF the
revenue in each county to keep record oi
new settlers in the State, the number OF
acres of land they purchase, its value, &c,
and for this extra work the officers are to
be paid the same fee they receive for re-
/ gistering births and deaths.
IMMIGRATION.
Major Gaines objected 70 the part of the
report which suggested the idea Of sending
an agent to Europe. He wanted to see
more interstate immigration. His county
fCharlOtte) Is hlllng up with people lrom
Pittsylvania and Halifax counties and
from North Carolina, and the Major was
Of opinion that Europeans will not come
here unless they come in colonies.
Mr.. Browne said the idea in sending a
! man 10 Europe is TO get people 10 come
/ here bv thousands. The board, he said,
tried Castle Garden and found that all
people who land there have selected their
homes before leaving Europe.
Air. Corbin said all States that have sue
ceeded in getting European settlers in
large numbers have sent their agents
across the ocean, and he was of opinion
that If Virginia will do likewise the State
will become one OF the wealthiest In the
Union.
The report of the committee was adopt
! ed.
THE STATIONS.
Major Gaines withdrew the resolution he
had offered in the morning with reference
T. the establishment OF experimental sta
tions throughout the State.
NJ Browne moved that committee OF
three be appointed TO draft memorials and
bills TO present TO the Legislature. Adopt
ed.
The Chair appointed the following
F Nessrs. Corbin. LYMAN. and Sutherlin.
The resolution Of Major Gaines with re-
ference to establishing a weather bureau
in connection with the Agricultural De-
partment was defeated.
At ll:2O o'clock the board adjourned to
meet January 7th.
!