Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-01-16
VIRGINIA FARMERS.
A PLAN TO ENABLE TEEN 10 SILL
THEIR SURPLUS LANDS.
Meeting Of the Assembly Last Night--hu
merous Subjects Of Interest to the
Agricultural Community.

ne SuDleCk Ot A'tDh
attention OF the State Board OF Agriculture
for several hours yesterday. and action was
taken OF a character likely TO resultin giving
decided impetus to this move, which mas ai-
ready gained great headway.
Iu short. there IL to be publication oil the
natural resources and attractions OF all Sec
tions Of the Commonwealth, and persons
who desire 10 leave the wintry blasts OF the
Northwest and locate in a warmer and more
healthy cline will be shown what superior
advantages Virginia possesses over otnef
States In the matter Of pleasant and cesira'
bic bones.
There IS also TO be an agent in each coua-
ty. who will greatly facilitate this cause, 10
the importance Of which the people of the
mother OF states are just beginning 10
arouse.
THE PLAN.
Soon after the board recouyened yesterday
morning at / O'Clock at the Department. OF
Agriculture. on Main street, the Committee
on ImuigratiOn, 10 whom was referred the
paper OF Judge Grattan giving an outline OF
such pamphlet az he thought, after trip
10 The Northwest, would prove greatly bene-
ficial. presented a somewhat lengthy report,
which provides ,
That general and comprehensive sketch
Of Virginia shall be published In pamphlet
form, describing her geographical posltoh'
geological formation OF its different sections,
surface, soil. climate, health, minerals. TIN,
bers. railroads. schools, titles, and taxes, shu
the feeling OF her people towards imini'
grants from the North and West, comparing
her with other States.
L. lhof ha nT1hIighpd IN The
same pamphlet short description OF each
county, taken in their geographical order,
giving the position, how accessible, proximl-
iy 10 market, mode OF transportation,
freights: also a description OF surface, soil,
and productions, embracing minerals, farm
products, fruits, aud timbers, aud with de-
scription Of schools, taxes, and titles, ana
such illustrations from actual, well-authen-
ticated instances as shall set forth the actual
return OF profit on landed investment,
counting products OF farm consumed as part
OF net proceeds, the price Of labor with or
without bosrd, health, and all facts that VIII
90 10 enable settler to determine whether
he could make farming profitable; list or
register OF land with q short description oil
properties. location, soil, building, fruits,
timbers, prices, and terms.
There shall be in each county gentleman
appointed by the Immigration Commissioner
TO VIII m inquirers can be sent by the Conn
missioner, aud be shall bring buyer and
seller together, and lie shall keep register
OF all lands Tor sale or rent, which msy De
entered by the owners with proper descrip-
tious. lie sball provide transportation 10
persons desiring 10 see eng lands thot are
for rent or sale. Then follows the fees to be
paid these agents by the pToperty-owners de-
string to sell or rent.
The DISTRIBUTION.
The Commissioners OF Agriculture and
Immigration are required TO obtain the
names OF the travelling passenger AGENTS Tor
as many o. the railroads in the North, East,
and West as practicable aud prepare and for-
ward to them a circular setting out The 05-
jects OF the movement and the advantages
likely TO accrue 10 their roads and furnish
them such numbers Of the advertising cir
cular as they may need, and make applica-
tion TO them Tor such rates for the Commis-
sioner Of Immigation and prospectOrs and
sett ers coming over their roads as they may
be willing to grant. The same Is 10 be done
rs to reputable and reliable land agencies In
the North and West, and they shall be fur
ni-hed with any literature which they may
desire and which is attainabe.
The report, which IL signed by Nlessrs.
Orris A. Brown, :. Wexford Corbin, W. I.
Sutherin, and Henry l.. Lyman, closes
with the recommendation that persistent
efforts be made TO get the constituted au-
thorities OF the counties 10 render such AID
aud information as will enable the ComInls-
sioner OF Immigration 10 include as many OF
the counties a. possible in the ad yertlsement
he shall make. The Commissioner Is urged
to make every effort TO include all sections.
ADOPTED.
The report and theimmigration subject in
general were discussed at some length and
with great interest by Messrs. Grattan,
Koiner, Sutherln, Smith, Gaines, Brown,
Corbin, and others, and the plan proposed by
the committee met with the unanimous ap-
proyal OF the board.
HORTICULTURE.
Atthe afternoon session, which began st
O'Clock, Colonel Norman Smith. from the
Committee on Horticulture, presented re-
port making many suggestions on this sub
iect and a resolution was adopted "tnat
the committee be instructed 10 formulate 4
series Of questions. the answers to which
will attain the recommendations embodied
in their report, the same to be printed, and
that the Commissioner Of Agriculture be in
strucied 10 forward the same TO every coun-
ty superlntendent OF schools, agricultural
clubs or societies IN the state, and that nom
such data collected a pamphlet OF informa-
ton upon this subject shall be prepared Tor
use by this department"
This is regarded az au important move.
ANALYSIS oP FERTILIZERS.
The next matter taken up was the report
on agricultural and analytical chemistry,
made by Major Gaines, Of Charlotte, on be-
hall OF his committee.
The subject dealt with was that OF tho
rough chemical analysis OF the fertilizers Of
fered for sale IN the State. Detects 10 the
present laws were pointed out, certain
dangers were suggested, and the entire
subject was handled in an able manner
A long discussion eusued. and finally the
following, offered by Mr.. Sutberlln as sub
stitute for the report, was adopted:
Resolved, That the Committee Of Agricul'
ture. in connection with the Committee on
Agricultural and Analytical Chemistry, be
requested and instructed to carefully ex-
anime the law and the regulations for sam
pling fertilizers, and so amend the regua-
tions as to afford the farmers the greatest
possible protection under existing laws, aud
that this will be done at the earliest possible
day.
The substitute was entirely acceptable to
Msjor Gaines. who did not expect or ask the
adoption OF his report. He simply desired
to draw the attention OF the board TO the
points raised In his paper that they may
be considered hereafter.
NEW LAW.
Commissioner Whitehead offered the fol-
lowing:
Resolved, That the Committee on Chemis-
try be directed to prepare bill regulating
the sale OF fertilizers in the State and for the
protection OF farmers sgainst spurious ferti-
iizers, and that they report said bill 10 this
board at future meeting.
Adopted.
ASSISTANT CHEMIST.
Mr.. Gaines. the chemist OF this depart.
partment, addressed the board briefly, say
ing that he had competent young man IN
view whom he could employ as assistant at
less cost than was incurred last year in pro-
yiding the needed assistance, and the fol-
lowing, offered by Mr.. Brown, looking to
this end was adopted:
Resolved, That the Commissioner OF Ag-
rlculiure.be authorized 90 employ an assist
ant to the chemist at salary not exceeding
$50 month so long as he deems hls services