Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-04-16
State Board of Agriculture.

Inc always crampeQ C0nQlGlOn Oh Ine
financial resources of the State has never
warranted-at least that has always been
the conelusion-the expenditure of much
for the promotion of our agricultural inter-
ests. Commencing some years since with
the appointment ola commissioner of Agri-
culture, who, though he was never furnish
ed with means to expand his work as its
importance merited, yet accomplished
much for that interest, most conclusively
SO in driving out worthless fertilizers and
saving farmers from the danger of imposi-
tions. AS experience and benefits worked
a saving for the general good, the establish
ment more recently of State Agricultural
Beard was the proper thing to do. and in
uniting for the common purpose the advan
tages of the State Agricultural school and
experimental station in certain essentials
with the other department puts US on the
road in. the right direction for permanent
and advancing growth in agricultural de-
velopment.
Recently we reviewed the ordeal to which
the agricultural interests of the State were
subjected at the recent session of the legis-
lature as the public agents were subjected
to it, and now present brief summary of
the proceedings of the State Board at it's
first and recent session since the Supreme
power discussed its function and the official
work Of the agents under it's direction. At
this time half of the members were new ap.
pointments, but they were their own success
sors. Hon. Absalom Koiner, of Augusta,
the former President, was of the class hold.
ing over term of service, and he was
unanimously chosen his own successor in
that responsible position. This meeting of
the Board was held in Richmond commend
ing on the 9th instant.
The President announced the following
standing committees: immigration and La
Dor Statistics, Brown and Corbin; Agricul-
ture and Analy teal Chemistry, Gaines and
Brown; Production aud Distribution aud
Sale of Field Crops, Sutherlin and Mallory;
Horticulture and Fruits, Smith and Lyman;
Live Stock and Dairyins, Palmer and Koin-
er; Collection, Distribution, and Testing of
Seeds, Henley and Gaines; Implements,
Drainage, and Fencing, Corbin and Palmer;
Mineralogy, Geology. and Botany, Gaines
and Palmer; Organization, Education, Pub
lication, aud Library, Lyman and Henley;
Finance, Mallory and Corbip; Appropria-
5iou, Browne, Mallory and Corbin.
Judge Grattau, the Commissioner of I'm
migration, submitted a lengthy report, from
which We make the following compilation.
In February, he issued circular calling up.
on county agents for information. From
seventy-one counties no replies were receiv-
ed. Twenty. nine reported, where county
literature was distributed with good re-
suits 10 inducing immigration. A change
of agents in many counties is necessary,
Virginia is the only State in the knowledge
Of the commissioner in which the value Of
real estate has increased. The commits
sioner recommends that efforts should now
be commenced with the view Of an exhibit
at the Worlds Fair in 1898.
The demand for the pamphles-"Virgin-
la as she is''-hss been great and the issue
of 5000 exhausted. He recommends that
a second and improved edition be issued.
This presentation of the resources ard the
attractions Virginia offers immigrants &C
complished much good ia England and
Scotland
Five hundred copies of the report were
ordered to be printed.
All the work of the Commissioner of Agri-
culture in addition to his duties as clerk and
treasurer of the Board of Agriculture, is to
be performed for his salary 81, 500.
The chemical department was allowed
an assistant and clerk.
Hereafter an agent ofimmigration will be
dispensed with and $1,000 appropriated to
publishing and distributing literature bear
ing on the matter of immigration.
The MEDICAL EXAMINING BOARD After