Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-09-27
TALKS TO FARMERS.
THE FIRST INSTITUTE CLOSES AFTER
AVERY SUCCESSFUL SESSION.
Addresses by Messrs. Browne, BeIwood.
AIvord, Atwood, Jackson, and Cur
tis-Remarks by Others.

| The second and last days session OF the
| Farmers Institute was a success despite
the disagreeable weather.
| Over 200 ladies and gentlemen gathered
in the damp, unfinished barn at Chats
worth and remained the entire day listen
ing to the agricultural talk.
Some good addresses were delivered.
| and when the institute was declared adj
| iourned everybody said it was success
and they were anxious for another TO be
| held.
The only members of the Board of Agri-
| culture who were IN attendance were
| Colonel Normand Smith. Major H. '.
Games, Captain Orris a. Browne, and Com
missioner Whitehead.
CAPTAIN BROWNE on TRUcBISG.
At 1l:45 o'clock the institute was called
20 order by Colonel Smith, who stated that
be had been requested TO preside IN the
absence OF President Koiner.
THE CHOIR THEN SANG " CORONATION
The Chairman presented as the first
| speaker Captain OTris A. Browne. mem
Der Of the State Board of Agriculture and
| manager of the trucking-frm of Hon. W.
| l.. Scott near Cape Charles CITY, winch IL
| the largest of the kind in the world.
Captain Browne IN commencing his re-
| marks said he had been engaged in truck
ing nearly all his life. The industry has
| greatly increased IN the past few years.
Chicago was the best market for the pro-
ducc when he first went into the business.
but now trucking has been extensively
adopted in East Tennessee, and nc mas
been shut out OF Chicago, Cleveland, ana
| Buffalo by the sharp competition and has
had to 90 to other markets.
PLUCK AND ENERGY.
The Captain went on TO speak of the
pluck and energy required 70 make the
| business a success.
Trucking. he said. is very uncertain, as
| no one can tell at the beginning of the
season with any degree of certainty what
the produce viii bring at market time;
| The farmer who raises truck must nave
the facilities for getting the produce 10
market quickly and cheaplY.
In this business. he said. we have not
only 10 compete with other sections Of this
country but have TO compete with other
countries, as potatoes are sent from Europe
and onions from Egypt. The freight IS
| cheaper than ours ana sometimes this pro-
duce Is brought 20 America frcc.
The speaker said that from his observa-
| tious he believed sorghum If adopted IN
| the James-Riyer Valley would prove a
valuable industry.
In concluding his remarks the Captain
! told of how he improved his land by keep
| ing it covered up. lie spoke only ABOUT
| ten minutes.
At the close Of his remarks the choir
sang, I'm stand BY You Until the Morn
| ing"
sHEEr-RAIsING.
Mr.. James Belwood, who recently came
10 Chesterfield from Canada. was nitro
| duced by the presiding officer. This gem
! tleman told OF how the farmers Institutes
/ have prOspered in Canada. where they were
| pplx fuaupur4fei "A few wears 400.
He then proceeded 10 give talk on
| sheep-husbandry which he said was the
first industry ever inaugurated and has the
sanction of the Almighty. Virginia. he de-
clared. Is most favorable 10 sheep-ralslng
| on account Of the nearly equallzed
climate. Further South the climate Is too
warm and up North II is too cold. When
| he lived IN Canada he became "a subscriber
10 the Richmond Dispatch and learned
| from the market reports that the price OF
wool in this city was much higher than IN
his country. He could not understand
| why this was was the case until be learned
! that the wool grown IN an equaliZed ell
| mate is much better in texture and makes
| better goods than that produced IN eli.
| mate more varied. Therefore he looked
! upon Virginia as one of the best places IN
! the country for the raising OF wool
A PROFITABLE INDUSTRY.
| Proceeding with his remarks he spoke Of
| the different breeds of sheep, their adap-
| tation TO the several climates and their
value for wool and mutton.
During the two years he has been IN VIZ
| cina he has kept careful record OF the
! urOfits from his sheep. The ShrOpshlres
| have paid annually 130 per cent: q flock
of common sheep have brought conslcera-
| blv over 100 per cent, and the latter have
no special attention.
Mr.. Belwood expressed himself rs de-
| lighted with his Virginia home. ana would
| for no consideration 60 back North.
One of the greatest set-backs 10 sheep-
raising in this State, he explained, l. the
| lack Of dog-law sufficiently stringent TO
protect the sheep.
How MAJOR PAGE DOES.
Major Mann Page said be was not an ad-
vocate of dogs, but from his experience he
| would tell the farmers that If they Will
| train sheep with dogs the trouble VIII De
averted. If puppy is put III pen with
| the lambs the latter when they become
! grown will not be afraid of dogs and Will
! not run away from them. He had followed
/ this practice and had not lost sheep III
| twenty years.
Major Il. V. Gaines said from his long
experience as a practical farmer he could
substantiate every statement made by
| Mr.. BelwoOd. His experience has peen
! that he can raise a sheep cheaper than
turkey The trouble about dogs. ne SAID.
! Is that each of these animals have vote
His county sent a representative 70 ths
Legislature pledged to support dog-aw
for the county. They got the law, but the
representative was not returned 10 the
! General Assembly. The whole trouble Is
that the people VIII not have dog-law.
sILos AND IvsHAGE.
The next speaker was Professor Henry
| So 41.. ifar \
! detrimental Station. In speaking OF his
farm in Fairfax county. Va. he SAID al.
though he has not lived there for several
| wears he is still a good citizen OF the state
and pays his taxes. and he believes in paw
ing taxes sufficiently large 10 meet the IN
terest on the State debt, 10 keep up a
good school system, and to build good
! roads.
Proceeding with the subject which had
been assigned him, he delivered very ln-
structive address on the cultivation ol en-,
silage. Silos, he said. may be constructed
of the cheapest building material. ana
| some that are built IN the crudest manner
| serve their purpose as well during tHe sea-
son AZ anv Others. They may be made
either above or below ground. and should
be water-tight. Several small sllos, lnde-
pendent of each other, are decidedly better
| than one large one.
COST, CULTIVATION, ETC.
He then went on TO tell the cost OF the
silos and the manner IN which the ensllage
should be produced and placed in them.
The ensiage that took the premium al the
Paris Fxposition had been in the pit posi-
bly ten years. The best time to cut any
plant for ensilage is. when It approaches
maturity and before 1t loses any OF IT'S water
contents. Indian corn makes the best ana
most satisfactory ensilage. good average
crop is 25,OOO or 81, 600 tons per acre. but 1t
Is possible 10 produce $1,000 tons III VIZ
gina.
In his concluding remarks the Professor
told OF how to cultivate and gather corn
for the silo, and also how to iced II 10
cattle.
After CAPTAIN Frank Cunningham had
charmed the audience with two solos
recess was taken until 2:15 7. NJ.
Afternoon Session.
When the institute reassembled IN the
afternoon Captain Frank Cunningham
sang The Blue and the Gray anu IN re-
| - .o..ot.l calls rendered another